ABOUT xAI
xAI’s mission is to create AI systems that can accurately understand the universe and aid humanity in its pursuit of knowledge. Our team is small, highly motivated, and focused on engineering excellence. This organization is for individuals who appreciate challenging themselves and thrive on curiosity. We operate with a flat organizational structure. All employees are expected to be hands-on and to contribute directly to the company’s mission. Leadership is given to those who show initiative and consistently deliver excellence. Work ethic and strong prioritization skills are important. All employees are expected to have strong communication skills. They should be able to concisely and accurately share knowledge with their teammates.
ABOUT THE ROLE:
xAI Duke Power is seeking a highly organized and technically proficient Maintenance Planner to support the reliable operation of our 8-unit PE 6000 aeroderivative gas turbine Behind-The-Meter (BTM) power plant in Southaven, MS. This critical role ensures safe, efficient, and cost-effective maintenance execution for high-availability power generation serving AI and data center loads. You will develop, schedule, and optimize maintenance plans while coordinating with operations, I&C, and vendor teams to achieve world-class reliability and EAF targets in a fast-paced, 24/7 environment.
RESPONSIBILITIES:
- Develop and maintain detailed preventive, predictive, corrective, and outage maintenance plans for all plant equipment, including 8 × PE 6000 gas turbines, generators, BOP systems, RO/EDI water treatment, SCR, inlet/exhaust systems, and auxiliary equipment.
- Create comprehensive job packages with detailed work scopes, safety requirements (including LOTO), parts lists, tools, permits, drawings, and technical procedures.
- Utilize CMMS (e.g., Maximo, SAP, or equivalent) to manage work orders, track backlog, schedule resources, and maintain accurate equipment histories and spare parts inventory.
- Coordinate long-term and short-term maintenance schedules, including major outages, with Operations, I&C, and external vendors to minimize downtime and align with data center load management priorities.
- Perform job scoping, duration estimating, and resource leveling; identify opportunities for efficiency improvements and standardization across the 8 units.
- Analyze equipment reliability data, failure modes, and historical maintenance records to refine PM/PdM strategies and support root cause analysis.
- Ensure all maintenance activities comply with xAI safety standards, environmental regulations (emissions, noise), and OEM recommendations.
- Maintain accurate documentation, including as-built drawings, maintenance procedures, and outage reports.
- Support annual budgeting for maintenance materials, services, and contracts.
- Collaborate with the Generation Manager, O&M Manager, and Commissioning teams during ongoing installation/commissioning phases and transition to full operations.
BASIC QUALIFICATIONS:
- Minimum 5–7 years of maintenance planning experience in power generation, preferably with aeroderivative gas turbines (PE 6000, LM6000 family, or similar).
- Strong technical knowledge of gas turbine maintenance, BOP systems, electrical/instrumentation, and water treatment plants.
- Proven proficiency with CMMS systems and Microsoft Office Suite (especially Excel for planning/scheduling).
- Experience with outage planning, critical path scheduling, and resource management in a multi-unit facility.
- Working knowledge of safety programs (LOTO, confined space, hot work), OSHA/NFPA standards, and environmental compliance.
- Ability to read and interpret technical drawings, P&IDs, OEM manuals, and OEM service bulletins.
PREFERRED SKILLS AND EXPERIENCE:
- Certification as a Maintenance Planner (CMRP or equivalent) or relevant technical degree (Mechanical/Electrical Engineering or related).
- Prior experience in BTM or data center power plants supporting high-availability loads.
- Familiarity with PE 6000 / aeroderivative-specific maintenance practices, fuel systems, and emissions controls.
- Experience in a non-union, rotating-shift power plant environment.
ADDITIONAL REQUIREMENTS:
- Position is subject to pre-employment and annual post-employment background checks.
- Comfortable working in an industrial power plant environment with exposure to noise and varying conditions.
- Available to provide occasional off-hours support during outages and critical maintenance activities.
- Ability to work at heights and in confined spaces when necessary for job package development and site verification.