Instrumentation & Control Technician

Instrumentation & Control Technician 

Instrumentation and Control Engineer

Inhambane  

Global Edge is an international firm specializing in project staffing for the Energy sector, with a presence in Mozambique since 2014. We are the game changers and multi-award-winning agency in the global staffing arena, redefining what excellence means in recruitment. 

Our client, an independent power producer operating and developing power projects in Africa, is looking to appoint a successful Instrumentation & Control Technician to based in Inhambane. 

Responsibilities:

The Instrumentation and Control Technician will be required to install, troubleshoot, maintain and repair instrumentation, control and electrical systems used in a Gas Combined Cycle Plant. This equipment includes but is not limited to Generators, Gas Turbine, HRSG Boilers, Steam Turbine and various auxiliary equipment. Success in this role requires strict adherence to all safety and environmental rules and regulations to protect employees and public safety.

Preventive Maintenance

•    Regarding preventive maintenance activities, the Instrumentation and Control Technician (I&C):

•    Participates in minor and major overhauls of Gas Turbines (GT) and Steam Turbines (ST) and Generators.

•    Performs planned maintenance work as scheduled on all plant visibility panels and on GT/ST and generators.

•    Installs new instrumentation systems and configures the necessary settings.

•    Performs routine checks and maintenance on existing systems to prevent mechanical failures in instruments and control systems.

•    Calibrates instruments to ensure their accuracy and reliability in data collection and process control.

•    Diagnoses problems and performs repairs immediately to mitigate downtime.

•    Updates system software and hardware to ensure technological compliance and efficiency.

•    Documents processes and maintain service reports for adherence to operational and compliance standards.

•    Collaborates with team members, including engineers and other technicians, to improve system performance if necessary and to input modifications into the IFS.

•    I&C technicians also install monitoring and control technologies on Plant equipment that control operational processes and record information. This monitoring and control equipment is part of the Plant's DCS/PLC system. 

•    DCS/PLC systems collect and process operational data to send alarms or notifications to the plant network. - In addition to performing installations, I&C technicians also perform maintenance on equipment such as PLC/DCS, routinely calibrating and testing instruments and devices.

•    I&C technicians perform periodic system tests, configure equipment, and evaluate equipment and system performance. I&C technicians then perform analysis on the test information to resolve design issues. 

•    I&C technicians also calibrate and perform preventive maintenance on equipment and systems and prepare reports and record data on testing techniques, equipment and specifications.

•    I&C technicians ensure that all equipment and systems comply with regulatory and compliance standards.

•    Write and review work instructions (obtain diagrams from documentation and, where appropriate, request additional information from the work requester regarding location, nature of defect, etc.);

•    Maintain records, and record labor, materials and equipment used and update in the IFS;

•    Work alone or with an operator, mechanic, I&C technician, etc., on production units and auxiliaries, depending on the type of equipment.

•    Read and understand complex electrical and mechanical diagrams.

•    Must be able to work late nights and overnight, must be able to work weekends and support calls in a timely manner.

•    Ensure that all work performed meets the required codes (Safety, Health and Environment (SHE)) and is in accordance with plant policies and procedures. - Use appropriate Personal Protective Equipment (PPE), including but not limited to safety glasses, face shields, hearing protection, safety shoes, gloves and aprons.

•    Responsible for the proper care/cleaning of tools, parts, materials and work area.

•    Responsible for providing cover in the absence of other Maintenance Technicians.

Corrective maintenance

•    The priority of interventions is defined in the daily joint maintenance meeting - operation. Based on the intervention orders provided by the Instrumentation and Control Engineer, the Instrumentation and Control Technician:

•    Diagnoses and repairs are the cause of variations in instruments and control systems, including transmitters, programmable logic controllers (PLCs), plant control systems or devices flow meters, pressure probes, temperature probes, thermocouples, level probes, repair of electrical system control faults of equipment such as transformers, relays, control systems, monitoring and control of generators, distribution systems and monitoring of medium and high voltage devices.

•    Requests the LOTO of equipment from the operations department via IFS.

•    Interventions on equipment with a work permit are issued by the operating department.

•    Writes an intervention report in IFS after completion of the work.

