E&C Engineer (contract)

Xcel Energy; Denver (CO); On-site; USD 122,124,000 - 162,841,000; Full time

Job summary

Xcel Energy is seeking an engineering professional to lead a plant fleet-based capital projects team in Colorado. You will oversee up to 20 small emergent projects while contributing to larger base initiatives, partnering with operations and reliability engineers to define scopes, justify needs, and manage internal capital processes.

The role blends hands-on engineering with project leadership, ensuring safe, compliant execution and accurate documentation as part of a net-zero transition effort.

Qualifications

• Minimum 2 years engineering or project management experience.
• Experience in manufacturing or plant environments preferred.
• Experience managing external contractors and vendor relationships preferred.
• Experience developing and managing project budgets and financial documentation preferred.

Responsibilities

• Manage up to 20 concurrent emergent capital projects at assigned plant facilities.
• Collaborate with operations and reliability teams to define scopes and justifications.
• Submit and manage projects through the internal emergent capital request system.
• Attend daily POD meetings to coordinate critical tasks and align with teams.
• Develop scopes of work, technical specifications, and project charters.
• Obtain equipment quotes, manage bidding when required, and coordinate procurement and delivery.
• Oversee field contractors ensuring safe and compliant execution.
• Manage project budgets and financial documentation across all projects.
• Interface with external engineering firms to coordinate outsourced services.
• Maintain all required project documentation throughout the lifecycle.
• Build strong relationships with stakeholders, vendors, and consulting engineers.
• Support a broader team of ~20 engineers with collaborative effort.

Skills

Multitasking

Project management

Communication

Independent worker

Team collaboration

Budget awareness

Problem solving

Education

Bachelor's degree in Engineering

FE exam or pursuing

PE license

PMP certification

Tools

SAP

ProjectWise

Microsoft Office

Job description

Job Summary

We are seeking a driven and detail-oriented engineering professional to join a dynamic plant fleet-based team supporting energy supply capital projects across power generating facilities in the Colorado region. This role blends hands‑on engineering knowledge with strong project management execution, requiring the ability to simultaneously oversee upwards of 20 small emergent capital projects while also contributing to larger base and major capital initiatives. The ideal candidate will partner closely with plant operations and reliability engineering teams to develop project scopes, build justifications, navigate internal capital request processes, manage contractor relationships, coordinate material procurement and delivery, and ensure all administrative project documentation is completed with accuracy and care. This is a highly collaborative, leadership-oriented position that plays a direct role in maintaining the reliability of critical power generation assets and advancing the organization's commitment to achieving net‑zero carbon emissions by 2050.

Responsibilities

• Manage all emergent capital projects at assigned plant facilities, overseeing up to 20 concurrent small projects while supporting larger base and major capital efforts
• Collaborate with operations and reliability engineering personnel to understand plant systems, identify needs, and develop project scopes and justifications
• Submit and manage projects through the internal emergent capital request system and process
• Attend daily POD (Plan of the Day) meetings to coordinate critical tasks and align with plant operations and reliability teams
• Develop scopes of work, technical specifications, and project charters for assigned capital projects
• Obtain equipment quotes, manage competitive bidding processes when required, and coordinate material procurement and delivery schedules
• Oversee contractors performing field work, ensuring safe and compliant project execution
• Manage project budgets responsibly, tracking expenditures and ensuring financial accountability across all assigned projects
• Interface with external engineering consulting firms to coordinate outsourced engineering services as needed
• Maintain all required administrative project documentation and records throughout the full project lifecycle
• Build and sustain strong working relationships with internal stakeholders, external vendors, contractors, and consulting engineers
• Support the broader team of approximately 20 engineers, leveraging group resources and contributing to a collaborative team environment

Skills

• Proven ability to multitask and manage multiple concurrent projects without sacrificing quality or attention to detail
• Strong cradle‑to‑grave project management skills including scope development, scheduling, budgeting, and closeout
• Excellent interpersonal, communication, and relationship‑building skills with the ability to lead cross‑functional teams of engineers, contractors, and vendors
• Self‑starter with a strong sense of initiative and the ability to work independently as well as collaboratively
• Experience managing contractors in a field or plant environment
• Solid understanding of project plan development, budget management, and financial tracking
• Proficiency with Microsoft Office Suite including Outlook, Teams, SharePoint, and Excel
• Familiarity with SAP preferred
• Ability to navigate drawing management systems such as ProjectWise is a plus
• Strong problem‑solving skills with a proactive approach to identifying and resolving challenges

Experience

• Minimum of 2 years of engineering or project management experience required
• Prior experience working in a manufacturing or plant‑based environment such as a power plant, industrial facility, or similar setting strongly preferred
• Previous experience managing external contractors and vendor relationships preferred
• Experience developing and managing project budgets and financial documentation preferred

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Engineering required; relevant disciplines include Mechanical, Electrical, Civil, or a related engineering field applicable to power plant operations
• Passed the Fundamentals of Engineering (FE) exam or demonstrated interest in pursuing it is preferred
• Professional Engineer (PE) license is a plus
• Project Management Professional (PMP) certification is a plus

This is a rare opportunity to take on meaningful responsibility from day one, managing significant budgets and a diverse portfolio of projects that directly impact the reliability of power generation infrastructure serving communities across the region. You will be part of a supportive, collaborative team of experienced engineers who are invested in your growth and success, all while contributing to a bold and purposeful mission to lead the energy transition toward a cleaner, net‑zero carbon future. If you thrive in a fast‑paced environment, love solving complex problems, and are energized by variety and challenge, this role will never leave you with a dull moment.

The closing date for applications for this job posting is 8/17/2026.

Should you require any accommodations in responding to this job posting or at any stage during the application process, kindly e-mail : [e-mail]

Pay Rate Range

42.62 - 56.83 USD hourly