Electrical Controls Engineer Visa Sponsorship Jobs in Idaho
Idaho's electrical controls engineer jobs are concentrated in the Treasure Valley around Boise and Nampa, where food processing giants like Lamb Weston and Simplot, semiconductor facilities, and growing manufacturing operations drive consistent demand. Micron Technology's Boise campus and an expanding clean energy sector add further opportunities for engineers with PLC, SCADA, and automation expertise.
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The Rathdrum Power Plant is a 275 MW combined-cycle natural gas-fired project that commenced commercial operations in September 2001 and is tolled under a long-term agreement to Avista. The tolling agreement expires in October 2041. Rathdrum's equipment configuration is platformed on GE 7FA technology, along with a heat recovery steam generator and steam turbine. The project includes an SCR and is a recent vintage, environmentally compliant project.
Opportunity Summary
The IC&E Technician at the Rathdrum Power Plant is essential to maintaining operations by calibrating, testing, and troubleshooting key instrumentation, control systems, and electrical equipment, including PLCs, DCS, SCADA, and GE 7FA turbine control systems. This role ensures reliability and efficiency through preventive and corrective maintenance, optimizing systems such as combustion turbines, HRSG, steam turbine, SCR, and electrical systems. By collaborating with engineers and adhering to safety standards, the IC&E Technician helps improve performance, reduce downtime, and support overall plant success.
Your scope of responsibility as IC&E Technician includes the following primary functions:
- Calibrates, tests, maintains, troubleshoots, and installs instrumentation, control systems, and electrical equipment at the Rathdrum Power Plant. This includes control valves, fan dampers, variable speed drives, motors, battery chargers, inverters, transmitters, analyzers, shop calibration equipment, and systems specific to GE 7FA combustion turbines, HRSG, steam turbine, and SCR.
- Performs corrective, preventive, predictive, and emergency maintenance on electrical systems, including 13.8KV and 4160-volt switchgear, motors, control centers, transformers, batteries, inverters, chargers, and main generator excitation equipment.
- Maintains, troubleshoots, and optimizes PLC systems by conducting inspections, diagnosing faults, fine-tuning programs, and collaborating with engineers to enhance performance.
- Maintains and monitors DCS and SCADA systems, ensuring reliable operation and troubleshooting faults to sustain optimal plant performance.
- Calibrates, maintains, and troubleshoots turbine control systems, ensuring the proper operation of GE 7FA combustion turbines and the steam turbine, while collaborating with engineers to resolve issues and improve efficiency.
- Coordinates with other departments to ensure efficient maintenance operations and minimize downtime.
- Installs new equipment and modifications while adhering to safety protocols and industry standards.
- Maintains, cleans, and properly stores shop equipment and tools, including specialized tools for instrumentation and electrical maintenance.
- Keeps detailed logs of issues, repairs, and downtime, and updates plant drawings, databases, vendor information, calibration records, and other documentation.
- Implements safe work practices, identifies hazards, and recommends or initiates repairs to maintain a safe working environment.
- Assists the Plant Engineer with testing, including turbine controls, combustion control processes, and boiler control systems.
- Works with outside contractors during overhauls and projects, providing technical guidance and oversight on instrumentation and control activities.
- Handles and disposes of hazardous waste, such as batteries and fluorescent bulbs, in compliance with safety regulations.
- Performs additional tasks as assigned to support efficient plant operations.
NAES Safe
Safety is a core value at NAES, and as a condition of employment, all employees are expected to remain mentally alert and work safely at all times. Employees must also adhere to all safety warnings and posted signs while on company property. Additionally, they are required to follow all NAES safety rules and procedures. Adherence to these safety responsibilities is one of the key factors in the evaluation of each employee’s performance.
Working Relationships
The IC&E Technician reports directly to the Maintenance Manager and receives general direction from plant management. This role involves interfacing with contractors and original equipment manufacturer (OEM) personnel to ensure necessary support and coordination.
Physical Requirements and Working Conditions
Physical requirements include standing for extended periods of time, climbing stairs and ladders, working from elevated platforms and walkways at varying heights, and routinely lifting up to 50 pounds.
Power plant environment that may involve entering confined spaces, crawling through narrow areas, and handling hazardous materials, with exposure to fumes, extreme temperatures, and noise. Work may include high heat near equipment and varying outdoor weather conditions.
Some duties may require the use of protective equipment, which can include hard hats, safety glasses, and eye protection, air masks/respirators, ear protection, chemical suits, flame-resistant clothing (FRC), hot gloves, high-voltage protective gear, and fall protection. Fit testing for respirators may be required. Strict smoking restrictions apply in and around the facility.
Fitness for Duty
All personnel will participate in the Fitness for Duty Program, which includes a post-offer physical examination, drug screening, and post-employment random drug screening.
Work Schedule
The IC&E Technician works a 4 X 10 schedule, ensuring consistent plant operation and support during regular business hours. This position will also occasionally necessitate extended working hours and flexible shifts as needed, including weekends and holidays, in response to schedules, workload demands, and plant conditions. Periodic callouts or “On call” status will also be required.
Compensation
This position offers a base pay rate ranging from $45 to $49 per hour, along with an annual performance bonus, to accommodate candidates at all levels of experience.
Core Qualifications and Skills
We are seeking a qualified Instrumentation, Controls, and Electrical (IC&E) Technician with hands-on experience in power generation operations and maintenance. The ideal candidate demonstrates strong technical aptitude, a commitment to safety, and a track record of contributing effectively within a team environment to support reliable plant performance.
