Power Plant Operator

Power Plant O&M / Microgrid Operational Support Specialist

Location: San Diego, CA Employment Type: Full-Time

About the Company

Our client is a global leader in energy management, automation, and sustainability solutions, helping organizations improve operational efficiency, reliability, and resilience. With a strong focus on innovation and digital transformation, the company delivers advanced technologies that support critical infrastructure, industrial operations, data centers, utilities, and government facilities worldwide. Their mission is to empower organizations to maximize energy performance while maintaining the highest standards of safety, reliability, and environmental stewardship. As part of their growing energy services team, they are seeking a skilled Power Plant O&M / Microgrid Operational Support Specialist to support the operation and maintenance of a mission-critical microgrid facility serving a military installation in the San Diego area.

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Position Overview

The Power Plant O&M / Microgrid Operational Support Specialist will provide daily operational oversight, preventive maintenance support, and troubleshooting for a state-of-the-art microgrid power plant that supports critical military operations. This role is responsible for helping ensure maximum system reliability, optimizing plant performance through programming and alarm management, and supporting environmental, safety, and regulatory compliance initiatives. The ideal candidate will possess hands-on experience with power generation systems, microgrid operations, diesel and natural gas engines, and mission-critical infrastructure. This position offers a unique opportunity to support a highly visible and essential energy asset that directly contributes to national defense operations.

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Key Responsibilities

- Provide daily operational support and preventive maintenance oversight for microgrid systems and power generation assets.
- Monitor plant performance and maximize operational efficiency through system programming, alarm management, and diagnostic analysis.
- Troubleshoot equipment issues and coordinate corrective actions to maintain uninterrupted power availability.
- Maintain comprehensive daily operational logs documenting activities, inspections, deliveries, subcontractor visits, and notable events.
- Conduct initial visual and operational troubleshooting of engine-related issues prior to manufacturer escalation.
- Support scheduled microgrid testing exercises, including occasional extended workdays during critical testing events.
- Coordinate with OEM project managers, government representatives, and subcontractors to facilitate maintenance activities and site access.
- Oversee subcontractor performance to ensure adherence to safety protocols, technical requirements, and project schedules.
- Assist with environmental compliance activities, including source testing coordination, tank inspections, permitting support, and hazardous material management.
- Perform regular facility inspections to identify housekeeping concerns, leaks, safety issues, or emerging equipment problems.
- Monitor equipment alarms, fault codes, and ERC notifications while determining appropriate corrective actions.
- Ensure compliance with applicable NAVFAC, USACE, environmental, and site-specific operational requirements.
- Collaborate closely with military and government stakeholders to support mission readiness and long-term asset reliability.

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Required Qualifications

- 5+ years of experience in power plant operations, microgrids, distributed energy systems, or related industrial facilities. Candidates with 2+ years of highly relevant experience and demonstrated technical expertise will also be considered.

- Experience operating, maintaining, and troubleshooting complex energy generation systems.
- Working knowledge of diesel generators, natural gas generators, and associated balance-of-plant equipment.
- Experience utilizing diagnostic tools, monitoring platforms, and control systems to optimize plant operations.
- Strong understanding of power generation equipment alarms, fault codes, and troubleshooting methodologies.
- Ability to troubleshoot mechanical and operational issues involving engines, cylinders, spark plugs, coolant systems, and related components.
- Familiarity with preventive maintenance programs, documentation practices, and operational reporting.
- Experience coordinating contractors or field service personnel in an industrial environment.
- Strong commitment to workplace safety, environmental compliance, and operational excellence.
- Ability to obtain and maintain access to a military installation.

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Preferred Qualifications

- Experience supporting military, federal, or government-operated facilities.
- Familiarity with Air Quality Management District (AQMD) compliance and permitting processes.
- Knowledge of NAVFAC and USACE requirements for mission-critical infrastructure.
- Experience with microgrid controls, power management systems, battery energy storage systems, or distributed energy resources.
- Background in environmental inspections, hazardous materials management, or source emissions testing.
- Technical certifications related to power generation, industrial maintenance, electrical systems, or energy operations are a plus.

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Work Environment

This position is based in San Diego, California , supporting a power generation facility located on a military installation. The microgrid consists of diesel generation assets, natural gas generation assets, battery backup systems, and supporting infrastructure that provide reliable power for mission-critical operations. The role requires a combination of office-based coordination and hands-on field activities within an operating industrial environment. Candidates should be comfortable working around mechanical and electrical equipment, conducting inspections, and collaborating with government personnel, contractors, and technical specialists. Occasional extended work hours may be required to support scheduled testing events, outage activities, and other mission-critical operational requirements.

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Why Join?

- Support a nationally significant energy resilience and microgrid program.
- Work with advanced power generation and distributed energy technologies.
- Collaborate with experienced energy, operations, and government stakeholders.
- Enjoy long-term career stability supporting critical infrastructure.
- Be part of a team dedicated to reliability, sustainability, safety, and operational excellence.
Job Type & Location
This is a Contract to Hire position based out of San Diego, CA.
Pay and Benefits
The pay range for this position is $50.00 - $62.00/hr. Individual compensation offered for this position within this range will depend on many factors, including qualifications, skills, relevant experience, job knowledge, geographic location, internal equity, and other pertinent job-related factors. Eligibility requirements apply to some benefits and may depend on your job
classification and length of employment. Benefits are subject to change and may be
subject to specific elections, plan, or program terms. If eligible, the benefits
available for this temporary role may include the following:

Medical, dental & vision
Critical Illness, Accident, and Hospital
401(k) Retirement Plan Pre-tax and Roth post-tax contributions available
Life Insurance (Voluntary Life & AD&D for the employee and dependents)
Short and long-term disability
Health Spending Account (HSA)
Transportation benefits
Employee Assistance Program
Time Off/Leave (PTO, Vacation or Sick Leave)
Workplace Type
This is a fully onsite position in San Diego,CA.
Application Deadline
This position is anticipated to close on Oct 7, 2026. About Actalent

Actalent is a global leader in engineering and sciences services and talent solutions. We help visionary companies advance their engineering and science initiatives through access to specialized experts who drive scale, innovation and speed to market. With a network of almost 20,000 consultants and 5,000 clients across the U.S., Canada, Asia and Europe, Actalent serves many of the Fortune 500. We are proud to be an Engineering News-Record (ENR) Top 500 Design Firm for our engineering design services and a ClearlyRated Best of Staffing® winner for both client and talent service.

The company is an equal opportunity employer and will consider all applications without
regard to race, sex, age, color, religion, national origin, veteran status, disability,
sexual orientation, gender identity, genetic information or any characteristic protected
by law.

If you would like to request a reasonable accommodation, such as the modification or
adjustment of the job application process or interviewing process due to a disability,
please email [email protected] for other accommodation options.

San Francisco Fair Chance Ordinance:
Pursuant to the San Francisco Fair Chance Ordinance, for all positions located in the
city and county of San Francisco, we will consider for employment qualified applicants
with arrest and conviction records.

Massachusetts Lie Detector:
It is unlawful in Massachusetts to require or administer a lie detector test as a
condition of employment or continued employment. An employer who violates this law
shall be subject to criminal penalties and civil liability.

Use of Artificial Intelligence (AI):
We may use Artificial Intelligence (AI) to support parts of our hiring process,
including sourcing, screening, and evaluating candidates. AI helps assess applications
and qualifications, but final decisions are made by our hiring team. By applying, you
acknowledge and agree that your application may be reviewed using AI tools.