Central Plant Efficiency Specialist

Launch your Sustainability Career with the Climate Corps Fellowship program!

SEI’s Climate Corps Fellowship program offers the chance to lead impactful climate and community resilience projects while gaining paid, hands-on experience. This full-time, bridge-to-career opportunity pairs fellows with host organizations, from local governments to nonprofits and businesses, to drive real-world change.

About the Opportunity 

Start Date: June 1st, 2026

Length of Fellowship: 10 months

Location Type: On-site

Help optimize the systems that power a university campus while building hands-on experience in energy efficiency and central plant operations. As a Central Plant Efficiency Specialist in the Climate Corps Fellowship program, you’ll have the opportunity to contribute to impactful sustainability initiatives with CSU Dominguez Hills. This is an on-site position with the expectation of on-site work 5 days per week.

Working under the Director of Central Plant and Strategic Energy Projects at the Central Plant, you will gain hands-on experience in data verification, analytics, and retro-commissioning. This role offers a unique opportunity to apply theoretical engineering concepts to real-world technologies and manage state-of-the-art monitoring systems. It is an ideal bridge for students seeking practical expertise before transitioning to professional engineering firms.

In addition to technical tasks, you will engage with internal departments, utilities, and vendors to support campus energy goals. A primary focus includes participating in the Clean Energy Optimization Pilot (CEOP) to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. Following the motto "If Better is Possible, then Good is not Enough," you will be a key team member in analyzing best practices and ensuring the university’s ongoing environmental performance.  

This position offers an incredible opportunity to develop your technical and analytical skills, grow your network, and play a direct role in advancing CSU Dominguez Hills’ campus-wide energy performance.

Some of the projects you will work on include:

• Fluorescent to LED retrofits with advanced Enlighted controls.
• Pneumatic to DDC retrofit from start to finish, including commissioning.
• 1.45MW of solar carport rebuild and new solar walkway.
• Room scene assessments and adjustments for campus users to increase energy efficiency and occupant comfort for existing campus lighting systems.
• Perform water meter audits to confirm meter data matches the online portal and work to correct as needed.

About Our Partner: CSU Dominguez Hills

Founded in Carson following the 1965 Watts Rebellion, California State University, Dominguez Hills (CSUDH) provides transformational, culturally sustaining education to South Los Angeles. As a leading Hispanic-Serving Institution with the CSU system's highest African American enrollment, the university is dedicated to social and economic mobility. Through innovative research and strong community partnerships, CSUDH fosters equitable growth for its undergraduate and graduate students while maintaining a deep commitment to educational justice.

Beyond its academic mission, CSUDH is a national leader in sustainability, having reduced greenhouse gas emissions by 71% between 2019 and 2025. The campus utilizes cutting-edge data analytics and intelligent monitoring systems to manage energy consumption, earning numerous accolades, including the 2025 Digie award for "Most Intelligent Higher Education." By integrating advanced technology with efficient infrastructure management, the university continues to set the standard for environmental stewardship in higher education.

Partner-Provided Benefits (in addition to Climate Corps Benefits):

• Mentorship by a team that has reduced GHG by 75% since 2018.
• Possibility of attending ASHRAE conferences and networking.
• Skyspark analytic training.

What You’ll Do

• Support continuous building efficiency improvement efforts while also learning how to use advanced building analytics (Skyspark).
• Compiling data for presentations, projects, pilots, administration, and the CSU Chancellor's Office.
• Retro commissioning and fine-tuning of information systems and data related to energy operations.
• Create detailed maps with building meter locations based on GPS coordinates.
• Assist with the direct project management of energy efficiency projects in campus buildings.
• Engagement with campus users to support energy commissioning efforts of existing systems.
• Develop marketing resources and best practice-sharing materials based on project successes.
• Support presentations of data results for public speaking events, conferences, LinkedIn, etc.
• Support campus tours and presentations (e.g., Disney, SoCal AQMD, ASHRAE, Japan SASHAE, Edison).

What We’re Looking For

• Proven ability to translate theoretical concepts into practical, effective solutions within a fast-paced operational environment.
• Strong analytical skills with the ability to anticipate how specific actions or changes impact broader workflows and outcomes.
• Strong mechanical engineering understanding: conceptual skills around mechanical interactions.
• An engineering field with a general understanding of sustainability concepts.
• Strong organizational and analytical skills with the ability to track projects, take meeting notes, and learn different forms of software.
• Willingness to ask questions and engage with diverse audiences, deliver presentations, and communicate complex information in a clear and approachable manner.
• The ability to work onsite on a full-time basis. This position requires the employee to be physically located within commuting distance of the site location at the time of hire. Only candidates currently residing within commuting distance of the site address will be considered.
• Commitment to a fair workplace that honors the experiences, voices, viewpoints, and values of all individuals.
• Authorization to work in the United States for the duration of the fellowship (SEI is unable to sponsor visas).
• May require occasional moving about to accomplish tasks, moving from one worksite to another, or adjusting or moving objects under 25-50 pounds in all directions.
• Must be 18 years or older to apply.

We encourage everyone interested in this position to apply, even if you don’t meet every qualification. We value all perspectives and believe that a unique background can bring significant strengths to this role, even if some qualifications are not fully met.

What We Provide

• A fixed, monthly stipend of $3000.
• $1000 end-of-program financial award.​
• Health care coverage with 100% of health care insurance premiums covered by SEI.
• Fellows receive 10 personal days for a standard 10-month fellowship (prorated for longer terms), which may be used for vacation or sick time. Additionally, Fellows follow their partner site's holiday schedule to observe the same holidays as their team.
• Comprehensive career-readiness training, including interview prep, salary negotiation, and resume building.
• Panels, workshops, and networking with climate resilience industry professionals.
• Professional networking and learning opportunities.
• The University of California Climate Stewards Certification equips you to lead community and ecosystem resilience initiatives.

Climate Corps Fellowships are classified under the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA) as temporary, educational internships that emphasize training and career development, and thus no employment relationship exists, nor is compensation required. However, while not considered traditional employment, Fellows receive a living stipend and professional development support throughout the program.

Recruiting Timeline: Applications are reviewed on a rolling basis. We encourage early submissions, as we may stop accepting new applications once a sufficient pool of qualified candidates is identified.

Join the Climate Corps Movement

Climate Corps, a program of SEI, is an award-winning fellowship designed to prepare the next generation of leaders in sustainability and climate action. Our fellows work on cutting-edge sustainability and resiliency projects with local governments, nonprofits, and businesses, building essential skills and creating real-world impact. Since 2010, Climate Corps has empowered over 800 Fellows to work with 500+ partners on 1,350 transformative projects. With nearly 99% of Fellows continuing careers in sustainability, you could be the next environmental leader shaping a better future!

Our Hiring Values

SEI is proud to be an equal-opportunity employer and is committed to uplifting the experiences, voices, viewpoints, and values of all individuals. We believe that a wide array of perspectives contributes to creative climate solutions where all communities can thrive. We strive for a workforce that reflects the communities we partner with and serve, especially those most impacted by climate change and environmental, social, and economic injustice. We welcome candidates who share SEI’s commitment to cultivating a people-centered work environment. Individuals from all backgrounds are encouraged to apply.