Mechanical Engineer Specialist

University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign•Urbana, IL

4d•Onsite

About The Position

The Power Plant Mechanical Engineer Specialist provides plant engineering support for operation of utility production and distribution systems for the Facilities & Services (F&S) Utilities Division at Urbana-Champaign. The role provides mechanical and some electrical engineering support for campus utility production plants and distribution systems, including project oversight, engineering analysis, operational planning, troubleshooting, and regulatory compliance. The position involves predominantly normal office work, along with visits to power and chiller plants. Field work may include inspecting pressure vessels and ductwork, climbing ladders, scaffolding, and stairs, and working in unconditioned or dusty plant environments. During outages, the employee must be able to qualify for confined-space entry into boilers, boiler ductwork, pressure vessels, and scrubber vessels. Appropriate personal protective equipment is required. This is a 100% full-time Civil Service appointment on a 12-month basis. The expected start date is as soon as possible after 12/21/2026. The salary range is $100,000–$120,000. The position is not eligible for work-authorization sponsorship.

Requirements

Bachelor’s degree in Mechanical Engineering.
Five years (60 months) total in education, training, and/or work experience in engineering in utility systems, district energy, combined heat and power (CHP), power generation, and/or heavy industrial facilities. (The posting states “one (5) years.”)
Demonstrated experience with rotating equipment, steam systems, pressure vessels, piping, and/or mechanical reliability.
Experience preparing engineering studies, calculations, specifications, and technical reports.
Knowledge of ASME BPVC, ASME B31.1, NBIC, OSHA, NFPA, and EPA regulations.
Working knowledge of ASME and National Board requirements.
Aptitude in communication, collaboration, and project management.
Ability to work in plant conditions and, during outages, qualify to enter confined spaces in boilers, boiler ductwork, pressure vessels, and scrubber vessels.
Willingness to accept occasional non-working-hour call-outs.

Nice To Haves

Professional Engineer (PE) license in Illinois, or ability to obtain one.
Experience with combined heat and power plants, district energy systems, or institutional utility operations.
Experience with Maximo or comparable CMMS, AutoCAD/BIM, vibration analysis, oil analysis, infrared thermography, and reliability engineering.
CMRP or PMP certification.

Responsibilities

Provide mechanical and some electrical engineering support for the operation, maintenance, and planning of campus utility production plants and distribution systems.
Inspect and verify systems in the field, including entering pressure vessels and ductwork and climbing ladders, scaffolding, and stairs; use PPE and enter confined spaces as required.
Review power plant, pressure vessel, and piping aspects of plans for new construction and major remodeling projects.
Manage and oversee projects involving complex power plant systems, data reporting and collection systems, and utility production issues.
Assist in developing safe and efficient operating plans for power plant and other utility systems, including system documentation and configuration control.
Assist with developing computer models and performing cost and engineering analyses.
Provide troubleshooting support for power plant problems.
Instruct operators and others on safe and efficient operation of power plant systems.
Monitor compliance with safety and regulatory requirements, including federal and state natural gas requirements, EPA water regulations, OSHA requirements, and applicable industry and national codes.
Develop and maintain effective working relationships with University, campus, and departmental officials and staff to support University and F&S objectives.
Fill in for others in the organization when needed; serve on University, campus, and departmental committees or teams as required.
Provide training and development for others in the organization as required.
Promote safe operations, support departmental safety initiatives and programs, and monitor personnel for compliance with safety and security policies.
Respond to occasional non-working-hour call-outs for unscheduled power plant and utility outages or system problems.
Perform other related duties as assigned.