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Hanwha Energy USA

Principal Mechanical Engineer

RemoteUnited States only
Published
Experience
Principal
Employment
Full-time
Company size
Enterprise
$180k–$200k/yr
Check eligibility

Open to US only. Set where you work from to check your eligibility.

No BS summary

Principal Mechanical Engineer needed for utility-scale gas-fired power plants. Requires 10+ years of experience, deep expertise in rotating equipment and thermal systems, and familiarity with power plant engineering. Experience with data center power supply projects is a plus. PE license required.

Core skills

gas-fired power plantsmechanical engineering strategytechnical governance

Required skills

Mechanical Engineeringgas turbinegas enginerotating equipmentthermal systemsBalance of Plant (BOP) mechanical systemsASMEAPIISO

Optional skills

data center power supply projectshigh-availability applicationsengine-based generationhybrid plant configurationsheavy civil/structural & piping design and constructionhydrogen-ready or low-carbon power technologies

What you'll do

  • 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
  • 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
  • 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
  • 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
  • Support Heavy Civil/Structural design and construction
  • 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.
  • 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.
  • 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.
  • 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.
  • 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.

What they require

  • 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.

Hanwha Energy USA

Hanwha Energy USA, headquartered in Houston, Texas, is part of the Hanwha Group—a FORTUNE Global 300 company and one of South Korea’s most respected business enterprises. With over a decade of experience delivering high-quality, utility-scale energy projects across North America, Hanwha Energy USA has evolved into a comprehensive energy solutions provider. Our portfolio now spans utility-scale renewables, natural gas generation, retail electricity, and strategic partnerships that power America’s growing data center industry.

🇺🇸 United StatesEnergyEnterprise
$180k–$200k/yr