What does a control room operator do?
A control room operator is an individual who works in the control room of a power plant to monitor the operations of the plant as well as ensures that everything is properly working. By using computer controls, control room operators must monitor and maintain plant equipment and indicators for proper operation. They must perform maintenance on various plant equipment to help improve reliability while monitoring the temperature to control plant heat. Control room operators must also serve as the control point for all individuals who enter the toxic areas of the facility.
Control room operator responsibilities
Here are examples of responsibilities from real control room operator resumes:
- Lead and manage the redesign of system SCADA schematic's, revise system load calculations and regional load shedding programs.
- Manage and perform preventive maintenance, electrical repairs, millwright work, and MSHA safety functions.
- Perform inspections of area by accessing ladders and stairwells.
- Run coating machine Pre-QC boards before sending to QC.
- Serve a lead producer; direct crew to ensure show run smoothly.
- Operate support utilities, including cascade HVAC, power distribution, and emergency generators.
- Trained/Maintain fire truck, firefighting equipment/apparatus, tools and systems that are in place.
- Maintain lube oil system purification for turbines, pumps, turbine control, seal systems.
- Operate heavy machinery such as cranes, front end loaders, skid loaders, and forklifts.
- Prepare LOTO's and other safety forms, assist maintenance when require, and order equipment and supplies.
- Support 4 plant engineers by regularly performing and evaluating plant tests as well as putting together outage packages.
- Clean surface condensers, turbine lube oil sumps, and cooling tower; replace tower fill as needed.
- Attend SBT meetings with HVAC and controls engineers to optimize facility controls systems software and correct programming code discrepancies.
- Operate, control and maintain power generating equipment, including boilers, turbines, generators and supporting equipment using DCS.
- Operate the plant and monitor PLC programming, oven pressures and temperatures to ensure successful cook times and quality product.
Control room operator skills and personality traits
We calculated that 8% of Control Room Operators are proficient in Control Room Operations, Plant Operations, and Safety Procedures. They’re also known for soft skills such as Concentration skills, Problem-solving skills, and Dexterity.
We break down the percentage of Control Room Operators that have these skills listed on their resume here:
- Control Room Operations, 8%
Coordinate and direct control room operations to ensure consistent power productions working within established operating standards and specifications.
- Plant Operations, 7%
Maintain all documentation pertaining to plant operations, such as operating procedures, emergency procedures, maintenance procedures and surveillance.
- Safety Procedures, 7%
Helped develop safety procedures for starting and shutting down operating units and process equipment.
- Plant Equipment, 6%
Perform emergency operations during unit trips and abnormal operating conditions to place plant equipment in a safe operating condition.
- Ladders, 6%
Skilled in climbing ladders, using fork lifts and cutting torches.
- Emergency Situations, 6%
Recognized as an excellent problem identification source with proven ability to act appropriately and professionally in emergency situations.
Common skills that a control room operator uses to do their job include "control room operations," "plant operations," and "safety procedures." You can find details on the most important control room operator responsibilities below.
Concentration skills. One of the key soft skills for a control room operator to have is concentration skills. You can see how this relates to what control room operators do because "power plant operators, distributors, and dispatchers must be careful, attentive, and persistent." Additionally, a control room operator resume shows how control room operators use concentration skills: "performed water chemistry analysis and adjusted chemical concentrations in boilers. "
Problem-solving skills. Another soft skill that's essential for fulfilling control room operator duties is problem-solving skills. The role rewards competence in this skill because "power plant operators, distributors, and dispatchers must find and quickly solve problems that arise with equipment or controls." According to a control room operator resume, here's how control room operators can utilize problem-solving skills in their job responsibilities: "worked directly with 150+ customers to develop solutions for all electro-mechanical equipment in a highly complex 1.2 billion dollar facility. "
Dexterity. control room operators are also known for dexterity, which are critical to their duties. You can see how this skill relates to control room operator responsibilities, because "power plant operators, distributors, and dispatchers must use precise and repeated motions when working in a control room." A control room operator resume example shows how dexterity is used in the workplace: "mixed chemicals from computer system ran heavy equipment, such as sky track, bob cat, and fork lift"
Detail oriented. A big part of what control room operators do relies on "detail oriented." You can see how essential it is to control room operator responsibilities because "power plant operators, distributors, and dispatchers must monitor complex controls and intricate machinery to ensure that everything is operating properly." Here's an example of how this skill is used from a resume that represents typical control room operator tasks: "processed and logged accurate and detailed incident reports. "
Mechanical skills. A commonly-found skill in control room operator job descriptions, "mechanical skills" is essential to what control room operators do. Control room operator responsibilities rely on this skill because "power plant operators, distributors, and dispatchers must know how to work with machines and use tools." You can also see how control room operator duties rely on mechanical skills in this resume example: "operated and maintained control systems and performed electrical and mechanical maintenance on power equipment, computers and safety systems. "
The three companies that hire the most control room operators are:
- Covanta52 control room operators jobs
- AECOM9 control room operators jobs
- Samsung Electronics Device Solutions (Semiconductor & Display)9 control room operators jobs
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Compare different control room operators
Control room operator vs. Refinery technician
These skill sets are where the common ground ends though. The responsibilities of a control room operator are more likely to require skills like "control room operations," "ladders," "emergency situations," and "corrective action." On the other hand, a job as a refinery technician requires skills like "minor maintenance," "safety regulations," "hazardous chemicals," and "control room." As you can see, what employees do in each career varies considerably.
Refinery technicians tend to reach similar levels of education than control room operators. In fact, refinery technicians are 1.5% more likely to graduate with a Master's Degree and 0.0% less likely to have a Doctoral Degree.Control room operator vs. High pressure firer
While some skills are similar in these professions, other skills aren't so similar. For example, resumes show us that control room operator responsibilities requires skills like "control room operations," "plant operations," "safety procedures," and "plant equipment." But a high pressure firer might use other skills in their typical duties, such as, "direct supervision," "oilers," "fuel oil," and "fire systems."
Average education levels between the two professions vary. High pressure firers tend to reach higher levels of education than control room operators. In fact, they're 6.0% more likely to graduate with a Master's Degree and 0.0% more likely to earn a Doctoral Degree.Control room operator vs. Power technician
There are many key differences between these two careers, including some of the skills required to perform responsibilities within each role. For example, a control room operator is likely to be skilled in "control room operations," "plant operations," "plant equipment," and "emergency situations," while a typical power technician is skilled in "osha," "hand tools," "electrical distribution," and "a/c."
When it comes to education, power technicians tend to earn similar degree levels compared to control room operators. In fact, they're 0.3% less likely to earn a Master's Degree, and 0.0% less likely to graduate with a Doctoral Degree.Control room operator vs. Coal gasification technician
Types of control room operator
Updated January 8, 2025
