Early Career Plant Operations Engineer

Job Title: Plant Operations Engineer

Location: Arnold AFB, TN

Job Family Code: O--Engineering

Function/Branch: Engineering / Flight

Directorate: Test Operations

Position Type: Regular, Full-Time

Pay Type: Exempt

Grade: L06 (OA0624) - L07 (OA0723)

Salary Range: $70,000 - $93,000 / year

Overview

Beyond New Horizons, LLC (BNH) has an exciting opportunity for an early career Plant Operations Engineer, supporting the Test Operations and Sustainment contract at Arnold Engineering Development Complex at Arnold Air Force Base, TN. The Plant Operations Engineer will be working as a member of an integrated team responsible for operating and maintaining ground test facilities in support of the United States Air Force Test Operations and Sustainment efforts.

Open to internal and external candidates. The selected candidate for this role must be available to work any shift to support test needs as mission requires.

Job Summary

We are seeking a motivated and eager to learn early career Plant Operations Engineer to begin their career supporting the U.S. Air Force's critical wind tunnel testing facilities. This is a developmental role requiring strong initiative where you will learn to operate and maintain the complex plant equipment that provides ground test conditions for aerospace systems. As a key member of our team, you will receive field experience and mentorship, developing your problem solving and troubleshooting skills as well as skills in practical application of technical knowledge in a dynamic, mission-driven environment.

Job Duties:

Responsible for the safe operations and maintenance of the assigned Plant Facilities.
• Be flexible to work extra hours or support off-shift testing as required
• Evaluate, select, and apply standard engineering methods, techniques, procedures and criteria, using judgment in making adaptations and modifications.
• Perform assignments, which have clear and specific objectives and require the investigation of a limited number of variables for plant operations engineering; supports the use of common work processes and procedures within plant operations engineering across the TOS contract.
• Address operations of plant equipment, providing operational work instructions, risk assessments, and equipment sequencing and scheduling in support of test programs.
• Provide technical direction on multiple shifts for plant operations during the test periods. The test schedule changes throughout the year; therefore, hours of required support will change. Support could be on first or second shift (shifts could be 12 hours in length).
• Assist in tracking and ensure the use of qualified operators and coordinating special security requirements in support of a test program.
• Perform work, generally within plant operations engineering, which involves the preparation, interpretation or review of calculations, specifications, plans, investigations, surveys, structures, systems or equipment with relatively few complex features.
• Participate in equipment design and development, preparation of specifications and design calculations, designs, drawings and data analysis.
• Preparation of engineering studies and reports including computer aided design/computer aided engineering (CAD/CAE) tools, participate in incident investigations and fitness for service evaluations.
• Act as a point of contact to support proposed and active test programs with manhours and plant resources estimates for air-on activities.
• Participates in posttest briefs that address plant equipment status with engineers, craft superintendents, management, and schedulers in order to provide maintenance direction, schedule planning, and plant availability.
• Interface between multiple groups including (but not limited to): test ops, plant systems engineers, craft workforce, and planning/scheduling.
• Review of equipment condition assessments.
• It is a condition of employment to wear company issued PPE (Personal Protective Equipment) in accordance with supervisory direction and company policy.
• Perform other related duties as required.

As a Plant Systems Engineer:

• Evaluate mechanical, thermal, and electromechanical systems by applying principles of mechanics, thermodynamics, hydraulics, pneumatics, heat transfer, and materials of construction.
• Work with reliability engineers to develop maintenance schedules based on condition and health of equipment and ensure supply of materials required to maintain equipment is available when needed to prevent equipment failures.
• Work with planners, schedulers, and craft supervisors to safely plan and execute projects including maintenance work, upgrades, and test projects.
• Assist craft personnel with troubleshooting and oversee their work; provide leadership and guidance.
• Perform root cause failure analyses and other equipment performance analyses when systems or processes fail and recommend remedial actions.
• Develop, document, and complete maintenance procedures, mechanical systems operating procedures, sequence of operations, advanced troubleshooting, system optimization, and energy conservation.
• Develop estimates for small improvement projects and test projects
• Work with multi-discipline engineering staff to solve problems and plan test projects

Basic Qualifications:

• BS degree in mechanical or electrical engineering from an accredited college or university

NOTE: This posting is specifically for mechanical or electrical engineers with less than 5 years' experience

• Must be able to maintain a security clearance and the AEDC local area network

Preferred Qualifications

• At least one year of practical experience in the application of technical knowledge of mechanical engineering systems, applications of engineering methods and materials, and application of computer aided engineering (CAE)/computer aided design (CAD) tools to engineering problems
• Willingness and ability to make decisions under pressure
• Strong trouble-shooting skills
• Ability to work in a dynamic environment with flexibility to accomplish mission objectives
• Strong communication skills (including verbal and written)
• Demonstrated experience successfully building relationships with team across engineering and craft workforce
• Strong organizational skills to track and facilitate progress on projects
• Demonstrated proactiveness and initiate to drive to results
• Exhibits strong level of technical curiosity and desire to seek understanding
• Multi-disciplinary knowledge or experience (electrical engineering, mechatronics, control systems, etc.) is a plus
• Participates in and fosters a work environment that is based upon openness, trust, communication, teamwork, empowerment, innovation, and satisfaction.
• Active Department of Defense Secret Security Clearance

What We Offer

• Competitive salaries
• Continuing education assistance
• Multiple healthcare benefits packages
• 401K with employer matching
• Paid time off (PTO) along with a federally recognized holiday schedule

Who We Are

Beyond New Horizons (BNH) is a fully populated joint venture of Astrion and Fluor Federal Services, Inc. formed to provide unmatched Test Operations and Sustainment services for the Arnold Engineering Development Complex. We chose our name to serve as an enduring reminder of our commitment to AEDC's rich aerospace research and development legacy anchored in AEDC's Toward New Horizons founding study and the unprecedented opportunities to greatly expand AEDC's capabilities and capacity Beyond those existing today. Leveraging the capabilities of our parent companies, BNH specializes in testing and evaluation for military and space systems combined with proven capability in large-scale Government program management, integration, engineering, and construction services for specialized and technically advanced high-hazard facilities.

Join our Team!

BNH is an Equal Employment Opportunity Employer. We provide equal employment opportunities to all employees and applicants for employment and prohibit discrimination and harassment of any type without regard to race, color, religion, age, sex, national origin, veteran status, and any other grounds for discrimination prohibited by applicable law. This policy applies to all terms and conditions of employment, including recruiting, hiring, placement, promotion, termination, layoff, recall, transfer, leaves of absence, compensation, and training.