Power Generation Development Engineer
About the job
- A bachelor's degree in Mechanical, Electrical, or Chemical Engineering, or a related technical field, or equivalent experience.
- At least 15 years of progressive engineering experience in design, procurement, construction, commissioning, and/or operation of large-scale natural gas and/or steam power generation facilities.
- Demonstrated end-to-end ownership of generation projects from concept through commercial operation, spanning design, procurement, quality assurance and quality control, commissioning, and operational support.
- Deep expertise in combustion turbine simple-cycle, combined-cycle, steam turbine, and steam boiler configurations, plus strong balance-of-plant experience covering fuel gas, heat recovery steam generator and steam cycle, feedwater and condensate, cooling, water treatment, compressed air, fire protection, chemical feed, and auxiliary power.
- Familiarity with ASME B31.1 steam generation, distribution, and user systems, including design, specification, construction oversight, and code compliance.
- Familiarity with NERC- and FERC-regulated generation facilities when exporting power to the grid or operating offsite power distribution and interconnection facilities, and with ERCOT requirements, interconnection practices, and reliability expectations for high-availability generation in Texas.
- Ability to write specifications, lead original equipment manufacturer and engineering, procurement, and construction bid evaluations, and manage technical interfaces with major equipment vendors and balance-of-plant suppliers.
- Hands-on commissioning and startup experience, including first-fire, performance testing, punch-list closure, and turnover to operations.
- Working knowledge of ASME BPVC, B31.1, B31.3, PTC, NFPA 85/850, and IEEE protection practices.
- Proficiency with a substantial subset of generation engineering tools, including Thermoflow (GT PRO/MASTER, STEAM PRO/MASTER, THERMOFLEX, PEACE), GateCycle, or EBSILON; AutoCAD/Plant 3D, SmartPlant, AVEVA, Navisworks, or Bluebeam; CAESAR II, PIPE-FLO, or AFT; ETAP, SKM, or EasyPower; and familiarity with major DCS platforms and plant historians such as OSIsoft/AVEVA PI.
- Based in or willing to relocate to Houston or Austin, and willing to travel domestically and internationally around 25% of the time for factory and site acceptance tests, construction, commissioning, and operations support.
- Lead front-end and detailed engineering for simple-cycle, combined-cycle, steam turbine, and steam boiler generation facilities from greenfield concept through issued-for-construction packages, including heat balances, P&IDs, PFDs, general arrangements, electrical one-lines, protection schemes, and control architectures.
- Evaluate, select, and size major equipment and full balance-of-plant systems, including combustion turbines, steam turbines, HRSGs, boilers, generators, transformers, fuel gas, water/steam cycle, cooling, condensate/feedwater, compressed air, fire protection, HVAC, chemical feed, and wastewater, including ASME B31.1 steam generation, distribution, and user systems.
- Perform and oversee thermodynamic performance modeling, emissions estimates, water balances, and plant optimization studies; prepare Owner’s specifications, data sheets, scopes of work, RFPs, and technical bid evaluations for OEMs and EPC contractors.
- Lead technical procurement and OEM/EPC interface management through design reviews, hold points, change control, deviation resolution, and award recommendations for major equipment and balance-of-plant packages.
- Witness and approve factory and site acceptance tests for turbines, generators, HRSGs, switchgear, transformers, DCS, and critical balance-of-plant skids, including domestic and international travel.
- Establish and enforce quality assurance and quality control across design, fabrication, construction, and commissioning; review ITPs, welding procedures, non-destructive examination, and pressure test packages; provide field engineering support for RFIs, NCRs, mechanical completion, system turnover, and pre-commissioning readiness.
- Own commissioning and startup through first-fire, steam blows, turbine roll, synchronization, load ramp, and reliability runs; lead or oversee ASME PTC performance testing and emissions compliance demonstration.
- Serve as technical owner for operating generation assets, including performance monitoring, reliability improvement, outage support, major inspections, retrofits, and development of operating envelopes and technical procedures.
- Ensure compliance with ASME BPVC, B31.1, B31.3, PTC, NFPA, IEEE, and API; apply NERC/FERC generator owner/operator requirements where facilities export to the grid or include offsite power distribution and interconnection; apply ERCOT protocols and reliability expectations for Texas generation and interconnection.
- Support air, water, building, and interconnection permitting with technical inputs; coordinate fuel gas, water, electrical, and environmental interfaces; mentor engineers and set generation technical standards across Tesla sites.
- A PE license is preferred.
About the company
Tesla makes electric cars and batteries that store power for homes and utilities, and it develops self-driving software and humanoid robots. In 2023, its Model Y became the first electric vehicle to rank as the world's best-selling car. Buyers order the Model 3 sedan, Model Y SUV, or Cybertruck pickup directly from Tesla instead of through dealers, and they charge on its Supercharger fast-charging network. It also sells Megapack and Powerwall batteries, runs a robotaxi service, and charges drivers a monthly fee for self-driving software that still needs their supervision. Tesla was founded in 2003, with Elon Musk as its lead early investor and a recognized co-founder, and it is based in Austin, Texas.
Company Size
10,001+
Company Stage
IPO
Headquarters
Austin, Texas
Founded
2003
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Simplify's Take
What believers are saying
- Sales are growing again: revenue rose 26% to $28.2 billion in the June 2026 quarter, after falling 3% in 2025.
- Software adds income beyond cars: paid users of its supervised self-driving feature rose 56% to 1.48 million by June 2026.
- Hiring is back: Tesla's headcount grew 7% to 134,785 by December 2025, after layoffs shrank it 11% in 2024.
What critics are saying
- Growth isn't reaching profit: operating profit fell 57% to $398 million in the June 2026 quarter, a 1.4% margin.
- Alphabet's Waymo is far ahead in robotaxis: Texas records in May 2026 listed 577 Waymo vehicles to Tesla's 42.
- Stock grants have lost value: Tesla shares fell 17% in 2026 through October 8, after a December 2025 record.
What makes Tesla unique
- Energy storage punches above its weight: Tesla's energy unit made 13% of 2025 sales but 22% of gross profit.
- Tesla set the charging standard: Ford, GM and all major EV sellers in North America adopted its plug by 2024.
- Robots are written into Musk's pay: his 2025 award sets goals of 1 million humanoid robots and 1 million robotaxis.
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