Power Plant Engineer – Reliability Focus (Senior/Principal)

Are you looking for an exciting job where you can put your skills and talents to work at a company you can feel proud to be a part of? Do you want a workplace that will challenge you and offer you opportunities to learn and grow?  A  position at Xcel Energy could be just what you’re looking for.

The below job summary and responsibilities reflect the Principal engineer level role. The successfully chosen candidate will be placed at a level that is commensurate with their skills and experience as different skills and/or experience will be required at the senior engineer level.  

Position Summary

Xcel Energy has an exciting opportunity within its Energy Supply Power Generation team. Candidate will work with engineering staff to support the reliable and efficient operation of Xcel Energy’s generation assets.

As the site Reliability Engineer the primary focus is on asset reliability and maintaining the programs that drive that success.  Duties would include development and management of Predictive Maintenance Programs (vibration, thermography, oil analysis), involvement in troubleshooting for operational issues, long term strategy development for assets (both budgeting and maintenance planning). The candidate must demonstrate the unique technical skills and critical thinking required to support a complex operating environment. Candidate will work closely with departments within Xcel Energy such as Operations, Maintenance, Environmental and Projects to maintain safe and reliable operation of our Power Plants.

This position is located in Burnsville, Minnesota. The candidate must have the ability to travel to various Power Plants as needed throughout the region.

This position includes regular onsite support at the Black Dog Power Plant.  You will be expected to work onsite daily, ensuring close collaboration with operations and maintenance teams.  There are options to work remotely as needed for flexibility, but remote work will not be normally scheduled.

Essential Responsibilities

• Applies extensive technical expertise and has a higher-level understanding of the basic principles of other related disciplines.  Fully demonstrates the unique technical skills and core competencies for this engineering level by applying advanced technical principles, theories and concepts, and contributes to the development of new principles, concepts and technical standards.  Fully demonstrates unique technical skills.
• As a recognized internal technical SME, conceives plans and conducts research to develop procedures, codes and standards in problem areas of considerable scope and complexity and supports the development of technical documentation through a series of complex and conceptually related studies requiring unconventional or innovative approaches.
• Exercises authority and technical leadership on assignments that are often self-initiated and self-directed.  Assignments are strategic and have significant long-term implications to achievement of overall business objectives.
• May lead multiple critical and/or complex projects including research, design, equipment specification & selection, installation, start-up, commissioning and evaluation of work progress and results.
• Acts as advisor to management and customers on advanced technical research studies and applications.  Manages bid/evaluation processes which include the preparation of bid documents, completion of technical evaluations for proposals and the review and approval of recommendations for selection. 
• Serves as organization spokesperson on advanced projects and/or programs.  Is influential in all forms of communications with internal and external business.
• May provide oversight of engineers, interns, craft personnel, technicians and other professionals.  Forms mentoring relationships with less experienced engineers for the transfer of knowledge and continuous self-development of technical skills and competencies.  Demonstrates effective leadership skills.
• May provide overall coordination of processes related to budgeting, estimating, forecasting, accounting and work order management, in support of existing engineering projects or packaging proposals for future projects.

Senior Engineer Level (Salary Range: $97,000-$129,267)

Minimum Requirements

• Required bachelor’s degree in engineering from ABET accredited curriculum. Bachelor’s degree in Mechanical, Chemical or Electrical Engineering. Mechanical Engineering preferred.
• 5+ years relevant engineering experience with EIT/FE (Engineer in Training/Fundamentals of Engineering) required; 7+ years relevant engineering experience without EIT/FE.
• Ability to demonstrate the unique technical skills and core competencies for this engineering level established & documented by the organization.
• Preferred PE (Professional Engineer) registration may be required depending on business need.

Principal Engineer (Salary Range: $112,000-$156,600)

Minimum Requirements

• Required bachelor’s degree in engineering from ABET accredited curriculum. Bachelor’s degree in Mechanical, Chemical or Electrical Engineering. Mechanical Engineering preferred.
• 9+ years relevant engineering experience with PE (Professional Engineer) registration required; 15+ years relevant engineering experience without PE.
• Ability to demonstrate the unique technical skills and core competencies for this engineering level established & documented by the organization

Preferred

• Experience in power generation or heavy industrial environments.
• Experience with Power Generation equipment (turbines, generators, governors, pumps, valves, instrumentation)
• Experience with predictive maintenance technologies
• Experience performing Root Cause Analysis

As a leading combination electricity and natural gas energy company, Xcel Energy offers a comprehensive portfolio of energy-related products and services to 3.4 million electricity and 1.9 million natural gas customers across eight Western and Midwestern states. At Xcel Energy, we strive to be the preferred and trusted provider of the energy our customers need. If you’re ready to be a part of something big, we invite you to join our team.

All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to age, race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, or status as a protected veteran.

Individuals with a disability who need an accommodation to apply please contact us at [email protected].

Non-Bargaining

The anticipated starting base pay for this position is: $97,000.00 to $156,600.00 per year

This position is eligible for the following benefits: Annual Incentive Program, 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

Benefit plans are subject to change and Xcel Energy has the right to end, suspend, or amend any of its plans, at any time, in whole or in part.

In any materials you submit, you may redact or remove age-identifying information including but not limited to dates of school attendance and graduation.  You will not be penalized for redacting or removing this information.

Deadline to Apply: 08/17/26

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