Power Plant Engineer – Reliability Focus (Senior/Principal)

Xcel Energy•Burnsville, MN

7d•$97,000 - $156,600•Hybrid

About The Position

Xcel Energy has an exciting opportunity within its Energy Supply Power Generation team. Candidate will work with engineering staff to support the reliable and efficient operation of Xcel Energy’s generation assets. As the site Reliability Engineer the primary focus is on asset reliability and maintaining the programs that drive that success. Duties would include development and management of Predictive Maintenance Programs (vibration, thermography, oil analysis), involvement in troubleshooting for operational issues, long term strategy development for assets (both budgeting and maintenance planning). The candidate must demonstrate the unique technical skills and critical thinking required to support a complex operating environment. Candidate will work closely with departments within Xcel Energy such as Operations, Maintenance, Environmental and Projects to maintain safe and reliable operation of our Power Plants. This position is located in Burnsville, Minnesota. The candidate must have the ability to travel to various Power Plants as needed throughout the region. This position includes regular onsite support at the Black Dog Power Plant. You will be expected to work onsite daily, ensuring close collaboration with operations and maintenance teams. There are options to work remotely as needed for flexibility, but remote work will not be normally scheduled.

Requirements

Required bachelor’s degree in engineering from ABET accredited curriculum.
Bachelor’s degree in Mechanical, Chemical or Electrical Engineering.
Mechanical Engineering preferred.
5+ years relevant engineering experience with EIT/FE (Engineer in Training/Fundamentals of Engineering) required; 7+ years relevant engineering experience without EIT/FE. (For Senior Engineer Level)
9+ years relevant engineering experience with PE (Professional Engineer) registration required; 15+ years relevant engineering experience without PE. (For Principal Engineer Level)
Ability to demonstrate the unique technical skills and core competencies for this engineering level established & documented by the organization.
Ability to travel to various Power Plants as needed throughout the region.
Expected to work onsite daily at the Black Dog Power Plant.

Nice To Haves

Experience in power generation or heavy industrial environments.
Experience with Power Generation equipment (turbines, generators, governors, pumps, valves, instrumentation).
Experience with predictive maintenance technologies.
Experience performing Root Cause Analysis.
Preferred PE (Professional Engineer) registration may be required depending on business need. (For Senior Engineer Level)

Responsibilities

Applies extensive technical expertise and has a higher-level understanding of the basic principles of other related disciplines.
Fully demonstrates the unique technical skills and core competencies for this engineering level by applying advanced technical principles, theories and concepts, and contributes to the development of new principles, concepts and technical standards.
Fully demonstrates unique technical skills.
As a recognized internal technical SME, conceives plans and conducts research to develop procedures, codes and standards in problem areas of considerable scope and complexity and supports the development of technical documentation through a series of complex and conceptually related studies requiring unconventional or innovative approaches.
Exercises authority and technical leadership on assignments that are often self-initiated and self-directed.
Assignments are strategic and have significant long-term implications to achievement of overall business objectives.
May lead multiple critical and/or complex projects including research, design, equipment specification & selection, installation, start-up, commissioning and evaluation of work progress and results.
Acts as advisor to management and customers on advanced technical research studies and applications.
Manages bid/evaluation processes which include the preparation of bid documents, completion of technical evaluations for proposals and the review and approval of recommendations for selection.
Serves as organization spokesperson on advanced projects and/or programs.
Is influential in all forms of communications with internal and external business.
May provide oversight of engineers, interns, craft personnel, technicians and other professionals.
Forms mentoring relationships with less experienced engineers for the transfer of knowledge and continuous self-development of technical skills and competencies.
Demonstrates effective leadership skills.
May provide overall coordination of processes related to budgeting, estimating, forecasting, accounting and work order management, in support of existing engineering projects or packaging proposals for future projects.
Development and management of Predictive Maintenance Programs (vibration, thermography, oil analysis).
Involvement in troubleshooting for operational issues.
Long term strategy development for assets (both budgeting and maintenance planning).