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Power plant technician skills for your resume and career

Updated January 8, 2025
3 min read
Quoted experts
Nicolas Yale,
Nicolas Yale
Below we've compiled a list of the most critical power plant technician skills. We ranked the top skills for power plant technicians based on the percentage of resumes they appeared on. For example, 13.1% of power plant technician resumes contained plant equipment as a skill. Continue reading to find out what skills a power plant technician needs to be successful in the workplace.

15 power plant technician skills for your resume and career

1. Plant Equipment

The equipment that has a capital nature and can be easily moved from personal property is called plant equipment. Unlike fixed equipment, plant equipment is temporarily added to the structure of a building. These can be appliances, power tools, forklifts, vehicles, etc. Plant equipment plays a vital role in plant maintenance and ensures that the area has minimum breakdowns and the plant is fully functional at the lowest possible cost

Here's how power plant technicians use plant equipment:
  • Operate, maintain, all related power plant prime movers & related plant equipment.
  • Help maintenance technicians perform repairs of plant equipment.

2. Preventive Maintenance

Here's how power plant technicians use preventive maintenance:
  • Train and develop other employees in equipment/system operations, in performing preventive maintenance and routine equipment service activities.
  • Manage and perform preventive maintenance tasks and records preventive maintenance activities.

3. Gearboxes

Here's how power plant technicians use gearboxes:
  • Repaired and performed complete rebuilds on various valves, actuators, pumps, compressors, large fans, gearboxes etc.
  • Remove and install aircraft subsystem assemblies such as engines, rotors, gearboxes, transmissions, and mechanical flight controls.

4. Electrical Equipment

Here's how power plant technicians use electrical equipment:
  • Read schematics and technical manuals and used systematic methods to troubleshoot electrical equipment.
  • Repair of motors, pumps, filters, pipes including minor electrical equipment.

5. Safety Procedures

Safety procedures are a set of standardized procedures, that ensures minimal to no risk to people, resources, and the work environment. A company follows the step-by-step safety procedures as it they not only keep the customers and the employees safe, but also help in avoiding legal claims.

Here's how power plant technicians use safety procedures:
  • Perform switching of high voltage circuit breakers and equipment following power plant safety procedures.
  • Update operational and safety procedures to meet or exceed standards.

6. Maintenance Procedures

A maintenance procedure refers to a thorough list of steps that details the way a maintenance task needs to be performed. It also acts as a documented standard that should be maintained when performing the task or job.

Here's how power plant technicians use maintenance procedures:
  • Established policies for proper maintenance and provided guidance for correct maintenance procedures.
  • Inspected, evaluated, approved/disqualified maintenance procedures performed by aircraft mechanics.

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7. Control Systems

Here's how power plant technicians use control systems:
  • Ensured & maintain all electrical systems in the power plant, monitor & maintain the emission control systems and gas sensors.
  • Programmed Programmable Logic Controllers (PLC) and Distributive Control Systems (DCS).

8. Test Equipment

Test equipment is a mechanical tool or a device which is used create signals and gather response from an electronic device under test. It helps in detecting any faults in the device and it also proves the proper operation of the electronic device.

Here's how power plant technicians use test equipment:
  • Tested and troubleshoot systems using automated test equipment and bench-top electronic testers to determine faulty elements.
  • Engineered and tracked test equipment for in frequent and time intensive maintenance.

9. Switches

Here's how power plant technicians use switches:
  • Major responsibilities included sensing errors from proximity switches, 3 phase motor diagnosis and replacements and electrical and electronic repairs.
  • Work in electricity, ballasts, motors, switches, outlets, 120 and 220 (occasionally 440 compressor units).

10. PLC

Here's how power plant technicians use plc:
  • Power Plant Maintenance Tech Troubleshoot a variety of electrical systems, MCC, PLC, Transducers, Thermocouples, etc
  • Implemented PLC programming and troubleshooting procedures while also initiating and executing process improvements and conducting parts research when necessary.

11. Plant Maintenance

Plant maintenance includes all preventive measures, processes, and operations concerned with plant life.

Here's how power plant technicians use plant maintenance:
  • Operated 15- to 75-ton-capacity cranes for plant maintenance.
  • Scheduled weekly, monthly and yearly plant maintenance.

