Hydro Mechanical Engineer

ENTRUST Solutions Group; United States; Remote; USD 90,000 - 115,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Competitive salary and benefits

Tuition reimbursement and retirement 1

Flexible work schedules

Paid time off

Job summary

ENTRUST Solutions Group, a Leidos company, is seeking a Senior Mechanical Engineer to lead hydro turbine design and reliability efforts across Francis, Kaplan, and Pelton types. You will apply FEA/CFD, support commissioning, perform calculations, review vendor proposals, and collaborate with electrical, civil, and controls teams.

Travel up to 15% is expected; remote work allowed with in-person meetings as needed.

Qualifications

• ABET-accredited Mechanical Engineering degree required or equivalent.
• 6+ years hydropower experience preferred.
• Experience in turbine commissioning, performance testing, and hydro machinery.
• Hands-on experience with FEA/CFD software for hydro applications.
• Willingness to travel for site inspections and commissioning activities.

Responsibilities

• Evaluate mechanical design of hydro turbines and related components.
• Perform mechanical calculations for structural integrity, vibration, fatigue, and hydraulic loads.
• Conduct or oversee FEA/CFD simulations (ANSYS or similar).
• Support refurbishments, uprates, and modernization projects.
• Prepare technical specifications, notes, and drawings.
• Review vendor proposals and participate in bid reviews.
• Lead or support turbine commissioning and testing.
• Coordinate with electrical, civil, and controls engineers.
• Ensure compliance with IEC/ASME standards.
• Provide construction support and site inspections.

Skills

Hydro Turbine Design

FEA/CFD proficiency

Rotor Dynamics

Technical Writing

Travel Readiness

Driver's License

Education

ABET-accredited Mechanical Engineering degree

Tools

ANSYS

AutoCAD

MicroStation

Job description

Responsibilities

• Evaluate and review the mechanical design of hydro turbines (Francis, Kaplan, Pelton, etc.) and related components.
• Perform and review mechanical calculations for structural integrity, vibration, fatigue, and hydraulic loads.
• Conduct or oversee finite element analysis (FEA) and computational fluid dynamics (CFD) simulations using ANSYS or comparable software.
• Support condition assessments, refurbishments, uprates, and modernization projects.
• Prepare and review technical specifications, calculation notes, design reports, and drawings.
• Support the selection and sizing of turbine equipment and auxiliary mechanical systems.
• Evaluate vendor proposals and participate in technical bid reviews.
• Review and approve manufacturer documentation and fabrication drawings.
• Lead or support turbine commissioning, including installation oversight, testing, troubleshooting, and performance verification.
• Troubleshoot mechanical and operational issues during commissioning and operation.
• Coordinate with electrical, civil, and controls engineers on integrated hydropower plant design.
• Ensure compliance with applicable IEC and ASME standards and other relevant international codes.
• Prepare detailed technical reports and inspection records.
• Provide construction support, including submittal reviews, site inspections, and quality assurance.
• Attend virtual and in-person client meetings.
• Travel as needed, typically not exceeding 15%.
• Perform other duties as assigned.

What We Offer

• A supportive and inclusive work environment that values diversity and encourages innovation.
• Opportunities for professional growth and career development.
• Competitive salary and comprehensive benefits package, including generous paid time off, retirement program with a company match, tuition reimbursement, and flexible work schedules.
• This position pays between $90,000 and $115,000 annually and is an exempt position. Benefits offered include company-sponsored medical, dental, vision, and retirement program with company matches. Also offered are tuition reimbursement, voluntary life, disability, critical illness, accident and hospitalization plans. HSA or FSA medical accounts and FSA dependent care and transportation/parking accounts are also available. These benefits are subject to employee contribution amounts generally set annually. Full-time employees are eligible to earn PTO hours. May be eligible for discretionary bonus as determined by the company.

Required Qualifications

• Bachelor’s or Master’s degree in Mechanical Engineering from an ABET-accredited university, preferably with a focus on stress analysis, mechanical design, or turbomachinery.
• At least 6 years of hydropower experience.
• Extensive experience in hydro turbine design and engineering, fleet engineering, commissioning, and/or operations.
• Experience in turbine commissioning and performance testing.
• Hands-on experience with FEA and/or CFD software applied to hydro machinery.
• Solid understanding of rotor dynamics and the mechanical behavior of rotating equipment.
• Strong analytical, problem-solving, and technical writing skills.
• Willingness to travel for site inspections and commissioning activities.
• Valid, unrestricted driver’s license.

Preferred Qualifications

• Knowledge of BOP systems, including lubrication systems, hydraulic power units, and compressed-air systems.
• Experience with fatigue analysis, welding, and cavitation.
• Experience designing or analyzing penstocks, spherical valves, and butterfly valves is a plus.
• Experience with AutoCAD, MicroStation, or other 2D and 3D modeling software. Drafting is not expected to be a primary responsibility, but familiarity with the tools used by drafters and designers is valuable.

At ENTRUST Solutions Group, a Leidos company, we are driven by a commitment to innovation, technical excellence, and delivering the critical infrastructure that powers and connects communities. Together with Leidos, we are building a scaled, end-to-end energy and infrastructure organization focused on modernizing the grid, improving reliability, and helping utilities and network providers meet rising demand.

As an ENR top ranked firm, our team of more than 5,000 professionals brings deep technical expertise and advanced technology across electric, gas, and telecommunications infrastructure. We solve complex challenges for clients across North America and expanding markets, helping them strengthen reliability, expand capacity, and adapt to evolving infrastructure needs.

We foster a culture where innovation, collaboration, and continuous improvement are expected, and where people are empowered to challenge convention, think boldly, and make an impact. Whether you are looking to grow your expertise, lead transformative projects, or help shape the future of infrastructure, you will find opportunities to thrive here.

If you are ready to outthink the status quo, tackle meaningful challenges, and build what is next, we would love to hear from you.

To learn more about ENTRUST Benefits and Culture, please visit our company LinkedIn page and follow us at: https://www.linkedin.com/company/entrustsolutionsgroup

ENTRUST Solutions Group is proud to be an Equal Employment Opportunity employer. We celebrate diversity and do not discriminate based on race, religion, color, national origin, sex, sexual orientation, age, veteran status, disability status, or any other applicable characteristics protected by law.

Headhunters and recruitment agencies may not submit resumes/CVs through this website or directly to managers. ENTRUST does not accept unsolicited headhunter or agency resumes and will not pay fees to any third-party agency or company that does not have a signed agreement with ENTRUST Solutions Group.

This role is designated as remote, giving you the flexibility to primarily work from home while staying actively connected to your team and projects. We value collaboration and responsiveness, so we ask our remote team members to be available when in-office presence is needed — such as for client meetings, team events, or training sessions. Our approach blends freedom with shared accountability, making ENTRUST an exciting and supportive environment for professionals who thrive in remote work settings with clear, respectful expectations.