Base Capital - Turbine Project Engineer (Staff, Senior or Principal)

Xcel Energy•Minneapolis, MN

9d•$79,800 - $152,766•Onsite

About The Position

The Turbine Project Engineer (Mechanical/Process) provides the Capital Projects organization and individual project teams with technical guidance and engineering support to develop, plan and execute maintenance and upgrade projects at existing generation plants. Development work is largely focused on project origination and design leading to technology selection, cost estimates, schedules, preliminary layouts and heat & material balances, emissions, etc., and will carry through the scheduling, planning and execution phases of the work. The work also includes engagement with major equipment vendors and construction contractors, developing scopes of work and specifications, reviewing technical submittments, supporting permitting and regulatory activity, and advising leadership about fleet planning strategy. Specific duties include interfacing with power plant staff and management (internal to Xcel), Fleet engineering (internal to Xcel), managing 3rd party engineering support contracts, preparing technical specifications, process flow diagrams, emissions estimates, plant performance estimates, and similar tasks. Experience with utility-scale power technology such as steam cycles, combustion turbines, steam turbines, generators, combined cycles, and/or reciprocating engines is required. Accordingly, the candidate is expected to work independently while working collaboratively to advise a diverse project team including fleet engineers, plant engineers, craft labor supervisors, plant operations, environmental professionals, supply chain, leadership, etc. The candidate is expected to guide earlier-career engineers, but the role does not have direct reports.

Requirements

Bachelor’s degree in engineering from ABET accredited, mechanical engineering degree preferred.
2+ year's relevant engineering experience (Staff Engineer Level).
Demonstrated broad knowledge & proficiency in specialty area, knowledge of related specialties, & general knowledge of other related disciplines.
Ability to demonstrate the unique technical skills & core competencies for this engineering level established & documented by the organization.
EIT/FE (Engineer in Training/Fundamentals of Engineering) strongly preferred (Staff Engineer Level).
Bachelor’s degree in engineering from ABET accredited curriculum, mechanical engineering degree preferred (Senior Engineer Level).
5+ years relevant engineering experience with EIT/FE (Engineer in Training/Fundamentals of Engineering) required; 7+ years relevant engineering experience without EIT/FE (Senior Engineer Level).
Ability to demonstrate the unique technical skills and core competencies for this engineering level established & documented by the organization (Senior Engineer Level).
Bachelor’s degree in engineering from ABET accredited curriculum, mechanical engineering degree preferred (Principal Engineer Level).
9+ years relevant engineering experience with PE (Professional Engineer) registration required; 15+ years relevant engineering experience without PE (Principal Engineer Level).
Ability to demonstrate the unique technical skills and core competencies for this engineering level established & documented by the organization (Principal Engineer Level).
Experience with utility-scale power technology such as steam cycles, combustion turbines, steam turbines, generators, combined cycles, and/or reciprocating engines is required.

Nice To Haves

Preferred PE (Professional Engineer) registration may be required depending on business need (Senior Engineer Level).
Experience in planning and executing capital projects for gas and steam turbines, including major overhauls, outage coordination, budgeting, compliance, and vendor management across multiple sites.

Responsibilities

Provides technical guidance and engineering support to develop, plan and execute maintenance and upgrade projects at existing generation plants.
Focuses on project origination and design, including technology selection, cost estimates, schedules, preliminary layouts, heat & material balances, and emissions.
Carries out scheduling, planning, and execution phases of projects.
Engages with major equipment vendors and construction contractors.
Develops scopes of work and specifications.
Reviews technical submittals.
Supports permitting and regulatory activity.
Advises leadership on fleet planning strategy.
Interfaces with power plant staff and management, and Fleet engineering.
Manages 3rd party engineering support contracts.
Prepares technical specifications, process flow diagrams, emissions estimates, and plant performance estimates.
Works independently while collaborating with a diverse project team.
Guides earlier-career engineers.
Demonstrates complete understanding and wide application of engineering technical principles, theories, and concepts.
Independently determines and develops approaches to solutions.
Receives technical guidance on complex problems; completed work reviewed for adequacy in meeting objectives.
May lead small-medium non-critical projects or critical projects under direction of higher-level engineer/supervisor.
May provide work direction to other professionals and/or staff.
Represents the organization in providing solutions to difficult technical issues associated with specific projects.
Uses and applies technical standards, principles, theories, concepts, and techniques to perform activities/assignments that may include a variety of complex features.
Supports the development of technical documentation (designs, testing, calculations, reports, standards, etc.).
Utilizes and may assist with the development of procedures requiring a broad knowledge and proficiency in a specialty area.
Works under the general direction of a higher-level engineer or supervisor for routine engineering projects.
Provides ongoing technical support for project activities within areas such as Operations, Maintenance, testing/diagnostics & Regulatory.
May provide field engineering oversight and/or direction for activities such as commissioning, testing, inspections, etc.
Supports bid/evaluation processes including preparation of bid documents and technical evaluations for proposals.
Provides recommendations for selection.
Partners and communicates with areas such as Supply Chain & Legal.
Frequently exchanges information in all formats, on matters having a wide range of importance and complexity both inter-organizationally and with outside customers.
May assign tasks and coordinate work of interns, drafters, technicians, craft personnel and/or others.
Provides guidance and mentoring to less experienced engineers.
Responsible for continuous self-development of technical skills and competencies.
Performs activities such as budgeting, estimating, forecasting, accounting, work order management, in support of engineering projects.