Control Room Operator

Located in Delta, Utah, the Advanced Clean Energy Storage 1 (ACES 1) facility will be a large renewable hydrogen production and storage facility. Capable of decarbonizing the western United States, the site will enable utility and industrial scale green hydrogen production from renewable energy sources and store the hydrogen in underground salt dome caverns to provide a huge reservoir of renewable fuel for power generation.

The Advanced Clean Energy Storage 1 (ACES 1) will initially be designed to convert over 220 MW of renewable energy to 100 metric tonnes per day of green hydrogen, which will then be stored in two massive salt caverns capable upon start up of storing more than 300 GWh of dispatchable clean energy.

Opportunity Summary

As a Control Room Operator, you will play a crucial role in monitoring and controlling hydrogen production, storage, and distribution in real-time. You'll be responsible for tracking important parameters, operating control systems, and managing start-up and shutdown procedures. Your focus will be on optimizing processes, analyzing data, and troubleshooting any issues that may arise. Additionally, you'll work collaboratively with the team to ensure safety compliance, environmental standards, and training requirements are met, contributing to the overall efficiency of the operations.

Primary Functions

• Control Room Operations: Monitor and control various aspects of the facility's operations in real-time, including hydrogen production, storage, and distribution. Track parameters such as temperature, pressure, flow rates, and levels in tanks and equipment.
• Work collaboratively with Control Room Operators and other team members to ensure effective coordination and communication.
• Adhere to safety protocols, regulatory requirements, and environmental standards. Participate in safety briefings, audits, and assist in responding to emergencies or incidents.
• Perform chemical offload operations and procedures.
• Respond to plant equipment and fire system alarms.
• Operate facility control systems, including Distributed Control Systems (DCS) or Supervisory Control and Data Acquisition (SCADA) systems. Make adjustments to process variables to maintain optimal operation.
• Assist in the creation and execution of start-up and shutdown procedures for hydrogen production units and storage facilities.
• Support continuous optimization of the hydrogen production process to enhance efficiency, reduce waste, and minimize energy consumption. Assist in implementing process improvements and troubleshooting operational issues.
• Assist in analyzing data from sensors and monitoring systems to evaluate facility performance. Contribute to identifying trends, anomalies, and opportunities for improvement.
• Collaborate with maintenance teams to schedule and execute preventive and corrective maintenance activities. Support the upkeep of equipment to ensure operational readiness.
• Contribute to the development and maintenance of emergency response plans and procedures. Provide support during critical incidents or system failures.
• Maintain clear communication with other departments within the facility. Collaborate with teams such as engineering, maintenance, and management to address operational concerns.
• Assist in keeping accurate records of operational activities, incidents, and maintenance work. Contribute to maintaining complete and compliant documentation.
• Stay informed about the latest technologies and automation systems in the renewable energy and hydrogen production industry. Support the implementation of new technologies.
• Contribute to monitoring energy consumption and exploring ways to optimize energy usage in hydrogen production and storage.
• Operate facility mobile equipment and perform routine inspections.
• Support safety and environmental standards, inspections and testing.
• Assist in preparing regular reports for management, stakeholders, and regulatory agencies. Provide support in conveying insights into the facility's performance.
• Participate in training sessions to stay current with industry best practices and technology relevant to the role.
• Assist in ensuring the facility operates in compliance with environmental regulations and emissions standards. Contribute to monitoring environmental permit standards and taking corrective actions if necessary.
• Provide support in troubleshooting process issues and collaborate with field operators and maintenance teams to resolve technical problems. Conduct root cause analysis for equipment failures or process deviations, identifying and addressing underlying issues to prevent future occurrences.
• Participate in emergency response drills and be prepared to respond to incidents involving the release or handling of hydrogen, implementing emergency shutdown procedures when necessary.
• Provide support by filling in for other Control Room Operators and O&M Technicians as needed to ensure the continued smooth operation of the facility during absences or unexpected events.
• Other Duties: Contribute to other reasonable duties as needed within the scope of the role.

NAES Safe

Safety is a core value of NAES and as a condition of employment, all employees are expected to be mentally alert and work safely at all times. Additionally, employees are required to adhere to all safety warnings and posted safety signs whenever on company property. Furthermore, employees must follow all NAES safety rules and procedures. Effectiveness in carrying out this responsibility is part of the evaluation of each employee’s performance.

Working Relationships

The Control Room Operator reports to the Operations and Maintenance Manager and takes direction from the Lead Control Room Operator, as well as the Plant Manager. In addition, they work closely with operations and maintenance personnel, providing support and fostering teamwork to ensure the smooth functioning of the plant.

Physical Requirements and Working Conditions

Hydrogen Production plant environment. Physical requirements include standing for extended periods of time, stair and ladder climbing, and routinely lifting up to 50 pounds. Protective equipment must be worn in the performance of some duties (e.g., hard hats, safety glasses, air masks, ear protection, chemical suits, hot gloves, and high voltage protective equipment, etc.). Work with hazardous materials may be required. There are extensive smoking restrictions in and around the facility.

Fitness for Duty

All employees will participate in the Fitness for Duty Program. This program includes a post-offer physical examination and drug screening and post-employment random drug screening. 

Work Schedule

Position requires rotating shifts, extended working hours and varied shifts with the possibility of weekend and holiday work, as required by schedules, workload, and plant conditions. "On call" status will periodically be required.

Compensation

The initial compensation available for this position will range from $48 to $57 per hour.

Job Qualifications

• Ability to understand procedures and instructions specific to the area of assignment as would be acquired in four years of high school
• Possess in-depth knowledge and experience in Control Room operations, particularly in monitoring and controlling various aspects of a facility's operations, such as hydrogen production, storage, and distribution.
• Experience in contributing to the start-up and shutdown procedures for hydrogen production units and storage facilities is a plus.
• Demonstrate proficiency in operating and controlling Distributed Control Systems (DCS) or Supervisory Control and Data Acquisition (SCADA) systems. Adjust process variables to maintain optimal operation. Prior experience with Emerson Ovation is a plus.
• Possess strong analytical and problem-solving skills to continuously optimize hydrogen production processes, identify opportunities for efficiency improvements, and troubleshoot operational issues.
• Ability to analyze data from sensors and monitoring systems in real-time to make informed decisions, identify trends, anomalies, and opportunities for improvement.
• Demonstrate the capability to coordinate with maintenance teams to schedule and execute preventive and corrective maintenance activities, ensuring equipment is well-maintained and operational.
• Possess expertise in monitoring and optimizing energy consumption, especially given the renewable energy nature of the facility, to ensure efficient hydrogen production and storage.
• Demonstrate strong troubleshooting skills to address process issues and collaborate with field operators and maintenance teams to resolve technical problems.
• Strong communication skills to collaborate with other departments, maintaining clear and efficient communication with engineering, maintenance, and management.
• Must maintain and possess a valid Driver’s License at all times.

About NAES 

NAES Corporation is the leading provider of operations, maintenance, and engineering services for energy facilities. We have established ourselves as a reliable partner for clients in North America and internationally, offering services across power generation, oil and gas, and renewable energy sectors. Additionally, our growing family of companies enables us to address the entire life cycle of power generation and other industrial plants. 

NAES is committed to a diverse and inclusive workplace. It is the practice of NAES to seek employees of the highest quality and to select individuals on the basis of merit and competence, without regard to race, color, religion, national origin, gender, gender identity, sexual orientation, age, disability, military status or affiliation protected under USERRA, or any other basis of discrimination prohibited by applicable local, state and federal law.