Hydroelectric Reliability Engineer (Senior, Staff, or Entry)

Xcel Energy•Georgetown, CO

73d•$68,300 - $126,134•Onsite

About The Position

Are you looking for an exciting job where you can put your skills and talents to work at a company you can feel proud to be a part of? Do you want a workplace that will challenge you and offer you opportunities to learn and grow? A position at Xcel Energy could be just what you're looking for. Are you looking for a career that combines technical expertise with the opportunity to work in some of the most beautiful locations in the Rocky Mountains? This role offers the chance to support operations at hydroelectric plants located in Georgetown, Glenwood Springs, Telluride, Durango and Salida-areas known for their stunning scenery, outdoor recreation, and vibrant mountain communities. As a Reliability Engineer, you will ensure optimal performance, reliability, and availability of equipment across multiple hydroelectric facilities. This role focuses on implementing reliability-centered maintenance strategies, analyzing equipment performance data, and driving continuous improvement initiatives to minimize downtime and extend asset life. This position includes regular onsite support at the Cabin Creek Pumped Storage Hydro Facility near Georgetown, Colorado. You will be expected to work onsite at least three days per week, ensuring close collaboration with operations and maintenance teams. To support daily travel to this location, a competitive travel stipend can be provided. The job summary below and responsibilities reflect the staff engineer level role. The successfully chosen candidate will be placed at a level that is commensurate with their skills and experience as different skills and/or experience will be required at the senior and entry engineer levels. Position Summary Under general direction, demonstrates complete understanding & wide application of engineering technical principle, theories, & concepts in the field. Independently determines & develops approaches to solutions. Receives technical guidance on complex problems; completed work reviewed for adequacy in meeting objectives. May lead small-medium non-critical projects or critical projects under direction of higher-level engineer/supervisor. May provide work direction to other professionals &/or staff. Represents the organization in providing solutions to difficult technical issues associated with specific projects. Frequent inter-organizational & outside customer contact. Demonstrates a broad knowledge & proficiency of precedents in the specialty area, a good knowledge of related specialties, & general knowledge of other related disciplines.

Requirements

Required bachelor's degree in engineering from ABET accredited curriculum, electrical or mechanical engineering degree preferred.
0+ years relevant engineering experience Ability to demonstrate the unique technical skills and core competencies for this engineering level established & documented by the organization.
Preferred EIT/FE (Engineer in Training/Fundamentals of Engineering) preferred.
Bachelor's degree in engineering from ABET accredited, electrical or mechanical engineering degree preferred.
2+year's relevant engineering experience. Demonstrated broad knowledge & proficiency in specialty area, knowledge of related specialties, & general knowledge of other related disciplines.
Ability to demonstrate the unique technical skills & core competencies for this engineering level established & documented by the organization.
EIT/FE (Engineer in Training/Fundamentals of Engineering) strongly preferred.
Required bachelor's degree in engineering from ABET accredited curriculum, electrical or mechanical engineering degree preferred.
5+ years relevant engineering experience with EIT/FE (Engineer in Training/Fundamentals of Engineering) required; 7+ years relevant engineering experience without EIT/FE.
Ability to demonstrate the unique technical skills and core competencies for this engineering level established & documented by the organization.
Preferred PE (Professional Engineer) registration may be required depending on business need.

Nice To Haves

Experience in power generation or heavy industrial environments.
Experience with hydroelectric equipment (turbines, generators, governors, pumps, valves, instrumentation)
Familiarity with predictive maintenance technologies
Proficiency in reliability tools (RCFA, FMEA, RCM) and CMMS systems.

Responsibilities

Perform complex problem solving of technical issues to reduce equipment downtime
Quantify equipment risk and develop corrective action plans to mitigate risk
Analyze equipment failure rates, failure causes and risk trends to prioritize maintenance and future investments
Ensure implementation and optimization of equipment maintenance strategies for turbines, generators and auxiliary systems
Define critical spare parts strategy based on failure modes, asset criticality and failure history
Perform root cause analysis and identify corrective action plans to prevent repeat failures.
Participate in industry networking and research new technologies to improve equipment reliability
Implement condition monitoring technologies (vibration analysis, thermography, oil analysis) for rotating and electrical equipment.
Provide engineering support for capital projects, upgrades, and refurbishment of powerhouse equipment.
Uses & applies technical standards, principles, theories, concepts, & techniques to perform activities/assignments that may include a variety of complex features such as conflicting design requirements, unsuitability of conventional materials or methods & difficult coordination requirements.
Supports the development of technical documentation (including but not limited to designs, testing, calculations, reports, standards, etc.) Utilizes & may assist with the development of procedures requiring a broad knowledge & proficiency in a specialty area & has a general knowledge of related disciplines.
Works under the general direction of a higher-level engineer or supervisor for routine engineering projects. Provide ongoing technical support for project activities within areas such as Operations, Maintenance, testing/diagnostics & Regulatory. May provide field engineering oversight &/or direction for activities such as commissioning, testing, inspections, etc.
May lead small-medium, non-critical projects. Coordinate/leads critical projects or portions of projects (including phases such as research, design, equipment selection, procurement support, installation & commissioning), under the direction of a higher-level engineer or supervisor. Work reviewed upon completion for adequacy in meeting objectives.
Under the direction of a higher-level engineer/supervisor supports bid/evaluation processes including preparation of bid documents, completion of technical evaluations for proposals; provide recommendations for selection, etc. Partners & communicates with areas such as Supply Chain & Legal following appropriate processes.
Frequently exchanges information in all formats, on matters having a wide range of importance & complexity both inter-organizationally & with outside customers.
May assign tasks & coordinate work of interns, drafters, technicians, craft personnel &/or others. Provide guidance & mentoring to less experienced engineers. Responsible for continuous self-development of technical skills & competencies.
Performs activities such as budgeting, estimating, forecasting, accounting, work order management, in support of engineering projects.