Senior Mechanical Engineer, Power Plant - OUC

OUC - The Reliable One, is presently seeking a Senior Mechanical Engineer, Power Plant to join the Electric & Water Production division. At OUC, we don’t just work – we’re building a bright future of innovation and transformation for future generations.

We are looking for an efficient and experienced professional to research, analyze, and lead highly complex projects from start to completion for continuous plant improvement and reliability.

In this role, you will be responsible for applying engineering principles to investigate equipment failures and difficult-to-diagnose process problems. You will excel in conducting research and making recommendations for cost saving opportunities while analyzing new technologies for continuous plant improvement and reliability. We are looking for an engineer with strong communication and leadership skills and one who is always mindful of policy processes and safety.

OUC is an industry leader and the second largest municipal utility in Florida committed to innovation, sustainability, and our community, OUC’s mission is to provide exceptional value to our customers and community by delivering sustainable and reliable services and solutions.

Join a team of visionary Change Agents, Strategists, and Community Ambassadors who understand the vital role of diverse experiences in powering creativity and industry transformation. At OUC, each position contributes to the success and achievement of our goals. Click here to learn more about what we do.

The ideal candidate will have:

• Bachelor’s degree in Mechanical Engineering, Electrical Engineering, Environmental Engineering, or related field of study from an accredited college or university

• Minimum of eight (8) years of related engineering experience to include design and implementation of plant modifications to improve reliability, safety and increased production OR

• Registered Professional Engineer (preferred) with a minimum of five (5) years of relevant experience

• Valid Driver’s License

• Power Plant experience preferred

OUC offers a very competitive compensation and benefits package. Our Total Rewards package includes, to cite a few:

• Competitive compensation

• Low-cost medical, dental, and vision benefits and paid life insurance premiums with no probationary period.

• OUC’s Hybrid Retirement Program includes a fully funded cash balance account, defined contribution with employer matching along with a health reimbursement account

• Generous paid vacation, holidays, and sick time

• Paid parental leave

• Educational Assistance Program, to include tuition reimbursement, paid memberships in professional associations, paid conference and training opportunities

• Wellness incentives and free access to all on-site OUC fitness facilities  

• Access to family-oriented recreational areas

• Paid Conference and Training Opportunities

• Free downtown parking

Click here to view our Benefits Summary.

Salary Range:  $119,172.00 - $178,758.00 annually - commensurate with experience

Location: 5100 S Alafaya Trail, Orlando, FL  32831  

Please see below a complete Job description for this position.

Job Purpose:

Research, analyze and lead highly complex projects from start to completion for continuous plant improvement and reliability. Work with management and environmental department to ensure plant equipment is ready to meet current and future environmental regulations. Evaluate project alternatives to lower the cost of producing electricity for Orlando Utilities while ensuring reliability, safety, and environmental compliance.

Primary Functions:

• Investigate equipment failures and difficult-to-diagnose process problems through application of engineering principles;
• Lead plant and outside engineering teams to address mission critical issues such as compliance with environmental regulations, improving sustainability, meeting company strategic goals, and lowering the cost of producing electricity;
• Communicate, coordinate and resolve conflicts with multiple parties including contractors, suppliers and OUC employees in the completion of plant projects and ensuring equipment is functioning to design requirements;
• Make engineering decisions which affect the health, safety and welfare of the plant by utilizing basic engineering sciences and industry practices originating from engineering organizations, governmental agencies, safety laws and codes are applied;
• Research and identify cost saving opportunities and analyze new technologies for continuous plant improvement and reliability; evaluate alternatives to determine the lowest economical costs. Initiate, develop and submit to management budgetary information, cost estimates and time frames for annual and long-term Operations and Maintenance (O&M) and capital expenditures;
• Prepare contractor bid packages for management and Commission (i.e. supportive memorandums, purchase requests, capital project documentation, etc.);
• Coordinate and direct outside engineers for completing the work, meeting specifications, cost and schedule. Provide input to environmental for changes to plant permits;
• Research, design and specify plant equipment components and perform engineering calculations to determine the correct application and sizing of equipment. Initiate, develop and oversee plant projects from start to completion;
• Perform other duties as assigned.

