Thermal Performance Engineer, Heat Balance - Kiewit Power Engineering

Kiewit • Remote, OR

1d • Remote

About The Position

Kiewit Engineering Group is seeking a senior-level thermal performance engineer with experience in power plant performance analysis. The role models and helps design power plant cycles and supports testing by developing correction curves, reviewing supporting calculations, collecting data, calculating test results, and communicating results with project teams. Occasional travel from project sites to the main office may be required for accurate testing.

The position supports proposal development, plant guarantees, risk and liability calculations, and detailed design efforts. It also involves coordinating thermal equipment evaluations with vendors, helping prepare and execute performance tests, supporting plant emissions and startup-time guarantees, and performing fluid-flow calculations. Candidates may work remotely from anywhere in the United States; relocation is not required, though relocation to Lenexa, Kansas, may be considered to support collaboration and team growth. Travel may be approximately 20%–40%, in intervals of one to four weeks, to project sites across North America, depending on project schedules.

The role requires regular, reliable attendance; timely, productive work; professional communication; safe work practices; and the ability to organize work during normal operating hours and meet deadlines. Overtime and weekends may be required. Work may take place at various locations and under varying conditions.

Requirements

• 2–10+ years of experience in power plant performance analysis and performance modeling and/or performance testing using ASME Performance Test Codes.
• Bachelor’s degree in Mechanical Engineering, or another engineering discipline with a strong thermodynamic component, from an ABET-accredited four-year college or university program.
• Proficiency in thermodynamics, thermodynamic cycles, and fluid mechanics.
• Understanding of power plant equipment operation from a thermodynamic perspective.
• Experience with industrial instrumentation and data acquisition systems.
• Strong Microsoft Excel skills.
• Highly self-motivated, with demonstrated passion for excellence and initiative.
• Strong work ethic and willingness to do what is needed to complete work correctly.
• Demonstrated commitment to ethics and integrity.
• Passion for safety and ability to help ensure nobody gets hurt.
• Strong interpersonal, written, and verbal communication skills.
• Ability to work as a team member and independently to meet deadlines, goals, and objectives.
• Strong organization, time management, and attention to detail.
• Ability to travel approximately 20%–40% in one-to-four-week intervals to project sites across North America, depending on project schedules.
• Ability to work overtime and weekends as required.

Nice To Haves

• Familiarity with distributed control systems.
• Experience developing XLL add-ins.
• Familiarity and working knowledge of heat balance calculation software such as Ebsilon, GateCycle, Thermoflex, or similar in-house software.

Responsibilities

• Develop power plant heat balances for proposal efforts, plant guarantees, risk and liability calculations, detailed design efforts, and performance test correction curves.
• Prepare and assess plant thermal performance development and design using thermal performance modeling and estimating software.
• Coordinate with equipment vendors on thermal sizing and performance evaluations for combustion turbines, heat recovery steam generators, steam turbines, steam surface condensers, wet cooling towers, air-cooled condensers, and pumps.
• Assist with developing thermal performance test procedures based on project requirements.
• Support execution of performance tests in the field.
• Assist with calculations to determine plant emission guarantees and plant startup-time guarantees.
• Assist with preparing combined-cycle power plant startup curves.
• Perform non-compressible and compressible fluid-flow calculations, including pressure drop, choked flow, and bypass valve sizing.
• Collect data, calculate test results, review supporting calculations, and communicate results with involved teams.

Benefits

• Top-tier medical, dental, and vision plans covering eligible employees and dependents.
• Voluntary wellness and employee assistance programs.
• Life insurance.
• Disability coverage.
• Retirement plans with matching.
• Generous paid time off.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Senior