12. Plumbing

Here's how power plant technicians use plumbing:
  • Maintain overhauled, inspected, repaired, modified and fabricated electrical, hydraulic, pneumatic and plumbing systems.
  • Performed general maintenance; light electrical, light plumbing, painting, light carpentry, and light construction.

13. Control Room

A control room, also known as an operations center, is a room that serves as central control and monitoring station for security, building, and other types of systems of a large facility or physical area. Control rooms act as the central nervous system of a facility and require a reliable and efficient communication system to effectively handle emergencies, as well as critical incidents and decisions.

Here's how power plant technicians use control room:
  • Inspected equipment throughout plant to insure control room readings and commands are accurately and effectively received and actuated.
  • Communicate with crew supervisor and control room operator for a smooth, safe and productive shift.

14. Electrical Systems

Here's how power plant technicians use electrical systems:
  • Facilitated in-plant training of safe nuclear plant operations, electrical systems and AC generation and distribution theory.
  • Repair and activation of electrical systems.

15. Maintenance Manuals

Here's how power plant technicians use maintenance manuals:
  • Read and interpret aircraft maintenance manuals and specifications to determine feasibility and method of repairing or replacing malfunctioning or damaged components.
  • Read and interpreted manufacturers' maintenance manuals, service bulletins, and other specifications to determine feasibility and methods of repair.
top-skills

What skills help Power Plant Technicians find jobs?

Tell us what job you are looking for, we’ll show you what skills employers want.

What soft skills should all power plant technicians possess?

Nicolas Yale

GTCC Director of Aviation Programs, Guilford Technical Community College

Employers want someone who arrives early to work, not running to get ready when they start. Be a self-starter and a person who is always prepared to contribute every day. Employers need those who not only think of the current job and tasks needed to complete it but think of what is needed, so the next task starts smoothly. If you need promoting to find the next tasks needed in a large project, you are not thinking ahead of need. Everyone needs to be able to get along with teams with varied personalities, experiences, and backgrounds. The most productive people work well with everyone and avoid conflict as second nature

What hard/technical skills are most important for power plant technicians?

Nicolas Yale

GTCC Director of Aviation Programs, Guilford Technical Community College

The aviation industry is shorthanded in nearly all skilled labor areas: pilots, mechanics, maintenance specialists, project managers, logistics developers, and planners. Baby-boomer retirement and cutbacks during COVID have left large skilled labor shortages across the board. The key is to pick the area you want to start, gain the proper credentials to get started and take advantage of apprenticeships and work-study programs to get your foot in the door. Do not be afraid to change direction if your employer wants to retrain you based on your skills or aptitude. Use the opportunity to add skills and certifications to your resume.

List of power plant technician skills to add to your resume

Power plant technician skills

The most important skills for a power plant technician resume and required skills for a power plant technician to have include:

  • Plant Equipment
  • Preventive Maintenance
  • Gearboxes
  • Electrical Equipment
  • Safety Procedures
  • Maintenance Procedures
  • Control Systems
  • Test Equipment
  • Switches
  • PLC
  • Plant Maintenance
  • Plumbing
  • Control Room
  • Electrical Systems
  • Maintenance Manuals
  • Aircraft Engines
  • Cooling Towers
  • Diesel Generators
  • Water Treatment
  • Hydraulic Systems
  • Plant Operations
  • Condensers
  • Technical Publications
  • Hazardous Materials
  • MW
  • HVAC
  • Unscheduled Maintenance
  • FAA
  • Maintenance Actions
  • Aircraft Maintenance
  • Ground Support Equipment
  • Gas Turbines
  • Landing Gear
  • SCADA
  • Helicopter
  • End Loaders
  • Flight Control
  • Functional Test
  • CPR
  • Phase Inspections
  • Flight Line
  • Engine Maintenance
  • Aircraft Fuel Systems
  • BOP

Updated January 8, 2025

Zippia Research Team
Zippia Team

Editorial Staff

The Zippia Research Team has spent countless hours reviewing resumes, job postings, and government data to determine what goes into getting a job in each phase of life. Professional writers and data scientists comprise the Zippia Research Team.

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