Lead Engineer

Duke Energy Corporation•Charlotte, NC

4d•Hybrid

About The Position

Duke Energy is hiring a Lead Engineer for its Natural Gas Facilities Engineering team. The role supports the scoping, design, construction, commissioning, and operation of natural gas facilities, which may include compression, pressure regulation, liquefied natural gas (LNG), metering, pipeline interconnections, and related facility systems. The Lead Engineer serves as project engineer and primary technical point of contact for complex facility projects, leading engineering work from project development and conceptual design through detailed design, procurement, construction, commissioning, startup, and turnover to operations. The role coordinates internal multidisciplinary teams and external engineering firms, manufacturers, and consultants to deliver safe, reliable, maintainable, and cost-effective designs. It also supports technical decisions, procurement, field execution, facility modifications, and continuous improvement of engineering standards and practices. This is a hybrid position. After onboarding, work is performed remotely and onsite, with employees expected to report to their assigned Duke Energy facility as directed, averaging three full workdays per regular workweek. Employees must live within a reasonable commute of no more than 50 miles one way. Field or plant visits may also be required. Travel is 15–25%. Relocation assistance may be provided, as applicable. The position is not represented by a union and does not provide employment-based visa sponsorship.

Requirements

Bachelor of Science in Engineering from an ABET-accredited program, or state registration as a Professional Engineer; a Master’s degree in Engineering may be considered in lieu of the Bachelor of Science in Engineering degree.
At least eight years of engineering experience.
Registration as a Professional Engineer (PE).

Nice To Haves

Proficiency researching engineering and design issues, evaluating alternatives, making sound recommendations, and preparing and presenting recommendations.
Ability to work effectively with individuals from a variety of backgrounds.
Good written and oral communication skills.
Proficiency in engineering theories and principles.
Engineering experience in natural gas, LNG, pipeline, petrochemical, power generation, industrial gas, or related energy industries.
Experience as a Project Engineer, Lead Engineer, or technical lead for complex capital projects.
Experience with natural gas compression, pressure regulation, metering, transmission, or related facilities.
Experience with LNG liquefaction, storage, boil-off gas management, vaporization, send out, or other cryogenic process systems.
Knowledge of applicable LNG codes, standards, and regulatory requirements, including 49 CFR Part 193 and NFPA 59A, where applicable.
Experience with rotating and mechanical equipment such as centrifugal or reciprocating compressors, pumps, heat exchangers, pressure vessels, filtration or separation equipment, valves, and auxiliary systems.
Experience with process piping systems and developing or reviewing P&IDs.
Experience with electrical, instrumentation, controls, utility, and balance-of-plant systems for process or natural gas facilities.
Experience developing, reviewing, or troubleshooting PLC code, including ladder logic, for process control, equipment sequencing, and safety interlock systems.
Experience developing equipment specifications and technically evaluating vendor proposals.
Experience managing engineering design firms, equipment manufacturers, and other external engineering resources.
Experience supporting projects through design, procurement, construction, commissioning, startup, and turnover to operations.
Experience with brownfield facility modifications, equipment replacements, tie-ins, outages, or projects involving existing operating facilities.
Knowledge of applicable natural gas codes, standards, and regulatory requirements, including 49 CFR Part 192, where applicable.
Familiarity with process safety, design safety reviews, constructability reviews, operability reviews, and multidisciplinary design review processes.
Experience working directly with operations, maintenance, construction, and commissioning personnel.
Strong project engineering, technical leadership, problem-solving, written communication, and presentation skills.
PE registration, or passage of the Fundamentals of Engineering examination (FE/EIT) with the intention to pursue PE registration, for candidates not already required to hold PE registration based on job level.

Responsibilities

Serve as Project Engineer and primary technical point of contact for assigned natural gas facility projects.
Lead engineering from project development and conceptual design through detailed design, procurement, construction, commissioning, startup, and turnover to operations.
Develop project design criteria, technical requirements, scopes of work, equipment specifications, and engineering execution plans.
Guide engineering performed by external engineering firms, equipment manufacturers, and specialty consultants.
Coordinate multidisciplinary engineering involving process, mechanical, piping, civil, structural, electrical, instrumentation and controls, environmental, operations, and construction personnel.
Review engineering deliverables, including process flow diagrams, P&IDs, drawings, equipment specifications and data sheets, calculations, control narratives, and construction drawings.
Specify and apply equipment and systems for natural gas facilities, including piping, valves, regulation equipment, metering, compression, gas heating and cooling, filtration and separation, gas conditioning, and utility systems.
Evaluate technical alternatives, identify engineering risks, make recommendations, and communicate technical decisions to stakeholders.
Manage technical interfaces and resolve engineering issues affecting safety, scope, cost, schedule, constructability, operability, maintainability, or reliability.
Coordinate internal teams and external engineering resources to meet schedules and project milestones.
Support procurement through technical bid packages, vendor proposal evaluations, technical clarifications, and review of vendor drawings and documentation.
Participate in factory acceptance testing and design review meetings at manufacturers, engineering contractors, and other third-party locations.
Provide engineering support during construction, equipment testing, commissioning, and startup, including resolution of field engineering issues.
Visit project sites to assess progress, verify conformance with engineering requirements, and help resolve field issues.
Coordinate facility modifications, tie-ins, outages, temporary configurations, and commissioning at existing operating facilities.
Ensure engineering work complies with company standards, codes, regulatory requirements, and accepted engineering practices.
Develop effective working relationships with operations, construction, project management, contractors, vendors, and other engineering organizations.
Prepare engineering calculations, reports, correspondence, presentations, and technical documentation.
Contribute to the development and continuous improvement of engineering standards, specifications, procedures, standard designs, and lessons learned.
Provide technical guidance and mentoring to engineers and other technical personnel as appropriate for experience and job level.
Support company goals and represent the company positively and professionally.