ZipRecruiter

Log In

1

Power Plant Startup Jobs (NOW HIRING)

Austintexas

Power Plant Specialist Senior

Decker, IN · On-site

$70K - $86K/yr

Estimates starting time for the idle generation units and follows prescribe startup procedures to ... Decker Power Plant electrical maintenance is responsible for but not limited to the following:

Wood

Plant Operator ll

Louisville, KY · On-site

$19 - $23/hr

... startup and shutdown of auxiliary equipment as change in demand dictates. * Operate assigned ... Ability to read and interpret power plant process flow diagrams and operating procedures.

previous pagenext page

Showing results 21-40

All JobsEnergy and Environment JobsUtility JobsPower Engineer JobsPower Plant Startup Jobs

Power Plant Startup information

See salary details

$22

$35

$60

How much do power plant startup jobs pay per hour?

As of Aug 20, 2026, the average hourly pay for power plant startup in the United States is $35.88, according to ZipRecruiter salary data. Most workers in this role earn between $28.61 and $36.06 per hour, depending on experience, location, and employer.

What is a power plant startup?

A Power Plant Startup job involves commissioning, testing, and optimizing power generation systems before they become fully operational. Professionals in this role ensure that equipment functions correctly, troubleshoot issues, and coordinate with various teams to achieve a smooth startup. They follow safety protocols, fine-tune system parameters, and document performance data. This position requires expertise in power systems, controls, and plant operations.

What does a power plant startup do?

During a power plant startup, your day will often begin with thorough system checks and safety briefings, followed by coordinated activities to bring various plant components online according to established protocols. You'll closely monitor equipment readings, perform routine inspections, and respond quickly to any irregularities or alarms that arise. Collaboration with cross-functional teams—including engineers, operators, and safety personnel—is a key part of ensuring a smooth and safe startup. This work can be fast-paced and requires strong attention to detail; however, it also offers a rewarding opportunity to contribute to the successful delivery of reliable power to the grid.

What skills and qualifications are needed for a power plant startup?

To excel in a Power Plant Startup role, candidates typically need a strong background in mechanical or electrical engineering, deep knowledge of plant operations, and relevant industrial experience. Familiarity with distributed control systems (DCS), safety management protocols, OSHA regulations, and certifications such as a Boiler Operator License are often required. Standout professionals possess excellent problem-solving skills, clear communication abilities, and adaptability for responding to real-time operational challenges. These competencies are essential to ensure safe, efficient, and compliant plant startups, minimizing downtime and supporting overall energy production goals.

More about Power Plant Startup jobs

What states have the most Power Plant Startup jobs?

States with the most job openings for Power Plant Startup jobs include:

What job categories do people searching Power Plant Startup jobs look for?

The top searched job categories for Power Plant Startup jobs are:

Power Plant Startup jobs near you
Infographic showing various Power Plant Startup job openings in the United States as of August 2026, with employment types broken down into 87% Full Time, 9% Part Time, 3% Contract, and 1% Nights. Highlights an 91% Physical, 3% Hybrid, and 6% Remote job distribution, with an average salary of $74,624 per year, or $35.9 per hour.

Thermal Performance Engineer, Heat Balance - Kiewit Power Engineering

Kiewit Corporation

Lenexa, KS • On-site

Full-time

Medical, Dental, Vision, Life, Retirement, PTO

Re-posted 10 hours ago

Kiewit Corporation rating

7.7

Company rating: 7.7 out of 10

Based on 137 frontline employees who took The Breakroom Quiz

24th of 80 rated construction

Job description

Requisition ID: 180451 

Job Level: Mid Level 

Home District/Group: Kiewit Power Engineering 

Department: Design Engineering 

Market: Power 

Employment Type: Full Time 

Position Overview

Our Kiewit Engineering Group is seeking a Lead Thermal Performance Engineer who has experience in Power Plant Performance analysis. This individual will model cycles and assist design of cycles along with testing assistance of the cycle in the form of creating correction curve and supporting calculations reviews, collect data, calculate test results, and communicate results with various teams involved. Occasional travel will be required from project sites to the main office for accurate testing. 

