Plant Engineer

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. Rathdrum Power, LLC. (Rathdrum) is a 275 MW combined-cycle natural gas-fired project that commenced commercial operation in September 2001 and is tolled under a long-term agreement with Avista Corporation, the term of the agreement running through October 2041. Rathdrum is platformed on GE 7FA.03 gas turbine technology, an Alborg heat recovery steam generator, and a GE A10 steam turbine. Rathdrum is a recent vintage, environmentally compliant, and highly reliable electric power generation facility.

The Plant Engineer at Rathdrum holds a critical role in optimizing reliability and maximizing operational efficiency. The successful candidate will play a key role in long-term maintenance planning, planning and management of non-routine and capex projects, tracking Generating Availability Data System (GADS) data and accurately reporting to regulatory bodies, performing root cause analyses, and coordinating with external contacts to resolve technical issues.

The Plant Engineer evaluates control systems, implements condition monitoring techniques, manages instrumentation systems, and oversees engineering programs that enhance plant reliability and long-term profitability. This multifaceted role requires a deep understanding of engineering principles and thermal power generation, and strong communication skills to support continuous improvement efforts, minimize downtime, and meet performance expectations under the tolling agreement.

Engineering, Project Management, and Reliability

• Track forced outages and generation losses across major plant systems. Perform root cause analysis and ensure accurate reporting to support operational transparency and tolling agreement compliance.
• Lead and support root cause analyses (RCA) of equipment failures, forced outages, and performance deviations to identify underlying issues and implement corrective actions. Utilize industry best practices such as the 5 Whys, fault tree analysis, and failure modes and effects analysis (FMEA). Collaborate with operations, maintenance, OEMs, and other stakeholders to document findings, develop mitigation strategies, and drive continuous improvement in plant reliability and availability.
• Coordinate with external vendors, OEMs, and service providers to plan and execute maintenance activities, inspections, and capital projects. Ensure scope, schedule, and budget alignment while maintaining compliance with safety, regulatory, and performance standards. Facilitate clear communication between internal teams and external partners to ensure successful project execution and resolution of technical issues.
• Monitor and analyze plant performance metrics, including heat rate, thermal efficiency, and equipment performance, to identify trends and opportunities for improvement. Develop and maintain performance tracking tools and reports, conduct variance analyses, and work with operations and maintenance teams to implement performance optimization strategies that support reliability, efficiency, and cost-effectiveness.
• Provide technical support for plant control systems, including troubleshooting, configuration, and optimization of DCS, PLCs, and HMI systems. Collaborate with operations and maintenance teams to ensure reliable and accurate control of plant equipment and processes. Coordinate with OEMs and control system vendors for upgrades, patches, and modifications while maintaining proper documentation and change management protocols.
• Support plant reliability by developing and implementing condition-based and predictive maintenance programs. Utilize tools such as vibration analysis, infrared thermography, oil analysis, ultrasonic testing, and pattern recognition to monitor equipment health and detect early signs of degradation. Collaborate with maintenance and engineering support teams to plan corrective actions, reduce unplanned outages, and extend asset life through data-driven decision-making. Conduct reliability and performance assessments to maximize plant availability and reduce capacity derates, focusing on improved asset utilization.
• Oversee third party calibration and maintenance of instrumentation and measurement systems to ensure data accuracy for operations, compliance, and settlements.
• Administer the plant’s Management of Change (MOC) processes to ensure all physical, procedural, or operational changes are reviewed, documented, and approved in accordance with safety, regulatory, and corporate standards. Coordinate with cross-functional teams to evaluate potential risks, update drawings and documentation, and ensure proper training and communication prior to implementing changes.
• Support the development and execution of long-term non-routine maintenance and capital improvement plans. Identify and scope major equipment overhauls, system upgrades, and reliability enhancements, including technical justification and cost-benefit analysis. Support the…