United States Graduate FSR Program

®
Program Description – Solar Turbines Customer Services Graduate FSR Program

New Graduate Engineer FSR Program Caterpillar: Confidential Green Revised: 12 March 2015
Program Purpose
Train recently graduated mechanical, electrical or aeronautical engineering
majors in the field service requirements for Solar Turbines equipment.
Program Details
This program requires a three-year commitment from the successful individual.
The first year of the program is spent training and the subsequent two years as
an FSR assignment to one of Solar Turbine’s field service offices.
Training
During the first year of the program, the individual is immersed in a wide-
ranging training program. The program is divided into four main phases. Each
phase emphasizes a different aspect of field operations.
Phase 1 – Foundation Skills: Orientation, Administrative, Safety, FSR Skills,
On-the-Job Training, Duration – 5 Months, Location – San Diego, Mabank
Texas Facility and District Field Offices
Onboarding, Company Induction and Administrative Training:
Individuals become familiar with the various administrative systems used to
conduct business at Solar Turbines. Each individual is supplied with a laptop
for business use. An introduction to the online training courses is provided.
Solar Turbines Employee Induction
Individuals are trained in OSHA requirements and introduced to the Quality,
Health, Safety & Environment procedures in effect at Solar Turbines.
Operation & Maintenance
Individuals are provided with learning experiences for the operation and routine
maintenance of gas turbines and related subsystem. Subsystem interface and
sequencing are also stressed to enable the individual to analyze cause-and-
effect relationships for fault analysis.
Borescoping Principles
Focus is on the practical execution of borescope inspection of Solar’s gas
turbine engines. This includes principles of operation and care of borescope
inspection equipment, digital photography, and recommended inspection
procedures on multiple engine types. It also includes proper borescope
inspection report generation.
Rigging Familiarization,
Introduces safe practices, procedures, and techniques used during basic
rigging and lifting operations on Solar’s turbo-machinery packages.
Major Component Removal & Replacement
A combination of classroom and hands-on practical exercises introduce the
student to the safe practices, procedures, and techniques used to remove and
replace major turbo-machinery package components.
Package Leveling & Alignment
Fundamental concepts of using precision measuring equipment, package
leveling techniques, and machinery alignment are covered.
Routine Maintenance Tasks
Instruction centers on tasks performed during routine maintenance, such as
changing filter elements, calibrating transmitters & switches, cleaning critical
hardware, and inspecting key components for proper operation.
Control System Principles
Instruction familiarizes individuals with the hardware and software used by
Solar for turbine control system operation. Individuals learn to identify and
Click to edit Master title style
describe hardware and interpret the software logic used to protect and control
the turbine engine. Click to edit Master subtitle style
Turbotronic 4 Field Principles and Applications
Individuals learn to evaluate control system performance and isolate and
correct turbine package faults. In addition, they learn the system configuration,
the functional characteristics of the Logix5000 controller, the architecture of the
programming software, and the programming conventions and techniques
used in a Solar project.
Power Generation Principles & Applications
This module reviews basic concepts of electrical power generation along with
the controls and protection needed for generators. The different types of load
and power are described along with the principles of load sharing for both real
and reactive load. This also provides an overview of the major components of
a generator system including voltage regulation, fuel control governors,
switchgear, and transformers.
New Graduate Engineer FSR Program Caterpillar: Confidential Green
Gas Compression Principles & Applications
This module introduces basic concepts of gas compression, along with the controls
and protection needed for boost compressors. Concepts explained include
operational characteristics, surge protection, seal systems, and how process gas
properties affect compressor performance and compressor performance analysis.
On the Job Training at District Field Office
Two field excursions of one month or more each are scheduled throughout the
training allowing the individual to put into context the training received.
Phase 2 – Engine Overhaul/ Repair, Duration – 1 Month, Location – Desoto Texas
During this phase of the program the candidate takes part in the assembly,
disassembly, and repair of gas turbine engines at the overhaul facility. They also
learn about the process of building the compressor and turbine assemblies,
including rotor balancing. They take part in the installation and operation of the
package in the test cell. They learn the acceptance test procedures by analyzing
the test data. In addition, they learn the procedure for borescope inspection of the
turbines following testing.
Phase 3 – Control Systems, Duration – 4 Months, Location – San Diego, Kearny
Mesa Facility
During this phase of the program the individual is assigned to and mentored by an
experienced control systems design engineer. Individuals learn about controls
systems assembly, reading electrical schematics and component layout drawings,
wiring practices and tools, and controls systems communication. They also learn
about controls system software applications including the display, vibration, and fire
systems. They participate in the mechanical assembly of the controls systems
components on the gas turbine system package. Working with their mentor, they
create an actual control system project. This includes the software, electrical and
hydromechanical systems, fire and gas detection systems and the vibration
systems. They see the project through all of the elements of quality testing
concluding with the final acceptance package test.
Phase 4 – Technical Services, Duration – 2 Months, Location, San Diego – Kearny
Mesa Facility
During this phase the individual collaborates with Technical Services Product
Support Managers and Field Product Support Engineers, playing an active role in
the product problem resolution process. Assignments during this phase could
include gathering and analyzing field and test data, working with different
Engineering groups to develop solutions to issues, evaluating new tools and
procedures, etc.
Field Assignment
Following the training program, the graduate will be assigned to a district as a Field
Service Representative. Placement is based on the needs of each district at the
time the training phase concludes.
Irvine, CA
Chicago, IL
Salt Lake City, UT
Anchorage, AK
Odessa, TX
Pittsburgh, PA
Houston, TX
New Orleans, LA
Lafayette, LA
New York, NY
Individuals are expected to remain as a field service representative for a minimum
of two years. They will incur significant overtime for which they will be
compensated. They will be on call twenty-four hours a day and seven days a week.
Following this two year period the graduates are free to pursue any opportunity and
follow any career path within Solar. The expected long-term outcome is that these
participants will progress in their careers along both technical and business paths in
field and office assignments. Utilizing a base of strong, practical, hands-on product
knowledge, individuals with significant field experience are typically at a competitive
advantage relative to other Solar personnel for both promotions and new
assignments, whether in management or technical positions.
Revised: 12 March 2015
New Graduate Engineer FSR Program Caterpillar: Confidential Green Revised: 12 March 2015