Major Projects, Engineer (Staff, Senior or Principal)

Xcel Energy•Amarillo, TX

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. 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 principal engineer levels. The Major Projects Group is responsible for the development, engineering, and execution of large capital generation assets. The team supports the full asset lifecycle for utility‑scale solar, wind, battery energy storage systems (BESS), and combustion turbine generation, from early project development through commercial operation and final asset handoff. This role partners closely with Project Management, Engineering, Supply Chain, Environmental, Construction, Operations, and external contractors to deliver high‑quality, long‑lived generation assets. Responsibilities include providing technical reviews and construction support to ensure projects are delivered safely, on schedule, within budget, and in compliance with Xcel Energy standards and regulatory requirements. The team works with the Development organization to ensure each project is properly scoped and positioned for success. Projects are then executed through the design, construction, and commissioning phases while maintaining regulatory compliance and adherence to internal standards. Final commissioning and turnover activities confirm that each asset performs as intended and is ready for reliable, long‑term operation. 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

Bachelor’s degree in engineering from ABET accredited curriculum.
2+ years relevant engineering experience (for Staff Engineer).
5+ years relevant engineering experience with EIT/FE (Engineer in Training/Fundamentals of Engineering) required (for Senior Engineer).
7+ years relevant engineering experience without EIT/FE (for Senior Engineer).
9+ years relevant engineering experience with PE (Professional Engineer) registration required (for Principal Engineer).
15+ years relevant engineering experience without PE (for Principal Engineer).
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 (for Staff Engineer).
PE (Professional Engineer) registration may be required depending on business need (for Senior Engineer).

Nice To Haves

Experience in combustion turbine or reciprocating engines.
Specifically, Siemens simple-cycle combustion turbine facilities.
Design experience in these areas is particularly valuable for reviewing design work.
Experience in utility-scale wind, solar, or battery storage projects is an acceptable alternative to combustion turbine facilities.
Experience designing utility-scale energy facilities, such as sizing equipment and cabling.
Experience overseeing construction and commissioning of combustion turbines.

Responsibilities

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.
Providing technical reviews and construction support to ensure projects are delivered safely, on schedule, within budget, and in compliance with Xcel Energy standards and regulatory requirements.
Partnering closely with Project Management, Engineering, Supply Chain, Environmental, Construction, Operations, and external contractors to deliver high‑quality, long‑lived generation assets.
Working with the Development organization to ensure each project is properly scoped and positioned for success.
Executing projects through the design, construction, and commissioning phases while maintaining regulatory compliance and adherence to internal standards.
Performing final commissioning and turnover activities to confirm that each asset performs as intended and is ready for reliable, long‑term operation.