Power Plant Engineer, Controls System Focus (Senior, Staff, or Entry level)

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.

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 Plant Engineer with primary focus on control systems, duties would include technical support for equipment repairs, involvement in troubleshooting for operational issues, project management tasks for asset improvement and budgetary planning for the site. 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, MN. The candidate must have the ability to travel to various Power Plants as needed throughout the region.

Key Responsibilities:

• Provide initial troubleshooting and problem solving to investigate, document and resolve operational issues and implement solutions.

• Provide engineering technical support for equipment repairs and coordinate offsite engineering services when required for complex problems.

• Quantify equipment risk and develop corrective action plans to mitigate risk

• Analyze equipment failure rates, failure causes and risk trends to prioritize maintenance and future investments

• Identify project improvement opportunities to reduce failures and improve reliability. 

• Provide engineering support for capital projects, upgrades, and refurbishment of powerhouse equipment.

• Support Overhauls & Outages through planning, execution and close out stages

• Provide support for plant crews, including reviewing technical material specifications and ordering materials for plant projects

• Create capital and operational and maintenance (O&M) projects to ensure long term reliable operation of various plant systems.

• Support Break-in plant work screening and prioritization by participating in daily plant plan of the day tailgates and weekly planning meetings.

The job summary below and responsibilities reflect the staff 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 entry, senior and principal engineer levels.  

Position Summary
Under general direction, demonstrates complete understanding & wide application of engineering technical principle, theories, & concepts in the field. Independently determines & develops approaches to solutions. Receives technical guidance on complex problems; completed work reviewed for adequacy in meeting objectives. May lead small-medium non-critical projects or critical projects under direction of higher-level engineer/supervisor. May provide work direction to other professionals &/or staff. Represents the organization in providing solutions to difficult technical issues associated with specific projects. Frequent inter-organizational & outside customer contact. Demonstrates a broad knowledge & proficiency of precedents in the specialty area, a good knowledge of related specialties, & general knowledge of other related disciplines.
Essential Responsibilities

• Uses & applies technical standards, principles, theories, concepts, & techniques to perform activities/assignments that may include a variety of complex features such as conflicting design requirements, unsuitability of conventional materials or methods & difficult coordination requirements.

• Supports the development of technical documentation (including but not limited to designs, testing, calculations, reports, standards, etc.) Utilizes & may assist with the development of procedures requiring a broad knowledge & proficiency in a specialty area & has a general knowledge of related disciplines.

• Works under the general direction of a higher-level engineer or supervisor for routine engineering projects. Provide ongoing technical support for project activities within areas such as Operations, Maintenance, testing/diagnostics & Regulatory. May provide field engineering oversight &/or direction for activities such as commissioning, testing, inspections, etc.

• May lead small-medium, non-critical projects. Coordinate/leads critical projects or portions of projects (including phases such as research, design, equipment selection, procurement support, installation & commissioning), under the direction of a higher-level engineer or supervisor. Work reviewed upon completion for adequacy in meeting objectives.

• Under the direction of a higher-level engineer/supervisor supports bid/evaluation processes including preparation of bid documents, completion of technical evaluations for proposals; provide recommendations for selection, etc. Partners & communicates with areas such as Supply Chain & Legal following appropriate processes.

• Frequently exchanges information in all formats, on matters having a wide range of importance & complexity both inter-organizationally & with outside customers.

• May assign tasks & coordinate work of interns, drafters, technicians, craft personnel &/or others. Provide guidance & mentoring to less experienced engineers. Responsible for continuous self-development of technical skills & competencies.

• Performs activities such as budgeting, estimating, forecasting, accounting, work order management, in support of engineering projects.

Entry Engineer Level (Salary Range: $70,000-$88,667)

Minimum Requirements

• Required bachelor's degree in engineering from ABET accredited curriculum, mechanical, chemical, aerospace, or civil engineering preferred.

• 0+ years relevant engineering experience Ability to demonstrate the unique technical skills and core competencies for this engineering level established & documented by the organization.

• Preferred EIT/FE (Engineer in Training/Fundamentals of Engineering) preferred.

Staff Engineer Level (Salary Range: $81,000 -106,267)

Minimum Requirements

• Required bachelor's degree in engineering from ABET accredited curriculum, mechanical, chemical, aerospace, or civil engineering preferred.

• 2+year's relevant engineering experience. Demonstrated broad knowledge & proficiency in specialty area, knowledge of related specialties, & general knowledge of other related disciplines.

• Ability to demonstrate the unique technical skills & core competencies for this engineering level established & documented by the organization.

• EIT/FE (Engineer in Training/Fundamentals of Engineering) strongly preferred.

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

Minimum Requirements

• Required bachelor's degree in engineering from ABET accredited curriculum, mechanical, chemical, aerospace or civil Engineering.

• 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.

Preferred Experience & Skills

• Experience in power generation or heavy industrial environments.

• Experience with Control Systems, Programmable Logic Controllers, Cyber Security and Network

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: $70,000.00 to $129,267.00 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: 08/05/26

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