Technical Requirements:

• Working knowledge of all, but not limited to the following:
  • The safe and efficient operation and maintenance of various power generation systems including, but not limited to:
    • Mechanical systems (i.e. boilers, steam & gas turbine-generators, large rotating equipment, pumps, fans, wet/dry ash handling systems, sludge conditioning systems, material handling systems, cooling towers, chimneys);
    • Electrical systems (i.e. high voltage electrical systems, programmable logic controls, high voltage switchgear, 6.9kv motors, control & electronic circuits, excitation systems, speed controls, relay & switch logic, cathodic protection);
    • Environmental systems (i.e. dry sorbent injection [DSI], selective catalytic reduction [SCR], precipitators, scrubbers, brine plants, mercury mitigation);
    • Gas systems (i.e. natural gas, landfill gas, CO2, hydrogen, nitrogen);
    • Chemical systems (i.e. acid, caustics, ammonia, chlorine, water treatment, potable, fire protection);
    • Electro-mechanical systems;
    • Electro-hydraulic systems;
  • Industry Technical Standards (American Society of Mechanical Engineers, National Association of Corrosion Engineers, National Electric Manufacturers Association, Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE);Process Flow Diagram and Instrument Diagrams;
  • Design Drawings and Design Calculation;
  • General Arrangement and Assembly Drawings;
  • Construction, Demolition and Fabrication Drawings;
  • Specifications and Contracts;
  • Maintenance and Operating Manuals and Quality Insurance Programs;

• Familiarity with all, but not limited to the following:
  • Memorandums for justifying projects and purchases for management and Commission;
  • Capital and O&M project budgets, cash flows, spreadsheets, graphs, tables, process billing/invoicing;
  • Maintenance and inspection reports, recommendations for preventative maintenance, inventory adjustment forms, equipment drawings;
  • Work Orders, confined space permits, hot work permits, contractor safety orientation;
  • Safety Equipment (i.e. air monitors chemical detection monitors, personal protective, emergency equipment devices);
  • Process Analysis Instrumentation (i.e. flow meters, temperature guns, acoustic monitor, alloy identification);
  • Software Applications (i.e. JD Edwards EnterpriseOne, CMMS, AutoCAD, Solidworks (3-Dimensional Modeling), Electronic Work Order Management Program, Eclipse (Lock-Out-Tag-Out Software), Meridian, Docusphere, Programmable Logic Controllers, data loggers, Primavera, Microsoft Project);
  • Related industry, organizational and departmental legal guidelines, recommendations, best practices, ordinances and laws;
• Demonstrated leadership skills and effective teamwork;
• Planning and organizational skills;
• Persuasively promote ideas and proposals;
• Stay current in developments and trends in area of expertise;
• Able to work under pressure and remain flexible in changing environments;
• Apply algebra, calculus, geometry, statistics and trigonometry with engineering principles;
• Perform financial and economic analysis/justification (i.e. NPV, ROI, etc.);
• Ability to:
  • Work stand-by and call-out when necessary;
  • Make arithmetic computations using whole numbers, fractions and decimals, and compute rates, ratios, and percentages;
  • Use Microsoft Office Suite (Word, Excel, Outlook, etc.) and standard office equipment (telephone, computer, copier, etc.).

Education/ Certification/ Years of Experience Requirements:

• Bachelor’s degree in Engineering from an accredited college or university;
• Minimum of eight (8) years of related engineering experience to include design and implementation of plant modifications to improve reliability, safety and increased production;
• Registered Professional Engineer (preferred);
• Valid driver’s license;
• Special training to be completed upon hire:
  • Plant/environment equipment operations and maintenance
  • Distributed Controls (DCS) and programmable logic controls (PLC, ladder logic)
  • Environmental, plant and/or project specific
  • Continual training in industrial classes, seminars, and credits

Working Conditions:

This job involves disagreeable working conditions where elements are occasionally present to the extent of being objectionable; regular exposure to work situations that could result in incapacitating accidents of, on occasion, loss of life. This job involves working very frequently near moving mechanical parts, fumes or airborne particles, extreme heat (non-weather) and vibration. This job involves occasionally working in wet, humid conditions (non-weather), high precarious places or in confined areas. This job may involve occasionally working with toxic or caustic chemicals, and the risk of electric shock. This job may involve occasionally working in outdoor conditions.

Physical Requirements:

This job requires constant reading. This job may require very frequent standing, walking, sitting, typing and driving of a company vehicle. This job may require frequent lifting up to twenty (20) lbs., bending/ stooping, reaching over head and writing. This job may require occasional lifting over forty (40) lbs., pushing/ pulling/ digging, and kneeling/ crawling.

OUC–The Reliable One is an Equal Opportunity Employer who is committed through responsible management policies to recruit, hire, promote, train, transfer, compensate, and administer all other personnel actions without regard to race, color, ethnicity, national origin, age, religion, disability, marital status, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, genetic information and any other factor prohibited under applicable federal, state, and local civil rights laws, rules, and regulations.

EOE M/F/Vets/Disabled