Vicinity Energy

Lead Power Plant Technician

Join Vicinity Energy in Somerville, Massachusetts as a Lead Power Plant Technician. Operate and oversee combined cycle power plant equipment, ensuring safe and efficient operations. Benefit from union membership and a competitive hourly wage while contributing to decarbonization efforts in a leading district energy company.
Vicinity Energy
Vicinity Energy
Somerville, Massachusetts, United States On-site Full time USD 67 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

Job Description

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

The Lead Power Plant Technician is responsible for operating the combined cycle generating facility and power plant equipment with minimal guidance or assistance. The ideal candidate will keep management fully informed of plant operations, unusual conditions and faulty equipment. This is a full-time hourly position located in Cambridge, Massachusetts. This position requires UWUA Local 369 Union membership and reports to the Operations Manager. The hourly rate for this position is $67.42.

Responsibilities

  • Operate the combined cycle generating facility and power plant equipment with minimal guidance or assistance.
  • Keeps management fully informed of plant operations, unusual conditions, and faulty equipment.
  • Operate power plant equipment through control room interfaces or locally.
  • Takes readings and maintains records and logs.
  • Records equipment problems on work notifications/requests and documents maintenance actions taken.
  • Communicate and respond to all outside entities including but not limited to Commercial Operations, NStar, and ISO.
  • Assists in developing operating procedures.
  • Uses facility operating procedures to operate equipment and ensure equipment is operated within acceptable parameters.
  • Opens and closes valves as required for proper system operation and mechanical isolation.
  • Opens and closes circuit breakers up to 480 volts as required for proper system operation and electrical isolation.
  • Operate generator breakers manually, if required 115kV disconnects.
  • Assist in troubleshooting plant control systems.
  • Understands and complies with all regulatory procedures and facility safety programs. Follow all plant environmental permits.
  • Performs all duties defined in policies and procedures as assigned, not limited to but including lock-out/tag-out of equipment including responsibility as LOTO Authority, LOTO Holder, and/or Authorized Employee; confined space entry including taking responsibility as Confined Space Authority, Entrant, and/or Attendant.
  • Conducts and/or prepares and participates in job briefings, job safety analysis and contractor safety orientation.
  • Directs, plans, and coordinates the work of others.
  • All activities included under subordinate job classifications within roster.
  • Assists other Job Classifications as assigned when combined cycle major equipment and boilers are not in operation.
  • Coordinates with the Commercial Operations Station operation in satisfying market demands.
  • Coordinates activities requiring interface between on-site auxiliary boiler systems owned by others and the station.
  • Develops and submits internal incident reports as required.
  • Coordinates work activities and clearances in accordance with Policies and Procedures not limited to, but including Lock-Out/Tag-out, Confined Space, Hot Work Permits, etc.
  • Plans, schedules coordinates, and controls work sequences of shift operations and crafts.
  • Instructs and directs activities of other employees while ensuring compliance with company safety and environmental procedures and policies.
  • Oversees the activities of contracting crews.
  • Approves notifications input on-shift.
  • Conducts shift muster and job briefings with employees and contractors.
  • Fulfill requirements of and sign MA DPS Shift Log.
  • Dispatches and coordinates with maintenance activities when required.
  • This position works a rotating shift schedule.

Basic Qualifications

  • High School Diploma or GED.
  • Holds an active MA Second Class Engineer's License.
  • Must obtain MA Grade 2 Industrial Wastewater Treatment License in first 6 months of employment.
  • Minimum of 6 years of experience operating equipment including gas turbines, steam turbines, generators, heat recovery steam generator, high pressure boilers, air compressors, water treatment equipment, and other auxiliary equipment.
  • Demonstrates knowledge of the relationship between plant operations and energy markets.

Preferred Qualifications

  • Demonstrates knowledge of the relationship between plant operations and energy markets
  • Ability to read and interpret Process & Instrumentation Diagrams (P&IDs)

Other Qualifications

  • Ability to instruct and direct activities of others
  • Must possess basic computer literacy
  • Have a good safety record.

Physical Requirements

  • Must submit to a company provided physical and drug screening as part of the pre-employment screening process.

  • 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

July 15, 2026

July 15, 2026

Full time

On-site

Company

USD 67 per hour

Bioenergy

Vicinity Energy

vicinityenergy.us

  •  Somerville, Massachusetts, United States

Minimum of 6 years

UTC-05:00