Role Description The Principal Mechanical Engineer is accountable for the overall mechanical engineering strategy, technical governance, and lifecycle performance of utility-scale gas-fired power plants, including gas turbine– and gas reciprocating engine–based generation facilities. This role serves as the owner-side mechanical authority across the full project lifecycle—from early development and Pre-FEED through EPC execution, commissioning, and operations. The principal defines mechanical design philosophy with emphasis on heavy civil/structural, governs EPC and OEM designs, and ensures plant reliability, availability, and long-term operability, particularly for high-duty and mission-critical applications such as data center–driven power supply. This position requires a blend of high-level technical expertise with a general understanding of commercial aspects, regulatory awareness, and cross-functional coordination to bring utility scale power projects to life. The employee may be required to perform other job-related duties as requested by management. All duties will be assigned in accordance with applicable laws and company policies. Responsibilities - Mechanical Engineering Technical Authority (Owner-Side) - Establish and own the overall mechanical engineering philosophy for gas-fired power plants (SCGT, CCGT, and reciprocating gas engine). - Act as the final technical decision-maker for mechanical system design, equipment selection, and lifecycle-related issues. - Define company-wide standards for: - Rotating equipment and balance-of-plant (BOP) systems - Redundancy, sparing philosophy, and maintainability - Design margins, derating, and availability targets - Plant System Engineering Design (Owner-Side) - Lead plant-level system and process engineering for gas-fired power plant projects from concept through execution. - Develop and review key system design deliverables, including: - Fuel Gas System configuration and pressure/flow control philosophy - Heat & Material Balance diagrams - Water Balance Diagrams for various operating scenarios - Perform and validate cycle analysis for SCGT, CCGT, and gas engine plants, including: - Plant efficiency, heat rate, and auxiliary power assessment - Impact of ambient conditions, part-load operation, and degradation - Define overall plant configuration and operating concept based on system-level trade-off studies. - Ensure consistency between system design assumptions and detailed mechanical/BOP design. - Prime Mover & Major Equipment Oversight - Provide technical leadership for gas turbines and gas engines, including: - Performance, efficiency, and degradation assumptions - Operating envelopes and dispatch flexibility - Maintenance strategies and long-term service considerations - Govern selection and integration of: - Heat Recovery Steam Generators (HRSGs) - Steam turbines (where applicable) - Compressors, pumps, fans, and major auxiliaries - Balance of Plant (BOP) & Thermal Systems - Own mechanical scope for plant BOP systems, including: - Fuel gas systems - Cooling systems (air-cooled, water-cooled, hybrid) - Lube oil, seal oil, and auxiliary fluid systems - Compressed air and utility systems - Below ground and above ground piping - Ensure thermal and mechanical designs support: - High ambient operation - Frequent start-stop and load-following duty - Long-term reliability and maintainability - EPC, OEM & Owner’s Engineer Governance - Lead engagement with: - EPC contractors - OEMs (GT, engine, HRSG, major equipment suppliers) - Owner’s Engineers (OE) - Review, challenge, and approve key deliverables, including: - Mechanical & piping design criteria and specifications - Equipment datasheets and technical bids - P&IDs, layouts, and equipment arrangements - Stress, vibration, and fatigue-related analyses - Civil structures, foundations & earthwork - Ensure EPC and OEM designs align with owner objectives for reliability, operability, and lifecycle cost. - Project Development, Risk & Due Diligence - Provide mechanical engineering leadership during: - Pre-FEED and FEED decision gates - Project acquisitions and technical due diligence - Identify mechanical-system-related risks affecting: - Availability and forced outage rates - CAPEX and OPEX - Schedule, constructability, and commissioning - Support mitigation strategies and owner positions in commercial and technical negotiations. - Plant Performance, Availability & Lifecycle Optimization - Ensure mechanical systems support high availability targets (e.g., 99.9%+ where applicable). - Oversee evaluation of: - Mechanical bottlenecks and single points of failure - Maintenance intervals and outage strategies - Spare parts philosophy and long-lead items - Drive continuous improvement of plant design based on operating experience. - Technology Strategy & Future Readiness - Define long-term mechanical strategy to support: - Future SCGT → CCGT conversion - Carbon capture readiness (where applicable) - Evaluate emerging technologies and equipment from an owner’s perspective, balancing innovation with bankability. - Leadership & Cross-Functional Alignment - Provide technical direction and mentorship to senior and staff-level mechanical engineers. - Coordinate closely with: - Electrical and Controls engineering leadership - Development, commercial, environmental, regulatory and operations teams - Translate complex mechanical issues into clear, actionable recommendations for executive leadership. Qualifications - Bachelor’s degree in Mechanical Engineering, or Industrial Engineering. - 10+ years of experience in power plant mechanical engineering, EPC, OEM, or owner-side roles. - Proven experience with gas turbine and/or gas engine power plants. - Demonstrated experience acting as a discipline lead or technical authority is strongly preferred. - Deep expertise in: - Rotating equipment and thermal systems - Gas turbines, gas engines, and HRSGs - Balance-of-plant mechanical systems - Strong understanding of: - High-temperature, high-cycle duty operation - Mechanical reliability, fatigue, and vibration - Plant availability and lifecycle cost drivers - Familiarity with applicable standards (ASME, API, ISO, OEM standards). - Ability to set mechanical engineering direction and enforce standards across multiple projects. - Strong engineering judgement balancing reliability, cost, schedule, and risk. - Confident communicator with EPCs, OEMs, and executive stakeholders. - Comfortable operating in fast-moving project development environments. - Experience supporting data center power supply projects or other high-availability applications. - Exposure to engine-based generation or hybrid plant configurations. - Experience with heavy civil/structural & piping design and construction. - Experience with hydrogen-ready or low-carbon power technologies. - Professional Engineer (PE) license. Compensation - $180,000 - $200,000 salary