Job Description

Step 1 Apprentice to Plant Operator

Work Location Aberdeen, SD

Pay range Union Rate $29.42 to $49.04 per hour

Employment Status: Regular Full-time

External candidates apply at northwesternenergy.com

Internal candidates apply through iConnect

About this position:

The Plant Operator in SD is responsible for operating power plants in a safe and accident-free manner and to maintain compliance with environmental permits and regulatory guidelines.

We offer great benefits:

NorthWestern Energy is a fully regulated electric and natural gas utility serving Montana, South Dakota and Nebraska. We employ over 1,600 amazing people and serve over 800,000 customers who are our neighbors in our communities. We are a top employer and offer competitive benefits, including:

• 401K with company match up to 4% and non-elective contribution up to 7%
• Healthcare and wellbeing programs, including dental and vision for you, your spouse and dependents, Health Savings Account (HSA), healthcare and dependent care flexible spending account (FSA)
• Employee Assistance Program (Offering up to six free counseling sessions, per person, per issue, per year for employees, spouses and dependents)
• Life Insurance (Company pays basic employee policy; spouse, dependent insurance also available)
• Tuition reimbursement
• Competitive pay (Scheduled performance-based wage increases and annual incentive opportunities.)
• Paid company endorsed volunteer opportunities
• Paid training opportunities
• Paid time off starting on your first day, plus 11 paid holidays

Benefits may vary by position or as negotiated as part of a collective bargaining agreement.

About this job:

• Perform, plan, organize, and direct work of operations and maintain the power plant in a safe, reliable, and compliant manner
  • Maintain power generation and safeguard station equipment during emergency situations
  • Perform startup and shutdown on plant components and auxiliaries
  • Perform routine operational tests and adjustments on all power plant systems and components as required
  • Conduct routine inspections of plant systems and equipment including reading and recording gauges and meters
  • Assemble/disassemble, investigate, trouble shoot and repair problems including turbine control equipment, electrical and mechanical systems; provide follow-up reports/analysis as needed
  • Perform preventive and predictive maintenance duties on all major equipment and systems as well as emergency backup systems
  • Inspect, repair, install, and remove all types of electrical equipment including motors, generators, transformers, breakers, switches, control equipment, wiring, electrical signal and communication systems, and storage batteries
  • Troubleshoot and correct, various instrumentation, mechanical, electrical, and human machine interface issues.
• Perform routine cycle chemistry testing, make necessary adjustments to optimize efficiency; this includes checking daily consumption rates of chemicals, gases, fuels, water, and other consumables; monitoring inventories and initiating action to replenish when appropriate
• Comply and follow all site safety requirements and procedures, identify and correct safety hazards including documented procedures and guidelines of external agencies
• Receive and respond to Southwest Power Pool ("SPP") generation requests. A dispatch call may require a 10-minute response time from startup to full load to comply with SPP guidelines.
• Represent NorthWestern Energy and interact effectively and responsibly with internal company employees and external agencies; includes providing feedback to production teams and operators
• Issue Lockout/Tagouts as required
• Complete and maintain accurate operating logs, records, time sheets, work orders and other administrative documents and computer operations
• Maintain and update plant operating manuals, technical references, prints and diagrams and preventive/predictive maintenance records; develop and revise plant operation and maintenance procedures
• Set up and operate machine shop tools and complete machine work to close tolerances; align and balance rotating equipment
• Perform shipping and receiving duties including material handling, operating forklift, and monitoring inventory; issue, receive and maintain spare parts inventory to ensure plant reliability
• Complete assigned training requirements
• Perform and maintain housekeeping standards and duties including sweeping, mopping, taking out trash, shoveling snow, or operating Bobcat to clear snow from main entry ways
• Must be able to work rotating shift work between the hours of 6am-midnight with occasional overtime on weekends and holidays as requested and to response to acute service needs.
• Rotating weekend standby
• Travel up to 25% and stay overnight on occasion
• Safely perform individual lifts of parts, equipment, and supplies weighing up to 50 pounds from floor to high chest level (less than 52" height)
• All NorthWestern Energy employees are required to adhere to company safety standards and the Code of Business Conduct & Ethics
• Ensure all actions are consistent with NorthWestern Energy's values, mission, and strategic business objectives

Am I right for this job? Here's the success profile:

• Demonstrate and maintain a good safety record
• High school diploma or equivalent
• Degree from an accredited Instrument Technician Program and 2-years work experience preferred
• Minimum of 3 years operations and maintenance experience in gas turbine electrical power generation preferred
• Working knowledge of rotating electrical and mechanical equipment and mechanical diagrams
• Complete and passed required pre-employment testing
• Knowledge in working with systems up to 13.8 kV volts preferred
• Knowledge and experience with installing and troubleshooting instrumentation and control equipment, relaying, and interface equipment including alarms, data loggers, historians, and Plant Information (PI)
• Ability to work well with others and be self-directed
• Apply creative solutions to unique mechanical and IC&E problems preferred
• Must be able to effectively understand and work with plant drawings
• Valid driver's license and satisfactory driving record
• Forklift operation certification preferred
• Commitment to safe working practices and knowledge of safety policies/procedures

Requisition #4849

Posting Dates: March 23, 2026 through April 6, 2026

Department/Division: Energy Supply

Employment Physical: Required

Drug Test: Required

Background Check: Required

Relocation Benefit: Negotiable

Telecommuting: None

We are an equal opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, national origin, gender, age, disability, veteran status, genetic information or any other protected class in accordance with applicable federal or state laws and statutes. In compliance with the ADA Amendments Act, should you have a disability that requires assistance and/or reasonable accommodation with the job application process, please contact the Human Resources department at 1-800-245-6977 or at job.inquiries@northwestern.com