ABOUT FIRST-OUT TECHNICAL

KYLE R. MARINIER

P.Eng., PMP, MBA

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Kyle R. Marinier, P.Eng., PMP, MBA, is an engineering and operations management professional with over 20 years of experience in the Canadian power generation and industrial sector. Based in Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, Kyle brings a rare combination of deep technical expertise, hands-on operational leadership, and MBA-level business acumen to every engagement.

EARLY CAREER: INSTRUMENTATION & CONTROLS

Kyle’s career began in 2002 as an Instrumentation & Control Systems Engineer with a major Saskatchewan utility, where he engineered control and protection systems across a fleet of coal, gas, and hydroelectric generating stations. His early work included commissioning of feedwater heater controls and protection systems at a coal-fired generating station, PLC upgrades at water treatment plants, design and commissioning of cooling water control systems at a 288 MW hydroelectric station, and instrumentation specification for emissions control research facilities.

This formative period built a strong foundation in practical, field-level engineering — designing, procuring, installing, commissioning, and troubleshooting real systems in operating plants.

OPERATIONS LEADERSHIP: HYDROELECTRIC GENERATION

In 2006, Kyle transitioned into operations as Production Supervisor at a 288 MW hydroelectric station — the largest hydro facility in the utility’s fleet. As the sole full-time management supervisor at the remote site, he was responsible for day-to-day operations and maintenance across 8 generating units, directly supervising operators, electricians, industrial mechanics, and contract crews ranging from 5 to 25 people.

During his tenure, the station achieved zero lost-time injuries, maintained forced outage durations of less than one week, and successfully completed quad-annual unit overhauls. Kyle provided site leadership for the replacement of rotating exciters to static excitation systems on six units, designed and commissioned HP governor air compressor rewiring, and managed the complete refurbishment of the plant overhead crane.

ENGINEERING MANAGEMENT

From 2010 to 2013, Kyle led a utility’s Electrical Engineering group as Manager of Electrical Engineering. He directed a team of engineers, technologists, and consultants executing the annual capital business plan for refurbishments and new builds.

Key projects included front end design for clean coal upgrades at a coal-fired generating station, replacement of a 360 MVA GSU transformer, turbine supervisory instrumentation replacements, 5kV switchgear re-cabling, support for a natural gas station new build, hydroelectric station generator breaker replacements, and plant control system replacements. He also provided emergency technical support, including rapid response to a generator isophase bus duct overheating event, and provided forensic investigation of a generator line cubicle failure for a combustion turbine generator.

PLANT MANAGEMENT: COGENERATION

In 2013, Kyle joined a cogeneration station — a 260 MW natural gas-fired combined cycle/cogeneration facility serving steam to a potash mine. Initially serving as Assistant Plant Manager, Kyle took on full Plant Manager responsibilities in 2018.

This was the most complex working environment of his career: managing a workforce from three different companies, a Management Committee governance structure, full profit and loss responsibility, and administration of multiple major contracts including the Power Purchase Agreement, Energy Services Agreement, Long-Term Service Agreement, and site lease agreements.

As Plant Manager, Kyle oversaw 26 full-time staff across 24/7 operations, maintenance, engineering, and administrative teams. Under his leadership, the station maintained zero lost-time injuries, achieved 99.6% steam availability, achieved full NERC compliance, and completed a new Environmental Protection Plan.

His technical achievements include site leadership for complete rewind of three main electrical generators; full cycles of combustion, hot gas path, and major inspections on GE 7EA combustion turbines; replacement of Mark V with Mark VIe control systems on all turbine generators; and upgrades to protection systems, DC batteries, air handling units, and high-pressure steam block valves. He developed and implemented an engineering management of change process, re-negotiated the OEM maintenance Long-Term Service Agreement, and re-organized the station structure to support performance and culture.

During his time at the cogeneration facility, Kyle completed an intensive MBA program through the Kenneth Levene Graduate School of Business at the University of Regina, finishing with one of the top averages in his cohort.

RECENT WORK: NATURAL GAS GENERATION

Most recently, from 2023 to 2026, Kyle served as Production Support Manager at a natural gas generating station that is now the most complex and largest in the fleet, leading a multidisciplinary team of specialists, planners, and tradespeople. He negotiated long-term service and supply contracts, directed preventive and corrective maintenance programs, and supported major equipment replacements including gas turbine generators and rotors, pumping systems, and protection systems — all while maintaining zero lost-time injuries.