Mechanical Engineer Principal | NEW GENERATION and Oversight Engineering

American Electric Power•Columbus, OH

7d•Onsite

About The Position

The Mechanical Engineer will support gas, coal, and renewable plant retrofit and new-generation self-build projects by defining mechanical design-basis expectations and supporting technical specifications, engineering, and procurement of rotating and static equipment, piping, structures, and balance-of-plant systems. A required focus of this role is advanced knowledge of natural gas simple cycle and combined cycle equipment, systems, and power plant configurations (combustion turbines, HRSG, steam turbines, balance-of-plant integration, heat recovery systems, and auxiliaries). 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

Deep understanding of turbomachinery performance, rotor dynamics, vibration analysis, alignment, and balancing.
Competence with piping stress analysis, pipe supports, and expansion management in high-temperature HRSG/steam systems.
Ability to interpret and produce mechanical drawings, P&IDs, datasheets, and technical reports.
Familiarity with welding practices, NDT, metallurgy basics, and fabrication processes.
Knowledge of maintenance strategies, reliability engineering, and lifecycle cost analysis.
Data analysis skills to monitor equipment health, enhance system performance, and inform reliability improvements.
Strong communication skills for team collaboration.
Has typically acquired 8 or more years of related engineering experience along with a Bachelor's degree in engineering in a program accredited by ABET; or 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.
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.

Nice To Haves

Experience working with gas, coal, and renewable energy projects.
Experience with simple and combined cycle gas turbine projects, including plant integration and commissioning.
Professional Engineering (PE) license or equivalent certifications.
Familiarity with construction management, commissioning, and startup practices on utility-scale generation projects.
Proven experience in mechanical engineering for power generation projects (gas, coal, and/or renewables).
Advanced, hands-on knowledge of natural gas simple cycle and combined cycle plants, including combustion turbines, HRSGs, steam turbines, and auxiliary systems.
Hands-on experience with rotating equipment, pressure systems, piping, pumps, valves, and structural/mechanical design.
Familiarity with industry codes and standards (ASME Section I/II/VIII, API, etc.).
Strong problem-solving and troubleshooting skills in complex industrial environments.
Experience reviewing vendor drawings, technical specifications, and RFx responses.
Proficiency with CAD and engineering calculation tools (AutoCAD, MicroStation, MathCAD, MATLAB, SolidWorks, PDMS/AVEVA, or equivalent) and engineering calculation practices.
Experience with FEA and CFD tools and application to mechanical components is a plus.
Proficiency in MS Access, Excel, Word, SQL, SharePoint, or Visual Basic is a plus.

Responsibilities

Develop and document mechanical design basis and requirements for plant equipment, including turbines, generators, HRSGs/boilers, heat exchangers, pumps, compressors, cooling systems, piping, and structures.
Apply advanced knowledge of simple and combined cycle gas turbine plants to equipment selection, system integration, and performance evaluations.
Work with AE and EPC teams to review, comment on, and approve mechanical designs, drawings, and engineering calculations.
Prepare and review technical and procurement specifications, scope documents for self-build proposals, and RFx deliverables.
Interface with OEMs during RFx and procurement to confirm technical compliance, lead times, warranties, and vendor submittals.
Support vendor evaluation and bid reviews, focusing on turbine/HRSG interfaces and steam cycle integration.
Provide construction, commissioning, and startup support: site inspections, punch list resolution, and troubleshooting.
Perform or review analyses as required (stress, vibration/rotor dynamics, thermal, piping flexibility, fatigue) to validate designs.
Ensure compliance with applicable codes and standards (ASME, API, ANSI, NFPA, IEEE, local codes) and lead reliability/FMEA/RCM and obsolescence mitigation activities.
Coordinate with electrical, I&C, civil, and operations stakeholders and support development of O&M documentation, spare parts lists, and lifecycle cost assessments.
Promote safe design practices and ensure adherence to site-specific safety requirements.