•    Intervenes in accidental faults when requested by the Shift Engineer or his/her hierarchical superior. In this case, he/she analyses the situation and proposes a solution as quickly as possible.

•    Manages the supply of technical tools and defines the needs, ensuring the existence of the budget item and orders after agreement with his/her superiors.

•    Provides the necessary tools during minor and major renovations. Take care of the tools and ensure that they are safe and in good condition to be used when necessary. - Anticipates and presents proposals to superiors with a view to reducing or even eliminating the recurrence of failures. Participates in/performs RCA (Root Cause Analysis) to ensure that the root cause of problems is eliminated.

•    participates in the daily start-of-work meeting.

•    Recognizes and corrects possible equipment failures or unsafe conditions and communicates this to the Instrumentation and Control Engineer and operators. 

Control

•    The Instrumentation and Control Technician reports the progress of his/her activities to the Instrumentation and Control Engineer and contacts him/her when he/she encounters difficulties. The latter goes to the field, if necessary, to note the anomalies reported or the work completed.

•    The Instrumentation and Control Engineer evaluates the results and behavior of the Instrumentation and Control Technician during the two (2) annual individual progress interviews, based on the evaluation form.

In addition to technical knowledge, the Instrumentation and Control Technician is available as needed, in good physical health, focused on results and respecting defined priorities.

• Excellent interpersonal skills and ability to communicate with all levels of the organization, both written and verbal; includes building relationships with the team leader.

• Computer proficiency in Microsoft Office Suite (Word, Excel, Power Point, Outlook, etc.), work-related internet research and ability to learn IFS (CMMS software) for daily use.

• Strong organizational, prioritization and problem-solving skills with a focus on attention to detail.

• Ability to work independently and as part of a team, completing goals efficiently and with purpose and responsibility. 

• Understand, practice and enforce safe work practices related to: respiratory protection, working at heights, fall protection, power control and lockout (Lockout/Tagout procedure), fire protection systems, electrical safety, forklift/hoist operation, welding, cutting, brazing, confined space entry and PPE. 

• Reads automatic meters or devices to record data such as equipment temperature, equipment vibration, operating hours, fluid pressure and levels, water chemistry to verify operating conditions.

• Keeps Operating Engineers and Instrumentation and Control Engineer fully informed of unusual conditions and current work progress as work relates to operations and installation.

• Utilizes operating procedures and equipment technical manuals to maintain and repair Plant equipment and ensure equipment is operated within operating range.

• Fully supports the use of a Computerized Maintenance Management System, demonstrating proficiency in the use of the system and dedication to the facility maintenance philosophy. Performs CMMS data entry and work order closing in a timely and complete manner.

• Coordinates and supervises I&C work with contractors as needed.

• Updates drawings and printouts as needed.

• Performs annual instrument calibrations as part of the electrical and instrumentation team.

Qualifications:

•    The Instrumentation and Control Technician must have an approved intermediate level.

•    Must have at least 3 (three) years of experience in a similar role.

•    Experience in a Combined Cycle Plant is preferred.

•    Experience in DCS is required.

•    At least two (3) years of experience in an industrial environment and ability to demonstrate knowledge in instrumentation.

•    Experience with DCS, GE controls, as well as Siemens, ABB and Allen Bradley PLCs.

•    Experience with computerized maintenance management systems.

•    Experience with Cisco CEMS and ESC Stack vision DAHS systems is an added advantage.

•    Experience with low, medium and high voltage switchgear is preferred.

•    In addition, the Instrumentation and Control Technician must have:

•    Ability to consolidate continuous improvement (Quality Assurance, HSE, Benchmark);

•    Good knowledge in Maintenance of power plant instruments and control system (routine, preventive, corrective maintenance, troubleshooting, etc.) or equivalent.

•    Good knowledge of maintenance, minor and major overhauls in a power plant or equivalent.

•    Good knowledge of activity recording practices and a power plant or equivalent.

•    Good understanding and expression in Portuguese and English is preferred.

•    Must be well informed with HSE practices in a power plant and its respective components.

•    Knowledge of high voltage electrical systems and the different control systems.

•    Being a female candidate is an added advantage.