Director Project Management & Development

Calpine; Walnut Creek (CA); On-site; USD 192,864 - 245,902; Full time

Job summary

Calpine invites applications for the Lead of Process Engineering for Carbon Capture in Walnut Creek. The role oversees engineering efforts for CCS initiatives, guiding a team of engineers and coordinating with technology owners and EPC contractors to ensure quality and timely delivery.

The position requires 15+ years in process engineering, with 10+ years in carbon capture or related gas extraction processes, and strong leadership across complex project portfolios.

Qualifications

• Excellent written, oral, and visual communication skills.
• Experience managing and delivering complex project portfolios across all phases of the project life cycle.
• Track record of effectively building and leading small to mid-sized teams.
• Exposure to business development activities around large scale projects.

Responsibilities

• Support FEED studies and pilot projects, and assist with engineering input on positive FID during EPC phase.
• Provide technical input into scoping feasibility projects and subsequent FEED studies.
• Seek out and evaluate new CCUS technologies.
• Grow the process engineering team to support Calpine’s portfolio of carbon capture programs.

Skills

Communication skills

Project management

Team leadership

Business development experience

Safety compliance knowledge

Education

Bachelor’s Degree or equivalent

Master’s Degree preferred

Job description

Company Overview

Calpine Corporation is America's largest generator of electricity from natural gas and geothermal resources with operations in competitive power markets. Its fleet of 77 power plants in operation represents over 27,000 megawatts of generation capacity. Through wholesale power operations and its retail businesses, Calpine serves customers in 22 states and Canada. Its clean, efficient, modern, and flexible fleet uses advanced technologies to generate power in a low-carbon and environmentally responsible manner.

The company was established on the premise that a strong commitment to the environment is inextricably linked to excellence in power generation and corporate responsibility. Since its founding in 1984, Calpine has led the power industry in its unwavering commitment to environmental stewardship. In addition, its renewable geothermal plants use steam generated deep below the earth's surface to produce clean, renewable electricity.

Calpine is helping the nation meet its clean energy goals by developing, constructing, owning, and operating natural gas-fired and renewable generation that uses advanced technologies to generate power in a low-carbon and environmentally responsible manner. Calpine is a champion for carbon capture and sequestration (CCUS) and supports policies that incentivize CCUS technology; with at least 11 facilities in its fleet identified as strong candidates for CCS deployment, the Company's goal is to lead the power sector in carbon capture deployment. Calpine is progressing on its Sutter and Pastoria Decarbonization Projects in California, which secured cost-sharing agreements with the U.S. Department of Energy's Office of Clean Energy Demonstrations. This position will be based in Calpine's Walnut Creek office and will primarily support California CCS initiatives, while also supporting other CCS projects across the Company's portfolio as needed. The Lead of Process Engineering for Carbon Capture will oversee engineering efforts related to these initiatives, collaborating with technology owners and EPC contractors to manage a team focused on process engineering design and ensuring the quality of third‑party work.

Job Summary

Provides engineering and technical support for new projects and build‑outs large and small. Works to help identify and develop new technologies and applications of these to help determine the advisability of moving forward with the project. Analyzes technical aspects and provides costs and budgeting to be applied to planning and cost analytics for projects, and ensures spending for overall budgets, schedules, and performance standards are set, maintained, and achieved. Develops SOW technical scopes for third‑party contract resources supporting development cost build and analytics.

Maintains the efficiency of important aspects of the project management process, such as planning, scheduling, coordination, budget, and risk assessment. Defines and develops project management best practices, processes, and policies to ensure alignment with corporate strategy and goals. Partners with multi‑departmental leadership and other stakeholders to locate opportunities and develop and prioritize projects according to relevant measurement criteria. Responsible to ensure that all project development technical aspects are sufficient in supporting commercial approval and are adequate to support execution within the defined scope, quality, time and cost requirements. Responsible for the supervision of project managers to ensure that all projects are delivered within the defined scope, quality, time, and cost requirements.

Assesses on an ongoing basis new possible technical innovations and technology that may be used to improve efficiencies in existing power generation assets or in the development and implementation of new lines of business.

Specialized Job Responsibilities

• Support the design for the existing portfolio of FEED studies and pilot projects, as well as additional studies undertaken by Calpine. Assist with engineering input on projects that receive positive FID during the EPC phase, collaborating across the organization to help facilitate on‑time and on‑budget project delivery.
• Support the business development process by providing technical input into the scoping of feasibility projects and subsequent FEED studies.
• Seek out and evaluate new CCUS technologies.
• Work toward developing a standard ISBL design that can be scaled and applied to future projects.
• Provide engineering troubleshooting support to operational projects.
• Effectively implement lessons learned to assure continuous improvement of the organization’s designs.
• Grow the process engineering team as required to support Calpine Corporation’s portfolio of current and future carbon capture programs.
• Provide leadership, guidance, and instruction to the process of engineering practice. Mentor and guide less experienced engineers.
• Apply expert knowledge of commonly used process concepts, practices, codes, and procedures within the process engineering services industry.
• Ensure that all design and project work comply with applicable legislation, accepted engineering codes and standards, and company policies and standards.
• Analyze, troubleshoot, and resolve issues which arise during production operation.
• Strive to constantly improve process capability and production volume.

Job Requirements

• Bachelor’s Degree or equivalent, prefer Master’s Degree.
• 15+ years of specialization. 10+ years of process engineering experience in carbon capture or other gas extraction processes; exposure to amine treating processes highly desirable.
• Experience managing and delivering complex project portfolios across all phases of the project life cycle and a demonstrated understanding of best practices in project management (business case development, scope definition, controls, contracting, etc.).
• Track record of effectively building and leading small to mid‑sized teams.
• Exposure to business development activities around large scale projects.
• Excellent written, oral, and visual communication skills to communicate effectively with all levels and teams of the organization, our customers, and third parties.
• Experience working in a complex, matrixed organization.
• Knowledge and experience of relevant Safety, Health, and Environmental regulations.
• Project management and contractor management experience.
• Strengths: Action‑oriented, Collaborates, communicates effectively, Plans and Aligns, Drives Results.

Salary Information

Salary Range: 192,864.72 - 245,902.52

Additional Calpine Information

• Equal Opportunity Employer of Minorities, Females, Protected Veterans, and Individuals with Disabilities.
• Calpine is committed to Equal Employment Opportunity and providing reasonable accommodations to applicants with physical and/or mental disabilities. If you are interested in applying for employment and need special assistance or an accommodation to use our website or to apply for a position, please send an e‑mail with your request to [e-mail]. Determination on requests for reasonable accommodation are made on a case‑by‑case basis.
• Please view Equal Employment Opportunity Posters provided by OFCCP here.

This employer is required to notify all applicants of their rights pursuant to federal employment laws. For further information, please review the Know Your Rights notice from the Department of Labor.