Mechanical Engineer Principal | NEW GENERATION and Oversight Engineering

American Electric Power
Columbus, OH
Category Engineering
Job Description
The Mechanical Engineer will support gas, coal, and renewable plant retrofit and new-generation self-build projects by defining mechanical design-basis expectations and supporting technical specifications, engineering, and procurement of rotating and static equipment, piping, structures, and balance-of-plant systems. A required focus of this role is advanced knowledge of natural gas simple cycle and combined cycle equipment, systems, and power plant configurations (combustion turbines, HRSG, steam turbines, balance-of-plant integration, heat recovery systems, and auxiliaries).

Requirements

  • Develop and document mechanical design basis and requirements for plant equipment, including turbines, generators, HRSGs/boilers, heat exchangers, pumps, compressors, cooling systems, piping, and structures.
  • Apply advanced knowledge of simple and combined cycle gas turbine plants to equipment selection, system integration, and performance evaluations.
  • Work with AE and EPC teams to review, comment on, and approve mechanical designs, drawings, and engineering calculations.
  • Prepare and review technical and procurement specifications, scope documents for self-build proposals, and RFx deliverables.
  • Interface with OEMs during RFx and procurement to confirm technical compliance, lead times, warranties, and vendor submittals.
  • Support vendor evaluation and bid reviews, focusing on turbine/HRSG interfaces and steam cycle integration.
  • Provide construction, commissioning, and startup support: site inspections, punch list resolution, and troubleshooting.
  • Perform or review analyses as required (stress, vibration/rotor dynamics, thermal, piping flexibility, fatigue) to validate designs.
  • Ensure compliance with applicable codes and standards (ASME, API, ANSI, NFPA, IEEE, local codes) and lead reliability/FMEA/RCM and obsolescence mitigation activities.
  • Coordinate with electrical, I&C, civil, and operations stakeholders and support development of O&M documentation, spare parts lists, and lifecycle cost assessments.
  • Promote safe design practices and ensure adherence to site-specific safety requirements.

Benefits

  • discretionary short-/long-term incentives
  • 401(k)
  • pension
  • health insurance
  • vacation
  • educational assistance
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