District Overview

Kiewit Engineering Group, Inc is a full-service consulting and engineering firm serving the infrastructure and engineering markets. Our combined staff of more than 1,300 engineers and design professionals have expertise that spans all major engineering disciplines to serve transportation, power, water/wastewater, mining, building, and oil, gas & chemical markets. Backed by 130 years of construction experience, our construction-driven engineering focuses on constructability and safety in the earliest phases of projects to ensure on-time and on-budget project delivery.
Our rapidly growing Power district, which includes structural, civil, piping, mechanical, process, process safety, electrical, instrument and control disciplines, is a multi-faceted division of Kiewit with best-in-class technical expertise focused on the EPC delivery model for power facilities. We offer a variety of engineering services, including owner's engineering, project development, detailed engineering and design, construction management and plant services. Our engineering teams bring power projects to life across North America in the following areas: 

  • Gas-fired generation 
  • Power delivery 
  • Environmental retrofits
  • Renewables and new technology
  • Water/wastewater
Location

This role is located in Lenexa, KS, with the opportunity for flexible work.

Responsibilities
  • Develop power plant heat balances to support proposal efforts, plant guarantees, risk and liability calculations as well as project team detailed design efforts, and performance test correction curves.
  • Prepare and assess Plant Thermal Performance development and design using plant thermal performance modeling and estimating software tools like Ebsilon software.
  • Coordinate with equipment vendors for thermal sizing and performance evaluations, including combustion turbine, heat recovery steam generator, steam turbine, steam surface condenser, wet cooling tower, air-cooled condenser, and pump vendors.
  • Assist with development of thermal performance test procedures based on project requirements.
  • Support execution of performance tests in the field.
  • Assist calculations to determine plant emission guarantees and plant start-up times guarantees.
  • Assist combined cycle power plant startup curves preparations.
  • Perform non-compressible and compressible fluid flow calculations including pressure drop, choked flow, bypass valve sizing.
Qualifications
  • 2-10+ years' experience in power plant performance analysis and performance modeling and/or performance testing using ASME Performance Test Codes. 
  • Bachelor's degree in Mechanical Engineering (or other engineering discipline with strong thermodynamic component) from an ABET accredited four-year college or university program.
  • Proficiency in thermodynamics, thermodynamic cycles, and fluid mechanics.
  • Understanding of power plant equipment operation from a thermodynamic perspective.
  • Experience with industrial instrumentation and data acquisition systems.  Familiarity with distributed control systems a plus.
  • Strong Microsoft Excel skills.  Experience in development of XLL add ins a plus.
  • Familiarity and working knowledge of heat balance calculation software (Ebsilon/GateCycle/Thermoflex or similar in-house software) a plus.
  • Highly self-motivated, with a demonstrated passion for excellence and taking initiative.
  • Strong work ethic, willing to do what it takes to get the job done right the first time.
  • Demonstrated commitment to ethics and integrity.
  • Passion for safety, with the ability to help us ensure that nobody gets hurt.
  • Strong interpersonal, written, and verbal communication skills.
  • Team player with the ability to work independently to meet deadlines, goals and objectives.
  • Strong organization, time management, and attention to detail.
  • This position may require approximately 20%-40% travel in 1-4 week intervals to project sites across North America. Travel percentage is highly dependent on project schedules

#LI-PC1

Other Requirements:

  • Regular, reliable attendance 
  • Work productively and meet deadlines timely
  • Communicate and interact effectively and professionally with supervisors, employees, and others individually or in a team environment.
  • Perform work safely and effectively. Understand and follow oral and written instructions, including warning signs, equipment use, and other policies.
  • Work during normal operating hours to organize and complete work within given deadlines. Work overtime and weekends as required.
  • May work at various different locations and conditions may vary.

We offer our fulltime staff employees a comprehensive benefits package that's among the best in our industry, including top-tier medical, dental and vision plans covering eligible employees and dependents, voluntary wellness and employee assistance programs, life insurance, disability, retirement plans with matching, and generous paid time off.

Equal Opportunity Employer, including disability and protected veteran status.
 

What Kiewit Corporation employees say

Pay

Benefits

Hours and flexibility

Workplace

Get the full story on Breakroom

Kiewit logo

About Kiewit

Sourced by ZipRecruiter

Kiewit Infrastructure Engineering's Design-Build team is driving clients to turn to Kiewit during all stages of design-build projects. Through our integrated design and construction approach, our multi-disciplinary team works together to improve schedule, control costs and minimize risk. Our construction-focused engineers work collaboratively with our estimators and builders to design solutions that are innovative, constructible, and designed with a focus on safety. Clients benefit from the proven processes and tools used by Kiewit to minimize project risk. We are an in-house resource that supports projects throughout the company. Our staff shares experiences gained, innovative concepts, and best practices for all projects that we support.

Industry

Construction materials wholesalers

Company size

10,000+ Employees

Headquarters location

Omaha, NE, US

Year founded

1884

View All Kiewit Jobs

Apply