Civil Engineer Principal | NEW GENERATION & Oversight Engineering

American Electric Power • Columbus, OH

6d • $116,255 - $151,133 • Onsite

About The Position

The Civil Engineer will support gas, coal, and renewable power generation retrofit and new build projects by defining civil/site design basis and delivering civil engineering scope across the project lifecycle. Responsibilities include site grading, foundations, drainage/stormwater systems, roads/paving, cooling system civil works, and site utilities. This role collaborates with Architect & Engineering (AE) and Engineer, Procure and Construct (EPC) firms and coordinates with internal and external stakeholders to ensure mechanical designs meet performance, reliability, constructability, safety, and regulatory requirements. The engineer will participate in RFx/OEM engagements, support self-build proposals, and provide construction, commissioning, and lifecycle support.

Requirements

• Strong understanding of site grading, drainage design, stormwater BMPs, erosion/sediment control, and stormwater permitting (NPDES/SWPPP).
• Working knowledge of pavements, retaining structures, earthworks, sediment control systems, and temporary construction works.
• Ability to produce and interpret civil construction drawings, details, and technical specifications.
• Familiarity with site utility systems (water, wastewater, stormwater, potable, fire water) and permitting requirements.
• Experience with hydrology/hydraulic modeling tools (HEC‑RAS, HydroCAD, EPA SWMM) and GIS for site analysis.
• Experience supporting materials testing, QA/QC processes, and contractor coordination.
• Proficiency with MS Office; ability to use spreadsheets for calculations and reporting.
• Strong written and verbal communication skills for collaboration with engineers, contractors, regulators, and stakeholders.
• Has typically acquired eight (8) or more years of related engineering experience along with a Bachelor's degree in engineering in a program accredited by ABET; OR, Six (6) years of related engineering experience along with a Master's or PhD in engineering from a program accredited by ABET.
• Registration as a Professional Engineer (PE) in any U.S. state or Puerto Rico is preferred for this position unless approval to waive this requirement is given by the organization's EVP.ABET - Engineering Accreditation Commission of the Accreditation Board for Engineering and Technology.
• Acceptable alternative is: (1) a Bachelor's degree in engineering (non-ABET) plus a Master's degree or PhD in engineering from a university with an ABET accredited Bachelor's program.
• Confirmation is preferred to ensure the PE obtained in Puerto Rico aligns with NCEES standards.
• VP or above may waive the requirement for a degree from a university with an Non ABET accredited program

Nice To Haves

• Professional Engineer (PE) license or actively pursuing licensure.
• Experience with power‑plant cooling systems, water treatment civil scopes, and utility interconnection civil work.
• Familiarity with simple/combined‑cycle plant site layouts and renewable generation civil requirements.
• Experience with Revit/BIM workflows, HEC‑HMS, and environmental permitting preparation.
• Bachelor’s degree in Civil Engineering or related discipline.
• Civil/site engineering experience on power‑generation, industrial, or heavy infrastructure projects.
• Demonstrated experience interpreting geotechnical reports and developing foundation/earthwork design criteria.
• Proficiency with civil/site design and drafting tools (AutoCAD Civil 3D, MicroStation) and standard engineering calculation practices.

Responsibilities

• Develop and document civil/site design criteria: grading, drainage, stormwater management, roadways, paving, retaining systems, site utilities, and cooling‑system civil scopes.
• Interpret geotechnical investigations and translate findings into foundation and earthwork inputs (foundation types, allowable bearing, settlement criteria, piles/caissons).
• Prepare, review, and approve civil drawings, details, specifications, quantity takeoffs, and construction deliverables for procurement.
• Coordinate with AE/EPC teams to ensure constructability, site sequencing, logistics, access, and interface alignment with Structural, Mechanical, Electrical, and I&C.
• Interface with OEMs/vendors for equipment civil loads, anchor layouts, grout/anchorage details, and shipping/installation constraints.
• Lead permitting and regulatory coordination (NPDES/SWPPP, stormwater, erosion & sediment control, wetlands, local permits); prepare technical submittals and H&H modeling support.
• Design and specify stormwater BMPs, SWPPP elements, and perform hydrology/hydraulic analyses (HEC‑HMS/HEC‑RAS, HydroCAD, EPA SWMM as applicable).
• Support construction phase: site inspections, QA/QC oversight, materials testing coordination, punch‑list resolution, RFIs, and as‑built documentation.
• Ensure compliance with applicable codes, standards, and environmental/sustainability objectives; support lifecycle and obsolescence planning for civil assets.
• Contribute to O&M documentation, spares/renewal planning, and cost or schedule inputs for civil scopes.

Benefits

• In addition to base salary, AEP offers competitive Total Rewards including: discretionary short-/long-term incentives, 401(k), pension, health insurance, vacation, educational assistance, etc.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Principal
• Number of Employees: 5,001-10,000 employees