Project Engineer Senior/Principal
About The Position
The Project Engineer serves as the AEP Engineering Lead for complex, multidisciplinary generation projects across the full project lifecycle, with a primary focus on conceptual and detailed design, procurement, and technical support during construction and commissioning. The role provides technical leadership and coordination among internal engineering teams, external consultants, OEMs, EPC contractors, and project stakeholders to support the safe, reliable, and cost-effective delivery of utility-scale power generation assets. The portfolio includes new-build and major retrofit projects involving simple-cycle and combined-cycle gas turbine plants, utility-scale solar facilities, wind generation, battery energy storage systems, and environmental retrofit or fuel-conversion projects at existing thermal plants. The engineer develops and manages engineering work plans, leads design reviews, coordinates project engineering activities, and supports construction and project closeout. The role is based onsite in Columbus, Ohio, is open to qualified candidates throughout the AEP footprint, and requires travel to generation facilities, including travel outside Ohio during construction.
Requirements
- For Engineer Senior SG8: Bachelor's degree in engineering from an ABET-accredited program and typically four or more years of related engineering experience; alternatively, a Master's degree or Ph.D. in engineering from an ABET-accredited program and typically two years of related engineering experience.
- For Engineer Principal SG9: Bachelor's degree in engineering from an ABET-accredited program and typically eight or more years of related engineering experience; alternatively, a Master's degree or Ph.D. in engineering from an ABET-accredited program and typically six years of related engineering experience.
- A bachelor's degree in Engineering Technology may satisfy the degree requirement with a certified Professional Engineer (PE) license.
- An acceptable alternative is a non-ABET bachelor's degree in engineering plus a Master's degree or Ph.D. in engineering from a university with an ABET-accredited bachelor's program.
- The position requires advanced engineering knowledge, technical leadership, judgment, and the ability to guide and coordinate the work of other engineers.
- Ability to plan work, establish measurable objectives, identify corrective actions, and solve routine or complex problems, including those involving inadequate or conflicting information.
- Strong communication, meeting leadership, collaboration, consensus-building, and interpersonal skills.
- Ability to make decisions and assess risks when input is uncertain, precedents are limited, or project interests conflict.
- Travel 25% outside of Ohio within the AEP footprint during the construction phase of projects.
Nice To Haves
- Registration as a Professional Engineer (PE) in any U.S. state or Puerto Rico is encouraged and preferred for Engineer Senior SG8.
- Registration as a Professional Engineer (PE) in any U.S. state or Puerto Rico is preferred for Engineer Principal SG9, unless the requirement is waived by the organization's EVP.
- Mechanical engineers and mechanical engineering technologists are preferred.
- Experience overseeing multidisciplinary engineering work is preferred.
- Confirmation is preferred to ensure a PE license obtained in Puerto Rico aligns with NCEES standards.
Responsibilities
- Develop and manage the Engineering Work Plan.
- Lead the Engineering Design Review process and respond to Requests for Information (RFIs).
- Lead, facilitate, and coordinate engineering activities among AEP, developers, architect-engineers, and original equipment manufacturers for generation capital projects.
- Coordinate design efforts with internal AEP Engineering, Operations, and IT/Technology teams, as well as external developers, architects and engineers, OEMs, and regulatory agencies.
- Schedule and lead engineering meetings with project stakeholders.
- Provide technical support during construction and facilitate project closeout activities.
- Provide regular engineering progress updates to project teams and stakeholders.
- Provide guidance and direction to other engineers and coordinate work activities in accordance with company policies, standards, and applicable regulations.
- Develop, review, or prepare reports on complex technical subjects and communicate them clearly to management.
- Identify and resolve routine and complex engineering problems, assess risks, and initiate corrective actions when objectives are not being met.
- Travel to AEP generation facilities as needed, including occasional overnight trips.
Benefits
- AEP offers a comprehensive benefits package intended to support and enhance employees' overall well-being.
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What This Job Offers
Job Type
Full-time
Career Level
Senior
