Plant Engineer - Plant Engineer Sr

About the role

The Plant Engineer provides technical leadership and engineering support to ensure safe, reliable, efficient, and compliant operation of the power plant. This role is responsible for plant performance monitoring, equipment reliability, troubleshooting, configuration control, project execution, and regulatory compliance, while serving as a key member of the plant leadership team and partnering closely with operations, maintenance, vendors, and regulatory agencies.

Responsibilities

• Provide engineering support and technical execution for plant operations and maintenance by diagnosing equipment and system issues, supporting startup and shutdown activities, and implementing timely corrective actions.
• Perform structured troubleshooting and root‑cause analysis for equipment failures and performance issues, developing practical solutions that improve system reliability and minimize recurrence.
• Monitor and analyze plant operating data, including turbine and auxiliary system performance, to identify performance gaps and improvement opportunities affecting availability, heat rate, and efficiency.
• Support and execute reliability and condition‑monitoring programs (e.g., vibration analysis, thermography, oil analysis, controls diagnostics), ensuring accurate data interpretation and follow‑through on identified issues.
• Maintain configuration control and technical documentation—including drawings, procedures, engineering records, and Management of Change documentation—ensuring accuracy and compliance with plant standards.
• Coordinate and support capital projects, modifications, and maintenance activities, working closely with vendors, contractors, and internal teams to ensure work is completed safely and in accordance with engineering requirements.
• Support compliance with regulatory and code requirements (e.g., NERC, pressure systems), including monitoring, documentation, and audit‑readiness activities.
• Contribute to plant performance improvement by providing data‑driven insights and recommendations to plant leadership, supporting safe, reliable, and efficient operations.

Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree in engineering from an ABET‑accredited program and two or more years of related engineering experience, or military equivalent.
• Master’s degree in engineering from an ABET‑accredited program may be considered for entry at this level.
• Alternative qualifications: (a) non‑ABET bachelor’s in engineering plus a master’s or PhD from an ABET‑accredited program; or (b) bachelor’s degree in engineering technology.
• Strong technical background in troubleshooting, root‑cause analysis, equipment reliability, and plant performance improvement.
• Experience with control systems, instrumentation, and performance‑monitoring tools used to optimize plant efficiency and availability.
• Proven ability to manage engineering projects, coordinate with contractors and vendors, and support plant operations and maintenance.
• Knowledge of applicable industry codes and standards and ability to develop technical documentation, procedures, and reports.
• Strong analytical, communication, and organizational skills; proficiency in Microsoft Office and technical reporting.
• Professional Engineer (P.E.) license – preferred.

Compensation

Base Salary: $87,633.00 – $109,543.00 per year (range shown in compensation data: $87,633.00 – $128,688.00).

Benefits

AEP offers a comprehensive benefits package designed to support and enhance the overall well‑being of employees, including health, retirement, and other programs.

Physical Demands

Sedentary work (Level S): Exerting up to 10 pounds of force occasionally or a negligible amount of force frequently; primarily sitting with occasional walking or standing.