Principal Geothermal Engineer

Invenergy•Chicago, IL

8d•$155,000 - $195,000•Onsite

About The Position

This position will guide and coordinate subsurface technical efforts for the team assigned to a geothermal power plant during the execution phase, while supporting multiple projects in the development phase. The role supports efforts across multiple teams inside and outside the organization, from development to the commercial operation date (COD). The position requires managing multiple workstreams and collaborating with resources to support project design, execution, and construction efforts, while supporting all other technical, economic, and commercial aspects of the project. A strong technical background with demonstrated past working experience in related engineering fields and a good understanding of geosciences and geophysics is necessary. Technical supervision during project execution, specifically site surveys, reservoir modeling, exploratory/production drilling, construction and commissioning phases, including travel to the project site, will also be required.

Requirements

Bachelor’s degree in physics or civil, structural, petroleum, mechanical or chemical engineering are preferrable. Alternatively, bachelor’s degree in geology, geophysics, or related geosciences with a proven track record of past geothermal projects could be considered as well.
5+ years of experience in the management of technical and engineering teams for geothermal projects.
Experience in site surveys, heat transfer and reservoir modelling is required.
Excellent solution-seeking, teamwork, leadership and communication skills which extend across all organizational and management levels.
Self-motivated, resourceful, and experienced in researching geothermal, geophysics or geochemistry fields.
Proficient with Microsoft Office products, including Excel, Word, and PowerPoint.
Strong verbal skills are required, including being an effective leader and communicator.
Ability to travel up to 25% is required, and travel frequency must be adjusted during the project execution phase.

Nice To Haves

Master’s degree in a relevant science or engineering field with proven experience in the geothermal industry for power generation.
2+ years of experience in management of exploratory/production drilling and construction of geothermal projects.
Experience using GIS tools and mapping for geothermal purposes (e.g., QGIS, Global Mapper, ESRI Enterprise/ArcGIS Pro).
Site experience in projects under construction.
Ability to multi-task and manage deliverables for multiple packages of the same project at a time.
Desire to work in a dynamic environment alongside people with multiple interests and backgrounds.
Experience managing interfaces between contractors and contract negotiation.
Excellent organizational, writing, and interpersonal skills.
High degree of integrity and understanding of ethical industry standards.

Responsibilities

Coordinate efforts in the project throughout its lifecycle, under close guidance and supervision provided by the senior management from development to COD, to deliver the project according to the required scope, meeting budget and schedule.
Advise on the feasibility of projects based on available geothermal technologies and project constraints.
Lead technical efforts during the development phase, including reservoir modeling, heat transfer and efficiency of the geothermal project, and collaborate with other engineering resources during the detailed design process.
Research publicly available information and propose prioritization of parcels based on geothermal favorability, in coordination with the geoscience group.
Manage workload, assist resources and the different groups assigned to a specific geothermal project, promoting seamless coordination across different disciplines.
Coordinate internal administrative workload in the project, including purchase orders, service orders, MSAs and EPC agreements for consultants and contractors.
Understand project interfaces across multiple contractors and work packages and monitor performance, ensuring adherence to project budget and schedule.
Report project risks, performance, progress and schedule to management.
Coordinate contractual and administrative work with contractors, consultants, project partners and third parties as required.
Work in collaboration with the GIS and geoscience groups in the preparation of geothermal favorability maps and reservoir modeling.
Work in collaboration with the thermal engineering team in the preparation of site layouts and optimization of general arrangements for different equipment and project components above ground.
Prepare reporting for management and customers as required.
Ensure record keeping for the entire project by adhering to company document management policies.
Collaborate with the relevant engineering areas to optimize the design, CAPEX, and OPEX of this infrastructure.
Liaise with the procurement team in the preparation of SOIs, RFIs, RFPs, RFQs, or any other documents.
Participate in the evaluation of suppliers’ technical and economic proposals.
Participate in discussions with manufacturers and vendors, as needed, in coordination with the procurement team.
Assist in the preparation of contracts with OEMs, suppliers, and vendors.
Assist in the permitting and development efforts, including electrical interconnection.
Monitor project progress and performance, reporting key indicators to management.
Coordinate efforts to prepare financial model along with the commercial finance & economics team and support project finance.