Director Engineering (Major Projects Group-Linear Assets)

About the role

A position at Xcel Energy could be just what you’re looking for.

Essential Responsibilities

• Engineering Oversight & Technical Direction. Accountable for all engineering and design activities and standards across the major projects portfolio, spanning fixed and linear assets. Ensures engineering deliverables — including certified designs, drawing packages, specifications, models, and procurement support — are delivered safely, on time, within budget, and in full compliance with applicable codes, standards, and regulations.
• Consultant & Resource Management. Directs and manages a team of engineers, including internal engineers and a significant complement of professional engineering consultants. Ensures consultant and vendor personnel are qualified to perform work in accordance with accepted Xcel Energy standards and processes. Establishes performance expectations, assesses the quality of engineering deliverables delivered by construction partners, and holds all internal and external resources accountable for results.
• Standards & Specifications. Accountable for establishing and maintaining uniform engineering standards, specifications, and design criteria for major capital projects across all operating companies. Ensures standardization of design practices while accommodating regional and asset-type-specific requirements. Partners with the Central Program Office, construction partners and Business Unit engineering organizations to ensure enterprise alignment.
• Capital Portfolio Engineering Support. Provides engineering leadership across a multi-billion-dollar capital portfolio of projects, including scope development, EPC engineering deliverable reviews, design/material standard deviation requests, constructability reviews, design optimization, value engineering, and technical risk assessment. Ensures engineering deliverables satisfy stage-gate requirements as well as contractual deliverables, and are aligned with approved project scope, schedule, and budget.
• Cross-Functional Coordination. Communicates with and establishes effective working relationships with internal organizations outside the span of control — including regional Capital Directors, Business Unit Engineering leadership, Internal standards organizations, EPC Partners, MPG Construction leadership, Project Controls, Integrated System Planning, Supply Chain, Operations, Regulatory, and Legal — to maximize efficiency.
• Regulatory & Compliance Support. Prepares and supports regulatory filings (CPCNs, route permits, rate case filings) as they relate to engineering scope, design, and technical requirements. Ensures compliance with NERC/FERC reliability standards, Bulk Electric System requirements, and all applicable federal, state, and local codes and regulations.
• Quality Assurance & Continuous Improvement. Accountable for engineering QA/QC across the major projects portfolio. Ensures a robust review process for all engineering deliverables produced by internal and external resources. Implements a structured lessons-learned and feedback process to drive continuous improvement in engineering quality and execution.
• Technology & Innovation. Accountable for researching, evaluating, and facilitating the selection of technological alternatives and equipment for improved system, environmental, and safety performance. Maintains awareness of leading-edge technology and potential applications that facilitate the company's strategic objectives, including evolving requirements for inverter-based generation, new generating facilities, renewable generation, carbon reduction, and high-voltage systems (up to 765kV).
• Talent Development & Workforce Management. Develops leadership, selects, and retains a multi-functional, diversified, well-trained, motivated, and empowered workforce. Models innovative approaches. Promotes employee involvement in continuous learning, career planning, enhancing job and industry knowledge and skills, and professional engineering registration. Builds internal engineering capability to support the organization's long-term workforce strategy.
• Industry Representation. Represents the company nationally and locally through participation in industry and professional forums to stay abreast of emerging industry changes, issues, and technologies applicable to linear asset engineering.

Minimum Requirements

• Bachelor of Science degree in Engineering (Civil, Electrical, Mechanical, or Structural preferred) from an accredited college or university.
• Minimum of 12 years of combined experience in engineering, design, construction, and/or project management.
• Minimum of 5 years of experience in engineering leadership or management positions, including oversight of multi-discipline engineering teams and external engineering consultants.
• Demonstrated knowledge of applicable codes, standards, and regulations, including NESC, NEC, NERC/FERC, OSHA, DOT, and EPA.
• Professional Engineer (PE) registration required.
• Strong written and verbal communication skills.
• Travel between regions is required.

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience with EPC, EPCM, and/or CMAR delivery models for large capital projects.
• Project Management Professional (PMP) certification.
• Experience with utility capital project governance processes (e.g., stage-gate).
• Demonstrated experience managing large portfolios of professional engineering consultant resources.
• Experience supporting regulatory filings, rate case proceedings, or CPCN applications.

Benefits

This position is eligible for the following benefits: Annual Incentive Program, Long Term Incentive, Medical/Pharmacy Plan, Dental, Vision, Life Insurance, Dependent Care Reimbursement Account, Health Care Reimbursement Account, Health Savings Account (HSA) (if enrolled in eligible health plan), Limited-Purpose FSA (if enrolled in eligible health plan and HSA), Transportation Reimbursement Account, Short-term disability (STD), Long-term disability (LTD), Employee Assistance Program (EAP), Fitness Center Reimbursement (if enrolled in eligible health plan), Tuition reimbursement, Transit programs, Employee recognition program, Pension, 401(k) plan, Paid time off (PTO), Holidays, Volunteer Paid Time Off (VPTO), Parental Leave.