- An Associate degree in Plant Technology, Mechanical Engineering Technology, Electrical Engineering Technology, Process Technology, or a related field is preferred. Alternatively, equivalent technical training in industrial maintenance or instrumentation and control is beneficial, though not required. Relevant industry or military experience may also be considered.
- Experience in power plants or industrial settings preferred, with familiarity in combined-cycle operations, safety protocols, and equipment.
- Thorough knowledge and experience troubleshooting and repairing electrical systems, including high voltage switchgear, motors, control centers, transformers, batteries, inverters, chargers, and generator excitation equipment.
- Comprehensive knowledge and practical experience in maintaining and troubleshooting instrumentation and DCS systems in modern combined-cycle plants, with hands-on experience in GE 7FA combustion turbines, HRSG, steam turbine, SCR, and supporting controls including burner management, combustion control, boiler controls, turbine controls, and condition monitoring.
- Understanding of burner management systems, combustion control processes, and boiler control systems to maximize efficiency and safety during power generation.
- Hands-on expertise in combustion and steam turbine operations and PLCs, including start-up, shutdown, and performance adjustments to sustain peak reliability.
- Skilled in performing routine inspections and preventive maintenance on critical electrical equipment to ensure reliable operation and safety compliance.
- Experience collaborating with cross-functional teams, contractors, and vendors to coordinate maintenance activities, procure necessary resources, and ensure timely completion of projects, supporting the continuous operation of the Rathdrum Power Plant.
- Strong written and oral communication skills, with the analytical and mathematical aptitude to present technical information, conclusions, and recommendations effectively.
- Must possess a valid, unrestricted U.S. driver’s license and ensure it remains in good standing at all times.
About NAES
NAES Corporation is a leading provider of operations, maintenance, and engineering services for energy facilities. We have built a reputation as a reliable partner for clients in North America and internationally, offering services across the power generation, oil and gas, and renewable energy sectors. Our growing family of companies allows us to address the entire life cycle of power generation and other industrial plants.
NAES is committed to fostering a diverse and inclusive workplace. We prioritize selecting employees based on merit and competence, seeking individuals of the highest quality, without regard to race, color, religion, national origin, gender, gender identity, sexual orientation, age, disability, military status, or affiliation protected under USERRA, or any other form of discrimination prohibited by applicable local, state, and federal law.
Equal Opportunity Employer
This employer is required to notify all applicants of their rights pursuant to federal employment laws. For further information, please review the Know Your Rights notice from the Department of Labor.
Electrical Controls Engineer Job Roles in Idaho
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Search Electrical Controls Engineer Jobs in IdahoElectrical Controls Engineer Jobs in Idaho: Frequently Asked Questions
Which companies sponsor visas for electrical controls engineers in Idaho?
Micron Technology in Boise is among the most active H-1B visa sponsors in Idaho and regularly hires for controls and automation engineering roles. Food processing companies like Lamb Weston and J.R. Simplot also sponsor for electrical controls positions tied to their large processing facilities. Smaller automation integrators and manufacturing firms in the Treasure Valley have also filed LCAs for controls engineering roles, though sponsorship frequency varies by company.
Which visa types are most common for electrical controls engineer roles in Idaho?
The H-1B is the most common visa for electrical controls engineers in Idaho, as the role typically qualifies as a specialty occupation requiring at least a bachelor's degree in electrical engineering or a closely related field. Engineers from Canada or Mexico may qualify for TN visa status under the USMCA. Australian nationals can explore the E-3 visa. For engineers with exceptional records, the O-1A is another potential pathway, though it requires demonstrating a significantly elevated professional profile.
Which cities in Idaho have the most electrical controls engineer sponsorship jobs?
Boise and the broader Treasure Valley, including Nampa and Caldwell, account for the majority of electrical controls engineering sponsorship activity in Idaho. Micron's semiconductor campus, large food processing plants, and industrial automation firms are concentrated in this corridor. Twin Falls sees some demand tied to food manufacturing. Coeur d'Alene and Idaho Falls have smaller but growing manufacturing sectors that occasionally generate controls engineering openings.
How to find electrical controls engineer visa sponsorship jobs in Idaho?
Migrate Mate filters job listings specifically for visa sponsorship, making it straightforward to search for electrical controls engineer roles in Idaho without sifting through positions that don't offer sponsorship. You can narrow results by location and role to surface openings at Treasure Valley manufacturers, Micron's Boise campus, and food processing operations. Checking LCA disclosure data from the Department of Labor can also help confirm which Idaho employers have recently sponsored controls engineering roles.
What should electrical controls engineers know about the Idaho job market before pursuing sponsorship?
Idaho's electrical controls engineering demand is heavily tied to food processing and semiconductor manufacturing, so candidates with PLC programming, HMI design, and process automation experience are well positioned. The prevailing wage for controls engineers in Idaho is determined by the Department of Labor's wage surveys and varies by experience level and location within the state. Boise's lower cost of living compared to major tech hubs can make it attractive, but the sponsorship pool is smaller than in states like California or Texas, so targeting employers with a documented sponsorship history is worthwhile.
What is the prevailing wage for sponsored electrical controls engineer jobs in Idaho?
U.S. employers sponsoring a visa must pay at least the prevailing wage, which is what workers in the same role, area, and experience level typically earn. The Department of Labor sets this rate to make sure companies aren't hiring foreign workers simply because they'd accept lower pay than a U.S. worker. It varies by job title, location, and experience. You can look up current prevailing wage rates for any occupation and location using the OFLC Wage Search page.