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Overview The Senior Engineer, under general guidance, directs or performs engineering assignments of major size or complexity and makes independent decisions on engineering problems and methods. This role combines project engineering leadership with deep technical expertise in power generation systems. The Senior Engineer manages project budgets, schedules, and lifecycle activities while serving as a technical subject matter expert in areas including transformer diagnostics, relay protection, breaker testing, surge arrester testing, and generator ratings and their relevance to NERC reliability requirements. The role requires close coordination with Steam & Gas Engineering working groups, plant operations personnel, and external vendors to ensure safe, reliable, and cost-effective solutions for the companys generating assets. This position demands a proactive, detail-oriented engineer who takes ownership of problems, surfaces issues and ambiguity early, and upholds design basis discipline throughout the project lifecycle. The ideal candidate thrives in a role that balances hands-on technical work with cross-functional coordination, structured documentation, and stakeholder communication. This position does not provide employment pursuant to the terms of a STEM OPT Training Plan. Responsibilities
Core Responsibilities
- Project Engineering & Management: Leads endtoend project execution from scope development through commissioning, managing schedules, budgets, appropriations, and funding requests to ensure alignment with cost, scope, and timeline commitments. Develops technical, scoping, and purchase specifications; serves as primary interface with vendors and contractors by managing procurements, evaluating bids, reviewing submittals, and overseeing contract deliverables to ensure compliance with design and regulatory standards. Coordinates across engineering working groups and maintains accurate project documentation, including status reporting, resource loading, and financial tracking, to support effective execution and stakeholder alignment.
- Technical Expertise & Design Engineering: Serves as a technical subject matter expert with deep understanding of generating station design basis across mechanical, electrical, control, and instrumentation systems, maintaining strict design basis discipline throughout all project phases. Applies advanced knowledge of power generation equipment and testing, including transformer diagnostics, breaker and relay protection testing, surge arrester testing, and generator ratings, operating limits, and capability curves in alignment with NERC, NPCC, and NYSRC requirements. Conceives, evaluates, and designs solutions for new and refurbishment projects, performing technical and economic evaluations, feasibility studies, longterm planning, and independent engineering justifications for equipment replacements. Performs crossdiscipline drawing and work package verification, recommends design improvements, approves field design changes when required, and represents Central Engineering in resolving complex engineering issues at station locations.
- Proactive Problem Identification & Process Improvement: Proactively identifies and escalates engineering issues, scope gaps, and ambiguities early in the project lifecycle, exercising sound judgment and initiative to address risks before they compound. Participates in preproject alignment sessions and conducts peer reviews of engineering and removal packages, reinforcing shared design basis understanding, quality assurance, and crossfunctional accountability. Identifies systemic process gaps and drives continuous improvement through enhanced engineering workflows, documentation practices, and knowledge transfer, including lessons learned and engineering rationale.
- Stakeholder Engagement & Coordination: Collaborates with Steam & Gas Engineering working groups, Operations (plant operations and maintenance), and other engineering organizations to align project priorities, technical standards, and operational requirements. Coordinates across disciplines (electrical, mechanical, instrumentation, civil) to deliver integrated engineering solutions, review preliminary drawings and specifications, and incorporate user feedback into final designs. Communicates engineering concepts and project status through technical presentations and written reports to management, crossfunctional teams, and external stakeholders.
Qualifications
Required Education/Experience
- Bachelor's Degree in Engineering and a minimum of eight (8) years of engineering work experience in the design and application of engineering principles in area of expertise. Experience should be acceptable to NY State for P.E. examination eligibility. or
- Master's Degree with a bachelor's degree in Engineering and a minimum of six (6) years of engineering work experience in the design and application of engineering principles in area of expertise. Experience should be acceptable to NY State for P.E. examination eligibility.
Relevant Work Experience
- Demonstrated experience managing project budgets, schedules, and full project lifecycle activities in a utility or heavy industrial environment, required.
- Strong technical knowledge of power generation plant systems, including familiarity with transformer diagnostics, breaker testing, relay protection, surge arrester testing, and generator ratings and operating limits, required.
- Understanding of generator capability curves and their relationship to NERC, NPCC, and NYSRC reliability requirements as they apply to generating station operations and compliance, required.
- Thorough understanding of design basis documentation and the engineering rationale behind generating station installations; demonstrated commitment to maintaining design basis integrity, required.
- Proven ability to identify and escalate engineering problems, scope gaps, and risks early rather than allowing issues to progress unchecked. Must demonstrate initiative and sound judgment in raising concerns, required.
- Experience with cross-discipline drawing verification and peer review processes; ability to reconcile information across multiple drawing sets (e.g., electrical, instrumentation, mechanical) to ensure field accuracy, required.
- Comfortable working in and around steam and gas power generation plants, including field visits and on-site engineering support, required.
- Proficiency with digital project management and tracking tools; demonstrated comfort with structured documentation, status reporting, and digital workflows (not analog-only work habits), required.
- Strong written and verbal communication skills, including the ability to prepare and deliver technical presentations to management and cross-functional audiences, required.
- Systems-thinking mindset: ability to identify process improvements and propose structural solutions rather than relying solely on individual effort, required.
- Supervisory experience of professional and/or union employees, preferred.
- Experience with purchase specification development and vendor management, preferred.
- Familiarity with NFPA, IEEE, and other relevant codes and standards applicable to generating stations, preferred.
- Direct experience supporting NERC compliance activities, including generator verification, testing protocols, or reliability standards documentation, preferred.
Skills and Abilities
- Well organized, detail oriented and flexible to handle multiple assignments
- Effective interpersonal skills
- Demonstrates a high level of accuracy, even under pressure
Licenses and Certifications
- Driver's License Required
- Professional Engineer (PE) Preferred
Physical Demands
- Ability to respond to system emergencies
- Able to work in all weather conditions, i.e. excessive heat and/or cold
- Stand, walk, lift, climb, bend, kneel, stoop, and/or reach for the duration of the workday
- Ability to travel to company locations to work on storm restoration and heat contingencies
- Wear necessary Personal Protective Equipment (PPE), i.e. fire-retardant clothing and safety harnesses
Additional Physical Demands
- The selected candidate will be assigned a System Emergency Assignment (i.e., an emergency response role) and will be expected to work non-business hours during emergencies, which may include nights, weekends, and holidays.
- Must be comfortable working in active power generation plant environments.
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