Principal Engineer – Hydroelectric & Pumped Storage Systems

Growth For Impact; Pune District; On-site; INR 1,200,000 - 1,800,000; Full time

Job summary

Growth For Impact seeks a senior mechanical engineer to lead hydroelectric and pumped storage design across feasibility to commissioning. You’ll oversee configuration, capacity optimisation, turbine selection and plant operating philosophy, coordinating with civil, electrical and control teams.

Responsibilities include hydraulic component design, pressure system analyses, and preparation of tender documents, with QA/QC support and knowledge sharing across projects.

Responsibilities

• Lead and deliver mechanical, hydraulic and electromechanical engineering for conventional hydroelectric and pumped storage projects across feasibility, basic and detailed design, procurement, construction, commissioning and operational stages
• Oversee project configuration, installed‑capacity optimisation, unit rating, operating range and powerhouse arrangement
• Design hydraulic components such as intakes, waterways, pressure shafts, penstocks, manifolds, spiral casings, draft tubes, surge systems and tailraces
• Perform calculations of gross head, net head, design discharge, hydraulic losses and equipment design pressures
• Conduct hydraulic transient, water‑hammer and surge‑control assessments for start‑up, shutdown, load rejection, pump trip and emergency conditions
• Select and size Francis, Kaplan, Pelton and other turbines for conventional hydro projects
• Select and size reversible pump‑turbines and evaluate fixed‑speed, variable‑speed and ternary pumped storage arrangements
• Review hill charts, four‑quadrant characteristics, efficiency, cavitation, vibration, pressure pulsation, runaway speed and operating restrictions
• Specify generators and motor‑generators, including rating, speed, inertia, cooling, excitation, braking and starting arrangements
• Design and specify main inlet valves, gates, stoplogs, trash racks, hoists and other hydro‑mechanical equipment
• Design cooling water, lubrication, drainage, dewatering, compressed air, service water, fire protection and mechanical auxiliary systems
• Develop powerhouse layouts, erection and maintenance clearances, lifting requirements, access and major equipment replacement arrangements
• Define plant operating philosophy covering generation, pumping, start‑up, shutdown, mode change, synchronous condenser operation and emergency sequences
• Prepare and review design basis reports, calculations, equipment selection studies, specifications, data sheets, P&IDs, layouts, bills of quantities and tender drawings
• Coordinate turbine‑generator and mechanical‑system interfaces with civil, structural, geotechnical, electrical, grid and control‑system teams
• Provide mechanical and hydraulic inputs to energy modelling, feasibility assessment, project cost estimates, schedules, operating strategies and lifecycle evaluations
• Identify risks related to hydraulic transients, cavitation, erosion, vibration, fatigue, reliability, constructability and maintainability and recommend mitigation measures
• Assess existing hydro assets for refurbishment, uprating, efficiency improvement, residual life, equipment obsolescence and operational optimisation
• Support pre‑feasibility, feasibility, owner’s engineering, lender’s engineering, technical due diligence and independent engineering assignments for hydro and pumped storage projects
• Prepare technical tender documents and evaluate OEM and contractor proposals for turbines, pump‑turbines, generators, motor‑generators, valves, gates and mechanical balance‑of‑plant packages
• Review OEM calculations, drawings, performance curves, model‑test results, guarantees, manufacturing documents and proposed technical deviations
• Support manufacturing inspections, factory tests, construction, installation, commissioning, performance testing, equipment acceptance and site issue resolution
• Establish SgurrEnergy’s hydro and pumped storage design philosophies, engineering procedures, calculation templates, specifications, checklists and technical review protocols
• Ensure designs comply with applicable IEC, IEEE, ISO, ASME, IS and other relevant national and international hydropower codes, standards and statutory requirements
• Act as internal technical authority for critical mechanical and hydraulic deliverables, reviewing assumptions, interfaces, design decisions and departures from standards
• Prepare client‑ready reports, design notes, specifications, bid evaluations, review comments, inspection reports, commissioning procedures and presentations
• Support QA/QC reviews, supplier qualification, inspection and test plans, non‑conformity resolution and acceptance criteria for major hydroelectric and pumped storage equipment
• Collaborate across SgurrEnergy’s business verticals including energy advisory, design and engineering, project management consultancy, power and grid dynamics, environmental investigations and quality assurance
• Mentor engineers and develop internal capability in hydraulic machinery, hydro‑mechanical systems, mechanical balance‑of‑plant and multidisciplinary hydroelectric power plant design
• Develop training material, technical libraries, standard tools and lessons learned; contribute to recruitment, knowledge‑sharing sessions, technical papers and thought leadership
• Manage

