Vicinity Energy

Maintenance Mechanic Special Rigger

Join Vicinity Energy in Somerville, Massachusetts as a Maintenance Mechanic Special Rigger. Lead mechanical maintenance crews, ensure safe operations, and work with power plant equipment. Benefit from union membership and a competitive hourly wage in a company committed to decarbonization and clean energy.
Vicinity Energy
Vicinity Energy
Somerville, Massachusetts, United States On-site Full time USD 58 per hour UTC-05:00

Vicinity Energy

Company Overview

Vicinity Energy, privately owned by Antin Infrastructure Partners

Boston, Massachusetts, United States

2020

Approximately 520 employees (source: zoominfo.com)

What They Do

Vicinity Energy is a leading U.S. district energy company specializing in the production and distribution of steam, hot water, chilled water, and carbon-free steam through underground networks to buildings and campuses (source: vicinityenergy.us). Established in 2020 following Antin Infrastructure Partners' acquisition of Veolia’s U.S. district energy assets, Vicinity operates 19 district energy systems across 12 cities nationwide, serving roughly 1,000 customers through long-term contracts (source: antin-ip.com). The company focuses on central thermal infrastructure technologies including steam plants, chilled-water systems, electric boilers, industrial-scale heat pumps, and thermal storage rather than renewable generation like solar or wind (source: wikipedia.org). Vicinity is recognized as the first U.S. provider to introduce carbon-free eSteam™, an innovative solution aimed at rapidly decarbonizing customers’ thermal loads, with initial deployments in Boston and Cambridge (source: vicinityenergy.us). Their customer base primarily includes large commercial properties and campuses located in dense urban cores, where centralized energy production improves efficiency, reliability, and reduces carbon footprints (source: zoominfo.com).

Projects & Track Record

Vicinity Energy operates several notable district energy assets across the United States. Among these is the 163 MW Grays Ferry cogeneration plant in Philadelphia, which serves over 70 million square feet of building space (source: wikipedia.org). In Cambridge, the company runs the 200 MW Kendall Cogeneration Station, also serving 70 million square feet (source: wikipedia.org). Other significant systems include the Tulsa district energy plant serving 7 million square feet, Oklahoma City’s system serving 9.9 million square feet, and Kansas City’s facility serving 11 million square feet (source: wikipedia.org). The Kent County waste-to-energy and district energy system in Grand Rapids serves 10 million square feet, while Baltimore’s system covers over 30 million square feet including major institutions like the Walters Art Museum and Mercy Medical Center (source: wikipedia.org). The Atlantic Station chilled water system in Atlanta serves 4.7 million square feet, and the Trenton district energy system serves 12 million square feet (source: wikipedia.org). Vicinity’s portfolio expanded in 2020 with acquisitions such as the Watergate Energy Collaborative Utility in Washington, D.C., and West Virginia University’s district steam system in Morgantown (source: wikipedia.org).

Recent Developments

Recent initiatives at Vicinity Energy have focused on electrification and decarbonization of thermal energy systems. In April 2022, the company launched eSteam™, marking the first U.S. innovation to electrify district energy operations using renewable thermal energy, initially deployed in Boston and Cambridge (source: wikipedia.org). In April 2023, Vicinity partnered with MAN Energy Solutions, based in Augsburg, Germany, to develop low-temperature source heat pump systems for steam generation, aiming to enhance sustainability (source: wikipedia.org). The company plans to install an industrial-scale heat pump complex at its Cambridge facility powered by renewable electricity, designed to harvest heat from the Charles River while protecting the river environment by returning water at a lower temperature (source: wikipedia.org). In November 2023, Vicinity announced the arrival of a 42 MW industrial-scale electric boiler at the Kendall Square facility in Cambridge, further advancing its electrification goals (source: wikipedia.org). The company is committed to achieving net-zero carbon emissions across its operations by 2050 or sooner (source: wikipedia.org).

Working There

Vicinity Energy offers a range of roles spanning plant operations, maintenance, engineering, distribution, commercial functions, and technical trades, reflecting its operations-heavy business model (source: indeed.com). Job postings include positions such as Plant Engineer, Technician, Maintenance Mechanic, Account Manager, Operations Manager, Test Manager, and Skilled Laborer, with responsibilities covering site engineering support, project management, troubleshooting, and thermal performance monitoring (source: indeed.com). The company’s Boston headquarters and additional operating sites make the area a key hiring location, with roles requiring skills in carpentry, concrete, excavation, piping insulation, and masonry, often within unionized environments such as IUOE Local 877 (source: indeed.com). Compensation packages include competitive salaries, bonuses, personal and parental leave, paid holidays, and 401(k) plans with matching contributions, reflecting a structured benefits program (source: indeed.com). Vicinity’s culture emphasizes solving complex clean energy challenges within a niche sector that bridges utilities, industrial engineering, and building services, offering employees the opportunity to contribute to large-scale thermal utility operations and rapid decarbonization efforts (source: vicinityenergy.us).


