Principal Engineer

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Job Description

Job Summary  

The Principal Engineer serves as the senior technical leader for PROPWR's Power Generation Division, responsible for driving the engineering vision, technical excellence, and operational reliability across the organization's power generation systems, electrical infrastructure, microgrid solutions, and related equipment. This is primarily a role of technical leadership and oversight. The Principal Engineer provides direction, mentorship, and subject-matter expertise to the broader engineering organization rather than executing hands-on engineering work directly. 

The Principal Engineer will lead and develop the engineering team while establishing scalable processes, standards, procedures, and best practices that support PROPWR's continued growth. This individual will serve as the technical authority for power systems engineering, system integration, and field deployment, while working closely with Project Execution, Commercial, HSE, Supply Chain, and Executive Leadership to ensure safe, reliable, and profitable outcomes. 

Responsibilities 

• Lead, mentor, and develop a high-performing engineering team supporting PROPWR's power generation projects. 

• Establish and maintain engineering standards, procedures, governance, and technical best practices across the organization. 

• Build a culture of safety, accountability, innovation, continuous improvement, and operational excellence. 

• Serve as the senior technical advisor to executive leadership regarding engineering strategy, technology investments, and system performance. 

• Conduct performance management, talent development, hiring, coaching, and career progression for engineering personnel. 

• Own the technical direction of PROPWR's full system, including generators, turbines, electrical distribution systems, switchgear, transformers, controls, and balance-of-plant equipment. 

• Serve as the subject matter expert across electrical engineering; medium- and low-voltage systems; protection and control; microgrid and plant controls; remote monitoring and asset management; and system integration and commissioning. 

• Lead engineering reviews, design evaluations, system architecture decisions, and technical risk assessments. 

• Drive technology advancement initiatives that improve equipment reliability, efficiency, safety, and customer value. 

• Oversee site acceptance testing (SAT), commissioning, and performance validation. 

• Review and approve control logic, protection schemes, interconnection methods, and operating philosophies. 

• Provide technical oversight for troubleshooting, root cause analysis, and corrective action implementation. 

• Revamp and optimize engineering processes, documentation systems, SOPs, and workflows. 

• Provide direction, guidance, and oversight for equipment SOPs, troubleshooting guides, technical manuals, and testing, integration, commissioning, and training documentation. 

• Establish engineering KPIs and performance metrics to drive continuous improvement. 

• Lead initiatives that transition maintenance programs toward predictive and condition-based maintenance practices. 

• Evaluate, qualify, and manage vendor, supplier, OEM, and technology-partner relationships to ensure alignment with engineering standards and project requirements. 

• Lead technical reviews of new equipment, controls, and power system solutions. 

• Stay current on industry trends, emerging technologies, distributed generation solutions, electrification trends, and remote operations capabilities. 

• Partner with Operations leadership to improve installation, startup, and maintenance practices, and participate in field investigations and root cause analyses to drive reliability improvements. 

• Support major deployments, customer projects, and commissioning activities as required. 

• Serve as the escalation point for technical challenges involving power generation and electrical systems. 

• Champion a strong safety culture and ensure adherence to all HSE policies and procedures. 

• Ensure compliance with applicable industry standards, including NEC, NESC, NFPA 70E, and other relevant electrical and power generation regulations. 

• Support hazard assessments, operational risk reviews, and incident investigations as needed. 

Job Qualifications 

• Bachelor's Degree in Electrical Engineering or related Engineering discipline required. 

• Minimum 15+ years of progressive engineering experience in power generation, electrical systems, microgrids, utilities, distributed energy, or industrial power applications. 

• Minimum 5+ years of engineering leadership experience managing teams and projects. 

• Extensive experience required with: 

• Power generation systems (reciprocating engines and/or gas turbines) 

• Switchgear, transformers, protection relays, and electrical distribution systems 

• AC and DC power systems 

• Medium-voltage electrical systems 

• Controls, automation, and remote monitoring systems, including relay protection and coordination 

• Commissioning and field deployment activities 

• Strong understanding of electrical system design, integration, testing, and troubleshooting. 

• Experience developing single-line and three-line diagrams. 

• Proven project management and project delivery experience. 

• Experience supporting field operations and resolving complex technical issues. 

• Demonstrated success developing engineering procedures, standards, and operational processes. 

• Experience leading vendor selection, technical evaluations, and equipment acceptance programs. 

• Strong analytical, organizational, communication, and leadership skills. 

• Ability to balance strategic leadership responsibilities with technical oversight of hands-on execution. 

• Professional Engineer (PE) license required. 

• Extensive experience with utility interconnection and grid-parallel power systems. 

• Experience with ETAP, AutoCAD, MATLAB, SolidWorks, or comparable engineering software preferred. 

• Knowledge of microgrid controls, distributed energy resources, and advanced power management systems preferred. 

• Experience utilizing data analytics, machine learning, or predictive maintenance technologies preferred. 

• Previous experience within oil & gas, power generation services, energy infrastructure, or industrial operations environments preferred. 

• Experience leading engineering organizations through periods of rapid growth and operational transformation preferred. 

• Ability to travel up to 25% throughout the Permian Basin, New Mexico, Texas, Houston, customer sites, manufacturing partners, and other business locations as required. 

Physical Demands 

The physical demands described here represent those required for an employee to successfully perform the role’s essential functions.  Reasonable accommodation may be made for individuals with disabilities to perform their major responsibilities. 

While performing the duties of this job, the employee is regularly required to sit, stand, or walk; use hands to manipulate, handle, or feel; reach with hands and arms; stoop or bend; and talk or hear.  The employee must occasionally lift and/or move up to 20 lbs. 

Work Environment 

The work environment characteristics described here represent environmental conditions an employee will encounter while performing the role’s essential functions.  The noise level in some work environments can be moderate and an employee may encounter extreme weather conditions while performing major duties.  Reasonable accommodation may be provided for individuals with disabilities to perform their major responsibilities. 

Disclaimer 

The information provided in this job description indicates the general nature and level of work performed by employees within the role’s classification. This job description is not to be interpreted as a comprehensive inventory of all duties, responsibilities, qualifications required of employees assigned to this role. 

PROPWR is an equal opportunity employer. We celebrate diversity and are committed to creating an inclusive environment for all employees.