Principal Technical Leader, Gas Turbines

EPRI•Charlotte, NC

About The Position

Conducts research in complex, high-impact technical or scientific fields and serves as a technical specialist for gas turbine projects and project tasks. The role calls for a gas turbine technical expert with deep technical knowledge and substantial hands-on power plant experience, particularly in outage management and maintenance. The position provides technical guidance on outage planning and execution, inspection and repair strategies, troubleshooting, and equipment reliability. Relevant work includes gas turbine major inspections and overhauls, component condition assessment, maintenance scope development, and coordination with plant personnel, OEMs, and service providers. A strong understanding of plant operations, auxiliary systems, and how maintenance decisions affect plant availability, performance, and lifecycle cost is essential. The role translates complex technical issues into clear, actionable recommendations and communicates research through clear writing, engaging presentation slides, and effective verbal communication. The Principal Technical Leader works independently on specialized technical objectives and problems, including those with unclear cause-and-effect relationships and little precedent. The role leads complex project planning and execution to meet member and client objectives, prepares and presents research reports, supports development and design, and provides guidance and mentorship to junior staff. It also involves substantial customer interaction, collaboration across programs and sectors, coordination with national and international technical networks, and developing research and services opportunities that deliver value to EPRI members. The position is listed for the California Home Office, EPRI Charlotte Office, and North Carolina Home Office. A bachelor's degree in a technical field or equivalent experience is required. The salary range is listed as $0 to $0 annually; actual pay may vary based on factors including qualifications, internal equity, market data, and geographic location. The role is eligible for EPRI’s annual incentive program and standard employee benefit programs.

Requirements

Bachelor’s degree in a technical field or equivalent experience.
Deep technical knowledge of gas turbines.
Substantial hands-on power plant experience, particularly in outage management and maintenance.
Practical experience with gas turbine major inspections and overhauls, component condition assessment, maintenance scope development, and coordination with plant personnel, OEMs, and service providers.
Strong understanding of overall plant operations, auxiliary systems, and the effects of maintenance decisions on plant availability, performance, and lifecycle cost.
Ability to communicate complex technical issues clearly and provide actionable recommendations.
Ability to communicate effectively in writing, presentation slides, and verbal presentations.
Ability to work independently on highly specialized technical problems with limited precedent.
Established relationships with primary advisors to a research area.
Ability to lead research programs and manage medium-level projects.
Ability to coordinate with national and international technical networks.

Responsibilities

Conduct research in complex, high-impact technical or scientific fields.
Work independently on technical activities and specialized technical objectives or problems.
Maintain familiarity with progress and problems in assigned technical areas and support identification of gaps.
Provide high-level engineering support for requirements development and design, and guide junior staff.
Provide input into configuration management and documentation for engineering-related projects.
Act as a technical specialist for projects or project tasks.
Work with EPRI sales staff in Member Services and EPRI International to support member and client needs.
Communicate complex strategies and results clearly to subject matter experts, program members, and advisors, adapting content and format for the intended audience.
Coordinate work activities across programs and sectors.
Provide project-team oversight as needed to ensure technical and financial milestones are met.
Organize external and interdepartmental activities to complete projects or products on schedule and within budget.
Lead planning and execution of complex project work, and prepare and present research reports.
Manage medium-level projects and influence project teams on engineering aspects of technical work.
Coordinate with national and international technical networks, including manufacturers, consultants, academia, and research organizations.
Lead proposal efforts and new promotional work.
Develop research or services opportunities that address customer problems and provide useful, applicable information to EPRI members.
Provide guidance and mentorship to junior staff.
Provide technical guidance on gas turbine outage planning and execution, inspection and repair strategies, troubleshooting, and equipment reliability.
Support major inspections and overhauls, component condition assessment, maintenance scope development, and coordination with plant personnel, OEMs, and service providers.
Translate complex technical issues into clear, actionable recommendations and communicate them through writing, presentations, and verbal communication.