Last updated on May 19, 2026 | Report an issue

Vicinity Energy is North America's largest provider of district energy solutions, offering low carbon energy to most of the iconic buildings you see in the skylines of Boston, Cambridge, Philadelphia, Baltimore and many other cities in the US. As a member of the communities we serve, all of us at Vicinity understand the critical role we play in reducing the impacts of climate change and being a leader in decarbonization. We are committed to net zero and eliminating our reliance on fossil fuels, but we need the best and the brightest minds on our team to help us reach our goal, not only for us as a company, but for our customers, our communities, and our planet.

Summary

As a leadman, the Maintenance Mechanic Special-Rigger organizes and directs activities of the mechanical maintenance crew. This is a full-time hourly position located in Cambridge, Massachusetts. This position requires UWUA Local 369 Union membership and reports to the Maintenance Manager. The hourly rate for this position is $58.13.

Responsibilities

  • Assume responsibility for the safe and efficient performance of all work assigned to your direction.
  • Instruct other employees in practice specialty.
  • Under general supervision, alone or with the assistance of other employees, install, remove, maintain, and repair all types of power plant and steam distribution equipment, buildings, grounds, and vehicles.
  • Such work requires using highly specialized maintenance tools and precision measuring devices and making decisions of a difficult nature.
  • Maintain adequate inventory of designated materials, tools, and equipment.
  • Maintain all tools used in the performance of duties in safe and good working order.
  • Keep the immediate work area safe and neat; ensure the work area is safe and clean at the completion of the workday.
  • Report any unusual conditions.
  • Support all aspects of the lubrication functions as presently done.
  • Assist and instruct, where applicable, the activities of outside contracting crews.
  • Utilize Maximo to perform all related PM's & workorders & support inventory tracking.
  • Support order & stocking functions.
  • Participate in various training programs to help support all maintenance functions.
  • Work harmoniously and effectively with other employees.

Basic Qualifications

  • Must have high school diploma or GED.
  • Minimum of 2 years of trade or technical school (or equivalent) with training in the fundamentals of the Power Plant Cycle.
  • Minimum of 6 years' experience in general power plant maintenance work of a kind and quality indicating ability to perform this job.

Preferred Qualifications

  • Have a good working knowledge of power plant equipment.
  • Be highly skilled in the repair, maintenance, and installation of power plant equipment.
  • Be able to read and interpret complicated drawings and blueprints.
  • Be highly skilled in at least one of the following specialties: boiler mechanic, steam fitter, welder, rigger, machinist.

Other Qualifications

  • Must be willing and able to instruct and direct activities of other employees.
  • Have a good safety record.
  • Must possess basic computer literacy.

Physical Requirements

  • Must submit to a company provided physical and drug screening as part of the pre-employment screening process.
  • Must possess a valid driver license in good standing in order to operate a company vehicle. Must have and maintain a driving record meeting the standards of the company.
  • Standing, sitting, climbing stairs, bending, stooping, pushing, pulling, walking on uneven surfaces, and grating, working from elevated platforms, scaffolding or ladders, required to lift up to and including 50 pounds and maneuver up to and including 100 pounds.
  • Must qualify to wear a respirator.
  • Ability to tolerate confined spaces, including manholes and varying temperatures and weather conditions.
  • Exposed to temperature extremes, high noise level areas, high pressure steam lines, rotating equipment, and dusty/dirty environment.
  • Required to wear PPE such as hard hat, safety glasses, safety shoes, hearing protection.

EQUAL EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITY POLICY STATEMENT Vicinity Energy is an Equal Employment Opportunity (EEO) employer. It is the policy of the Company to provide equal employment opportunities to all qualified applicants without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, age, protected veteran or disabled status, or genetic information.

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About the role

June 18, 2026

Full time

Company

June 18, 2026

On-site

USD 58 per hour

Bioenergy

Vicinity Energy

vicinityenergy.us

  •  Somerville, Massachusetts, United States

Minimum of 6 years in general power plant maintenance work.

UTC-05:00