E&C Engineer (contract)

Xcel Energy; Minnesota; Hybrid; USD 48,000 - 64,000; Full time

Job summary

Xcel Energy is seeking a Capital Engineer and Project Manager to support renewable energy operations across a fleet of wind farms in Minnesota and neighboring states. You will own reliability and capital projects from planning through execution, coordinating with a broad network of internal and external stakeholders and managing budgets, schedules, purchasing, and documentation.

The role emphasizes cross-functional collaboration, site safety, and occasional site visits to drive project execution

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Mechanical or Electrical Engineering is required.
• ABET accreditation is preferred.
• PMP certification is a preferred credential; EIT/PE licensure is a plus.

Responsibilities

• Lead capital projects across multiple wind farms from planning to execution.
• Coordinate with operations, reliability engineers, and contractors.
• Manage project budgets, schedules, purchasing, and documentation.
• Maintain project records and drawings; ensure safety protocols are followed.
• Support fleet reliability initiatives and cross-site capital programs.
• Travel to wind farm sites as needed for execution and assessments.

Skills

Project management

Engineering knowledge

Documentation

Communication skills

Stakeholder management

Safety compliance

PM software

Education

Bachelor's degree in Mechanical or Electrical Engineering

ABET-accredited institution

Tools

Project management software

Business systems

Job description

Job Summary

We are seeking a driven and detail-oriented Capital Engineer and Project Manager to support renewable energy operations across a fleet of wind farms spanning Minnesota, North Dakota, South Dakota, and Iowa. In this individual contributor role, you will take meaningful ownership of reliability and capital projects from planning through execution, coordinating across a broad network of internal stakeholders and external contractors. You will manage project financials, schedules, purchasing, documentation, and contractor coordination while serving as a key communication link between field operations and office-based teams. This is a highly collaborative, cross-functional position that offers significant project leadership opportunities within a growing renewable energy portfolio.

Responsibilities

• Manage planned and emergent capital projects across a fleet of 16 wind farms, with a primary focus on mechanical and electrical equipment failures and associated remediation efforts
• Coordinate with operations managers, reliability engineers, plant operators, plant supervisors, and internal and external engineers to support project planning and execution
• Oversee contractor coordination including scheduling, scope management, and on-site execution activities
• Manage project budgets, financial tracking, and purchasing activities in alignment with internal accounting and project controls processes
• Maintain thorough project documentation including drawings, prints, and project records
• Support fleet-wide reliability initiatives and coordinate cross-site capital improvement programs
• Serve as a communication bridge between field operations teams and office-based stakeholders
• Travel periodically to wind farm sites to support project execution and site assessments
• Adhere to all site-specific safety protocols including lockout/tagout procedures and other required safety training

Skills

• Strong project management skills with the ability to manage multiple concurrent projects across geographically dispersed sites
• Engineering knowledge applicable to mechanical and electrical equipment troubleshooting and reliability analysis
• Excellent organizational skills with a high degree of attention to detail
• Effective written and verbal communication skills for engaging diverse stakeholders across field and office environments
• Demonstrated initiative and ability to work independently with minimal supervision
• Strong stakeholder management and collaboration skills across cross-functional teams
• Persistence and problem-solving ability in dynamic, fast-paced project environments
• Familiarity with project management software and business systems
• Experience with accounting or financial tracking systems is a plus
• Drawing and print management experience is a plus
• PMP certification, Engineer-in-Training (EIT) designation, or Professional Engineer (PE) license is preferred

Experience

• Background in mechanical or electrical engineering with applied experience in project management or capital project execution
• Experience ranging from recent engineering graduates to seasoned professionals with 15 or more years in relevant roles will be considered
• Prior experience supporting operations in energy, utilities, or industrial environments is advantageous
• Experience coordinating contractors and managing project schedules and budgets in a field-operations context is strongly preferred

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Mechanical Engineering or Electrical Engineering required
• Degree from an ABET-accredited institution is preferred
• PMP certification is a preferred credential
• Engineer-in-Training (EIT) or Professional Engineer (PE) licensure is a plus

This is a rare opportunity to take meaningful ownership of impactful renewable energy infrastructure projects while gaining broad exposure to wind generation operations across a multi-state portfolio. With hybrid work flexibility, significant project leadership responsibility, and the chance to contribute to long-term capital initiatives that advance clean energy goals, this role offers both professional growth and the satisfaction of driving real results in a collaborative, mission-driven environment.

Pay Rate Range

34.62 - 46.15 USD hourly