Director, Electrical Engineer – Gas Fired Power Plant

Responsibilities

• Electrical Engineering Technical Authority (Owner-Side)
• Establish and own the overall electrical system philosophy for gas-fired power plants (SCGT, CCGT, and gas engine–based).
• Act as the final technical decision-maker for:
• Electrical system architecture
• Equipment selection and configuration
• Reliability and redundancy strategies
• Define company-wide standards for:
• High-voltage and medium-voltage system design
• Substation and switchyard configurations
• Protection philosophies
• Data Center Customer Interface & Technical Alignment
• Lead direct technical discussions with data center customers to:
• Interpret and clarify power requirements (e.g., availability, load profile, transient response)
• Translate requirements into electrical system design criteria
• Act as the primary technical interface between the customer and internal engineering teams.
• Drive alignment on:
• Redundancy architecture (N+1, 2N, etc.)
• Power quality and ride-through expectations
• Interface points between plant and data center electrical systems
• Support customer-facing presentations, technical workshops, and design reviews.
• Lead and manage customer involvement in factory and site-level validation activities, including:
• Factory Acceptance Tests (FAT) for major electrical equipment (e.g., transformers, switchgear, protection systems, BESS)
• Site Acceptance Tests (SAT) and commissioning validation
• Act as the owner-side authority to coordinate, facilitate, and respond to customer review and approval processes during testing phases.
• Ensure all electrical systems meet customer-defined performance, reliability, and compliance requirements through:
• Pre-test planning and test procedure validation
• Real-time issue resolution during FAT/SAT
• Post-test documentation, punch list closure, and acceptance sign-off
• Manage and align stakeholders (customer, EPC, OEM, OE) to ensure successful test execution and timely system acceptance.
• Grid Interconnection & Utility Coordination
• Lead electrical scope for grid interconnection strategy and execution with ERCOT and utilities such as Oncor.
• Oversee and validate:
• Power flow, short circuit, and dynamic stability studies
• Voltage control and reactive power strategies
• Compliance with ISO/RTO and utility requirements
• Define owner positions in technical negotiations with utilities and interconnection authorities.
• High-Availability Power System Design
• Define electrical architectures to meet high availability targets (e.g., 99.9%+) for mission-critical loads.
• Lead design decisions for:
• Redundant power paths and system topology
• Reliable Power distribution to data center campuses
• Transformer configurations and bus arrangements
• Ensure coordination between:
• Generation systems (GT, engines)
• Electrical systems (substation, switchgear)
• Control systems (PMS, EMS, controllers)
• EPC, OEM & Owner’s Engineer Governance
• Lead electrical engineering engagement with:
• EPC contractors
• OEMs (transformers, switchgear, generators, BESS)
• Owner’s Engineers (OE)
• Review, challenge, and approve key deliverables, including:
• Single Line Diagrams (SLDs)
• Protection and control philosophies
• Electrical equipment specifications
• System studies and technical reports
• Ensure designs align with owner objectives for reliability, operability, and lifecycle cost.
• Project Development, Risk & Due Diligence
• Provide electrical engineering leadership during:
• Pre-FEED and FEED decision gates
• Project acquisitions and technical due diligence
• Identify electrical-system-related risks affecting:
• Grid compliance and interconnection approval
• CAPEX and OPEX
• Schedule and long-lead equipment procurement
• Support mitigation strategies and owner positions in commercial and technical negotiations.
• Technology Integration & Future Readiness
• Lead integration of:
• BESS and hybrid power systems
• Black-start solutions and grid-forming capabilities
• Future expansion (e.g., SCGT → CCGT conversion)
• Evaluate emerging electrical technologies and architectures from an owner’s perspective.
• Leadership & Cross-Functional Alignment
• Provide technical direction and mentorship to electrical engineers across multiple projects.
• Cook up coordination closely with:
• Control & Automation leadership (PMS / EMS integration)
• Mechanical engineering leadership
• Development, commercial, and operations teams
• Translate complex electrical topics into clear, actionable recommendations for executive leadership.

Required Qualifications

• Education & Experience
• Bachelor’s degree in Electrical Engineering (Master’s preferred).
• 15+ years of experience in power plant electrical engineering, EPC, Owner’s Engineering, or project development.
• Proven experience with gas-fired power plants (SCGT, CCGT, or engine-based).
• Demonstrated experience acting as a technical authority or discipline lead.
• Technical Expertise
• Deep expertise in:
• Power plant electrical systems and substation design
• High-voltage and medium-voltage equipment
• Protection and grounding systems
• Grid interconnection and system studies
• Strong understanding of:
• Data center power requirements and high-availability design
• Power quality, transient performance, and system stability
• Familiarity with applicable standards (IEEE, NEC, IEC, NFPA).
• Leadership & Professional Skills
• Strong ability to lead technical discussions with sophisticated customers (e.g., data center developers/operators).
• Ability to define technical direction and enforce standards across multiple projects.
• Strong engineering judgment balancing reliability, cost, schedule, and risk.
• Confident communicator with EPCs, OEMs, utilities, and executive stakeholders.
• Preferred / Nice-to-Have
• Experience supporting data center power supply projects.
• Exposure to ERCOT or other U.S. ISOs/RTOs.
• Experience with BESS or hybrid power plant configurations.
• Professional Engineer (PE) license.

Compensation

$220,000 - $240,000 salary