Control Room Operator (CRO) / Remote Operating Center (ROC)

The Remote Operating Center (ROC), located within the Tracy Power Project—a 330 MW combined cycle facility in Tracy, CA—supports the remote startup, operation, and monitoring of the fleet’s Peaker plants, which include LM6000 and FT8 gas turbines along with Battery Energy Storage System (BESS) units. These Peaker plants include the Henrietta Peaker Plant (96 MW, Lemoore, CA), Hanford Peaker Plant (97 MW, Hanford, CA), and Malaga Power Facility (96 MW, Fresno, CA). The ROC’s scope will expand to include additional remote assets as they are added to the San Joaquin Energy fleet, including CalPeak Peaker and BESS sites, as well as other future acquisitions.

Opportunity Summary

The ROC Control Room Operator is an onsite position based at the Remote Operating Center within the Tracy Power Project in Tracy, CA. This role is responsible for remotely operating a growing fleet of Peaker plants and Battery Energy Storage System (BESS) sites, including existing assets such as the Henrietta, Hanford, and Malaga, as well as new additions like the CalPeak sites and other future acquisitions. Responsibilities include executing real-time control of various gas turbine technologies, performing startup and shutdown procedures, responding to dispatch instructions, and coordinating with on-site personnel to ensure safe, reliable, and efficient plant operations that support grid stability and energy delivery.

Your scope of responsibility as an ROC Control Room Operator includes the following primary functions:

Operations and Monitoring

• While working onsite at the Remote Operating Center (ROC), located within the Tracy Power Project in Tracy, California, operate, start, stop, and monitor LM6000 and FT8 gas turbines across a growing fleet of remote facilities, including Peaker plants and Battery Energy Storage System (BESS) sites.
• Monitor and control Battery Energy Storage Systems (BESS), including managing battery state of charge, executing charge/discharge cycles, and responding rapidly to grid signals such as frequency regulation and voltage support, while ensuring thermal management and battery health remotely to optimize performance and safety.
• Continuously adjust system parameters and respond to changing operational needs to ensure safe, reliable, and efficient plant performance.
• Execute commands from electrical, steam, and fuel dispatchers in accordance with load demands, market signals, and operational directives.
• Follow standardized operating procedures and decision-making frameworks to ensure consistent and dependable plant operations.
• Operate facilities in compliance with all applicable NERC, environmental, and safety regulations.
• Analyze system trends and alarms, apply diagnostic reasoning to identify root causes, and escalate unresolved issues according to protocol.
• Monitor asset performance and communicate improvement opportunities to ROC leadership and site teams to support operational excellence.
• Accurately document plant operating conditions, equipment status, alarms, and system upsets in the official Operating Log, following established procedures.

Communication and Coordination

• Dispatch and direct on-call site personnel when remote startups or operational issues require local intervention.
• Provide clear and timely updates on plant conditions, events, and actions to ROC teammates, site personnel, and management.
• Support process improvements, assist with documentation efforts, and perform other duties as assigned to enhance ROC and fleet performance.

Training and Development

• Advance through the ROC training program, demonstrating growing proficiency in control systems, plant technologies, and emergency procedures.
• Successfully complete the Remote Operating Center (ROC) Control Room Operator qualification card within designated timeframe.
• Personnel may be cross-trained or rotated through various ROC assignments as part of career development, contingency planning, or to meet operational needs. These assignments may involve monitoring system screens, validating field data, or supporting emergency response during periods of high activity or reduced staffing.
• Travel to remote Peaker and BESS facilities as needed for training, inspections, or operational support.

NAES Safe

Safety is a core value at NAES, and as a condition of employment, all employees are expected to remain mentally alert and work safely at all times. Employees must also adhere to all safety warnings and posted signs while on company property. Additionally, they are required to follow all NAES safety rules and procedures. Adherence to these safety responsibilities is one of the key factors in the evaluation of each employee’s performance.

Working Relationships

The ROC CRO reports to the ROC Supervisor and responds to general direction from plant management The ROC CRO gives direction to other plant personnel as it pertains to the reliable remote operations of the various Peaker and BESS sites.

Physical Requirements and Working Conditions

This position is primarily based onsite in a Remote Operating Center, an office environment. Work involves extended periods of sitting while performing computer- and controls-based tasks, with occasional lifting of up to 50 pounds. However, travel to power plants may periodically be required.

While on-site in a power plant environment, duties may include standing for extended periods, climbing stairs and ladders, and working from elevated platforms and walkways. The role may also require entering confined spaces, crawling through narrow areas, and handling hazardous materials, with exposure to fumes, extreme temperatures, high heat near equipment, noise, and varying outdoor weather conditions. Some tasks necessitate the use of protective equipment such as hard hats, safety glasses, respirators, and ear protection. Strict smoking restrictions apply in and around the facility.

Fitness for Duty

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

Work Schedule

The ROC Control Room Operator works a rotating 12-hour shift schedule, consisting of four days on followed by four days off, alternating between day and night shifts. This position will also occasionally necessitate extended working hours and flexible shifts as needed, including weekends and holidays, in response to schedules, workload demands, and plant conditions. Periodic callouts or “On call” status may also be required.

Compensation

This position offers a base pay rate ranging from $38.99 to $58.89 per hour, along with an annual performance bonus.

Core Qualifications and Skills

We are seeking a skilled Operator with experience in power generation operations and a proven ability to work collaboratively while consistently meeting performance standards.

• Ability to understand procedures and instructions related to the assigned area, typically acquired through four years of high school. An Associate degree in power plant technology, a related technical field, or engineering is a plus. Relevant experience may be considered in lieu of education.
• At least five years as a Control Room Operator or in a similar role within a power generation or industrial facility, with a strong focus on control room management and system operations.
• A background in the direct operation of simple cycle large-frame gas turbine power plants and familiarity with LM2500, LM5000, LM6000, Alstom, Westinghouse, and FT4/FT8 is highly desirable.
• Strong understanding of plant equipment, systems, and operational procedures, including turbine generators, combustion turbines, and heat recovery steam generators (HRSGs).
• Theoretical and practical knowledge of combustion and steam turbine operations, closed-system steam generation, industrial safety, hazardous waste management, and plant parameter inspection and recording.
• Experience in water chemistry control, including water analysis, water treatment facility operations, and chemical handling requirements.
• Demonstrated leadership and supervisory experience, with the ability to guide and develop team members effectively.
• Proven ability to enforce safety and environmental regulations while ensuring team compliance.
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills to convey information effectively to management and team members.
• Must possess a valid, unrestricted U.S. driver’s license and ensure it remains in good standing at all times.

About NAES

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

NAES is committed to fostering a diverse and inclusive workplace. We prioritize selecting employees based on merit and competence, seeking individuals of the highest quality, 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 form of discrimination prohibited by applicable local, state, and federal law.