Cooling Water, Liquids and Gas Engineer

Provide engineering support for life cycle maintenance, operation, and upgrade of cooling water, liquid and gas systems. This role is responsible for the overall technical integrity, safe operation, and maintenance of assigned systems, and supervision of assigned staff. A U.S. Department of Energy National Laboratory managed by Princeton University, the Princeton Plasma Physics Laboratory (PPPL) is tackling the world’s toughest science and technology challenges using plasma, the fourth state of matter.

With more than 70 years of history, PPPL is a leader in the science and engineering behind the development of fusion energy, a potentially limitless energy source. PPPL is also using its expertise to advance research in the areas of microelectronics, quantum sensors and devices, and sustainability sciences. Whether it be through science, engineering, technology or professional services, every team member has an opportunity to contribute to our mission and vision.

Come join us!

• Provide technical oversight of operations, maintenance, and configuration management for experimental operations; define and oversee maintenance, testing, and repair activities on assigned systems.
• Develop and maintain procedures, specifications, maintenance and inspection plans, drawings, and training material to ensure safe and reliable operation during the systems life cycle.
• Define and maintain spare parts inventory.
• Provide design support for corrective maintenance of system components, including piping, pumps, valves, relief devices, and heat exchangers.
• Prepare and maintain engineering calculations and systems models (eg – AFT Arrow and Fathom) to support system control and automation, understand performance limitations, document operational limits, and set alarm thresholds.
• Oversee operator training, operations and troubleshooting in support of experimental operations.
• Evaluate data collected during testing, commissioning, and operations to make recommendations for improved design or operational practices.

• Lead and direct assigned technical support and engineering staff, setting goals and performing performance appraisals.
• Plan, organize, and supervise daily work, schedule work to meet completion deadlines on assigned tasks.
• Foster a culture of responsibility, delegation of tasks, active mentoring, and professional communication.
• Ensure the safety and safety compliance of all assigned staff and maintain constant vigilance for potential safety hazards in restricted and potentially dangerous areas.
• Ensure compliance with environmental, safety, health, and quality program requirements.

• May be requested to train for operational roles such as NSTX-U Chief Operations Engineer (COE).
• Coordinate the startup, routine operation, and shutdown of numerous high power one-of-a-kind pressure, vacuum, and electrical systems.
• Coordinate operation of the NSTX-U device, including initiating each “pulse”.
• Ensure operations stay within safety basis parameters defined for the facility.
• Respond to fault conditions for NSTX-U operations and safety envelopes.
• Assure proper conduct of operations communications across the operating team.

• Bachelor's degree in Mechanical, Chemical, or related Engineering field with 8+ years of relevant experience, or a Master's degree with 6+ years of related experience.
• Demonstrated experience in a supervisory or lead technical role.

• Process experience, with industrial fluid systems equipment including pumps, valves, piping, control systems, and water chemistry is required.
• Experience with preventative maintenance of pumps, heat exchangers, valves, and pressure relief devices, including experience developing and implementing comprehensive maintenance programs for plant systems is required.
• Experience in the preparation of technical documentation such as operational and maintenance procedures, piping and instrumentation drawings (P&IDs), and process flow diagrams is required.
• Experience with plant simulation and modeling is highly desirable.
• Knowledge…