Job description

ROLE

• – Lead and deliver mechanical, hydraulic and electromechanical engineering for conventional hydroelectric and pumped storage projects across feasibility, basic and detailed design, procurement, construction, commissioning and operational stages
• – Oversee project configuration, installed‑capacity optimisation, unit rating, operating range and powerhouse arrangement
• – Design hydraulic components such as intakes, waterways, pressure shafts, penstocks, manifolds, spiral casings, draft tubes, surge systems and tailraces
• – Perform calculations of gross head, net head, design discharge, hydraulic losses and equipment design pressures
• – Conduct hydraulic transient, water‑hammer and surge‑control assessments for start‑up, shutdown, load rejection, pump trip and emergency conditions
• – Select and size Francis, Kaplan, Pelton and other turbines for conventional hydro projects
• – Select and size reversible pump‑turbines and evaluate fixed‑speed, variable‑speed and ternary pumped storage arrangements
• – Review hill charts, four‑quadrant characteristics, efficiency, cavitation, vibration, pressure pulsation, runaway speed and operating restrictions
• – Specify generators and motor‑generators, including rating, speed, inertia, cooling, excitation, braking and starting arrangements
• – Design and specify main inlet valves, gates, stoplogs, trash racks, hoists and other hydro‑mechanical equipment
• – Design cooling water, lubrication, drainage, dewatering, compressed air, service water, fire protection and mechanical auxiliary systems
• – Develop powerhouse layouts, erection and maintenance clearances, lifting requirements, access and major equipment replacement arrangements
• – Define plant operating philosophy covering generation, pumping, start‑up, shutdown, mode change, synchronous condenser operation and emergency sequences
• – Prepare and review design basis reports, calculations, equipment selection studies, specifications, data sheets, P&IDs, layouts, bills of quantities and tender drawings
• – Coordinate turbine‑generator and mechanical‑system interfaces with civil, structural, geotechnical, electrical, grid and control‑system teams
• – Provide mechanical and hydraulic inputs to energy modelling, feasibility assessment, project cost estimates, schedules, operating strategies and lifecycle evaluations
• – Identify risks related to hydraulic transients, cavitation, erosion, vibration, fatigue, reliability, constructability and maintainability and recommend mitigation measures
• – Assess existing hydro assets for refurbishment, uprating, efficiency improvement, residual life, equipment obsolescence and operational optimisation
• – Support pre‑feasibility, feasibility, owner’s engineering, lender’s engineering, technical due diligence and independent engineering assignments for hydro and pumped storage projects
• – Prepare technical tender documents and evaluate OEM and contractor proposals for turbines, pump‑turbines, generators, motor‑generators, valves, gates and mechanical balance‑of‑plant packages
• – Review OEM calculations, drawings, performance curves, model‑test results, guarantees, manufacturing documents and proposed technical deviations
• – Support manufacturing inspections, factory tests, construction, installation, commissioning, performance testing, equipment acceptance and site issue resolution
• – Establish SgurrEnergy’s hydro and pumped storage design philosophies, engineering procedures, calculation templates, specifications, checklists and technical review protocols
• – Ensure designs comply with applicable IEC, IEEE, ISO, ASME, IS and other relevant national and international hydropower codes, standards and statutory requirements
• – Act as internal technical authority for critical mechanical and hydraulic deliverables, reviewing assumptions, interfaces, design decisions and departures from standards
• – Prepare client‑ready reports, design notes, specifications, bid evaluations, review comments, inspection reports, commissioning procedures and presentations
• – Support QA/QC reviews, supplier qualification, inspection and test plans, non‑conformity resolution and acceptance criteria for major hydroelectric and pumped storage equipment
• – Collaborate across SgurrEnergy’s business verticals including energy advisory, design and engineering, project management consultancy, power and grid dynamics, environmental investigations and quality assurance
• – Mentor engineers and develop internal capability in hydraulic machinery, hydro‑mechanical systems, mechanical balance‑of‑plant and multidisciplinary hydroelectric power plant design
• – Develop training material, technical libraries, standard tools and lessons learned; contribute to recruitment, knowledge‑sharing sessions, technical papers and thought leadership
• – Manage