Principal Mechanical Engineer

Blue Energy•Chevy Chase, MD

About The Position

Blue Energy is transforming how nuclear power gets built. Instead of constructing each plant on-site from scratch - a process that takes 10-15 years and is too expensive and unpredictable to finance - we build our plants like ships: in a factory, on an assembly line, then transport and assemble them at the site. This cuts costs by over 60% and brings plants online in just three years. We also pair natural gas with nuclear at our sites, so customers can start receiving power from gas turbines right away and then switch over to clean nuclear power once it comes online - getting energy to the grid faster while nuclear is being built. Our mission is to make nuclear energy abundant, affordable, and repeatable at global scale. We use proven, already-approved reactor designs and work with existing nuclear and industrial sites, giving us a faster path to regulatory approval. By manufacturing this way, we put nuclear power on the same cost-reduction curve that has made wind, solar, and batteries cheaper every year. The Principal Mechanical Engineer serves as the senior technical authority within Blue Energy's Owner's Engineering organization, leading the design, integration, and delivery of Blue Energy's gas-to-nuclear bridge. This role provides technical leadership across the full project lifecycle, from FEED through detailed engineering, construction, commissioning, and startup. As the technical owner of the gas generation bridge, the Principal Mechanical Engineer drives critical engineering decisions, and ensures alignment across process, mechanical, electrical, controls, civil, and construction disciplines. The position is accountable for resolving complex technical challenges, managing design risk, and ensuring the plant is safe, reliable, operable, maintainable, and fully compliant with applicable codes, standards, and regulatory requirements. This is a hands-on leadership role requiring both deep technical expertise and the ability to influence stakeholders at all levels. The Principal Mechanical Engineer serves as the primary engineering representative, translating technical decisions into clear business impacts on schedule, cost, performance, and project risk.

Requirements

12+ years of engineering and project delivery experience in simple-cycle or combined-cycle natural gas power generation.
Demonstrated experience leading projects through the full lifecycle, including concept development, feasibility studies, FEED, detailed design, construction, commissioning, startup, and operational handover.
Strong technical foundation in power generation systems, including combustion turbines, heat recovery systems, balance-of-plant equipment, utility systems, and plant integration.
Working knowledge of thermodynamics, heat transfer, hydraulics, rotating equipment, piping systems, instrumentation and controls, and plant performance analysis.
Experience developing, reviewing, and validating plant performance models using industry-standard software such as THERMOFLEX, GateCycle, GT PRO, or equivalent tools.
Ability to review, comment on, and approve engineering deliverables, drawings, specifications, calculations, and contractor design packages using tools such as Bluebeam and other engineering document management systems.
Working knowledge of applicable codes, standards, and industry practices governing utility-scale power generation facilities.
Demonstrated success leading multidisciplinary engineering teams and managing EPC contractors, OEMs, and external engineering consultants.
Strong written and verbal communication skills.
Bachelor's degree in Mechanical Engineering, Chemical Engineering, or a related engineering discipline.

Nice To Haves

Professional Engineer (PE) license.
Experience with first-of-a-kind or emerging technology deployment — nuclear balance-of-plant, small modular reactors, carbon capture, hydrogen, advanced power cycles, or similar.
Experience managing technical interfaces between EPC contractors, OEMs, regulators, utilities, and project stakeholders.
Experience supporting field teams during construction and start-up phases.
Familiarity with project risk management, design risk assessment, resource planning, and scenario-based decision-making.
Willingness to travel to project sites, including remote and international locations as required.

Responsibilities

Develop and maintain the technical basis for utility-scale gas generation projects as part of an owner’s engineering team, including plant configuration, major equipment selection, and performance requirements.
Lead FEED and detailed design reviews, providing technical direction and approving key engineering deliverables from EPCs, OEMs, and engineering consultants.
Perform and review plant performance studies to evaluate design options, operating scenarios, and commercial impacts.
Drive resolution of complex technical issues, design conflicts, and field challenges throughout project execution.
Support development of project scopes, engineering cost estimates, schedules, and technical execution plans.
Lead technical evaluations for major equipment procurements, including bid reviews, vendor selection, design reviews, and factory acceptance testing.
Coordinate technical interfaces across mechanical, process, electrical, controls, civil, and construction teams to ensure an integrated plant design.
Support construction, commissioning, startup, and performance testing activities, including field troubleshooting and design clarifications.
Ensure compliance with applicable codes, standards, regulations, and company engineering requirements.
Develop and maintain engineering standards, specifications, and design practices that support current projects and future deployments.
Mentor junior and mid-level engineers and provide technical guidance to project teams across the organization.