Mechanical Engineer Principal - NEW GENERATION Oversight & Engineering

aep; Columbus (OH); On-site; USD 120,000 - 170,000; Full time

Job summary

American Electric Power in Columbus, OH seeks a Mechanical Engineer Principal to advance plant retrofit and new-generation projects. You will define design-basis expectations, specify equipment, and coordinate with AE/EPC teams to ensure performance, reliability and safety.

Role emphasizes gas simple cycle, combined cycle experience, and lifecycle support, with 25% travel to site or vendor locations and strong communication across stakeholders.

Qualifications

• Deep knowledge of turbomachinery performance and rotor dynamics.
• Ability to interpret mechanical drawings, P&IDs, datasheets, and reports.
• Experience with stress, vibration, thermal, and piping analyses.
• Familiarity with welding, NDT, metallurgy, and fabrication basics.
• Able to lead systemic reviews with AE and EPC teams.

Responsibilities

• Develop mechanical design basis for turbines, HRSGs, boilers, and related equipment.
• Apply advanced knowledge to equipment selection and system integration.
• Review and approve mechanical designs, drawings, and calculations with AE/EPC.
• Prepare procurement specs and RFx deliverables for self-build proposals.
• Interface with OEMs on technical compliance, lead times, and submittals.
• Provide construction, commissioning, and startup support and troubleshooting.
• Perform analyses to validate designs and ensure safety and compliance.

Skills

Turbomachinery

Rotor dynamics

Vibration analysis

Piping stress analysis

Mechanical drawings

FEA

CFD

Tools

FEA

CFD

Job description

Job Posting End Date

09-12-2026 Please note the job posting will close on the day before the posting end date.

Job Summary

The Mechanical Engineer Principal will support gas, coal, and renewable plant retrofit and new-generation self-build projects by defining mechanical design-basis expectations and supporting technical specifications, engineering, and procurement of rotating and static equipment, piping, structures, and balance-of-plant systems. A required focus of this role is advanced knowledge of natural gas simple cycle and combined cycle equipment, systems, and power plant configurations (combustion turbines, HRSG, steam turbines, balance-of-plant integration, heat recovery systems, and auxiliaries). This role collaborates with Architect & Engineering (AE) and Engineer, Procure and Construct (EPC) firms and coordinates with internal and external stakeholders to ensure mechanical designs meet performance, reliability, constructability, safety, and regulatory requirements. The engineer will participate in RFx/OEM engagements, support self-build proposals, and provide construction, commissioning, and lifecycle support.

Job Description

More Specific to This Opportunity

Key Responsibilities

• Develop and document mechanical design basis and requirements for plant equipment, including turbines, generators, HRSGs/boilers, heat exchangers, pumps, compressors, cooling systems, piping, and structures.
• Apply advanced knowledge of simple and combined cycle gas turbine plants to equipment selection, system integration, and performance evaluations.
• Work with AE and EPC teams to review, comment on, and approve mechanical designs, drawings, and engineering calculations.
• Prepare and review technical and procurement specifications, scope documents for self-build proposals, and RFx deliverables.
• Interface with OEMs during RFx and procurement to confirm technical compliance, lead times, warranties, and vendor submittals.
• Support vendor evaluation and bid reviews, focusing on turbine/HRSG interfaces and steam cycle integration.
• Provide construction, commissioning, and startup support: site inspections, punch list resolution, and troubleshooting.
• Perform or review analyses as required (stress, vibration/rotor dynamics, thermal, piping flexibility, fatigue) to validate designs.
• Ensure compliance with applicable codes and standards (ASME, API, ANSI, NFPA, IEEE, local codes) and lead reliability/FMEA/RCM and obsolescence mitigation activities.
• Coordinate with electrical, I&C, civil, and operations stakeholders and support development of O&M documentation, spare parts lists, and lifecycle cost assessments.
• Promote safe design practices and ensure adherence to site-specific safety requirements.

Knowledge & Skills

• Deep understanding of turbomachinery performance, rotor dynamics, vibration analysis, alignment, and balancing.
• Competence with piping stress analysis, pipe supports, and expansion management in high-temperature HRSG/steam systems.
• Ability to interpret and produce mechanical drawings, P&IDs, datasheets, and technical reports.
• Familiarity with welding practices, NDT, metallurgy basics, and fabrication processes.
• Experience with FEA and CFD tools and application to mechanical components is a plus.
• Knowledge of maintenance strategies, reliability engineering, and lifecycle cost analysis.
• Data analysis skills to monitor equipment health, enhance system performance, and inform reliability improvements.
• Proficiency in MS Access, Excel, Word, SQL, SharePoint, or Visual Basic is a plus.
• Strong communication skills for team collaboration.

Working Conditions

• Approximately 25% travel, including day trips and overnight stays (up to a week or more).
• Work in both indoor and outdoor environments with exposure to heat, cold, noise, dust, fumes, and operating machinery.
• Mandatory safety gear required at generating stations: hard hat, eye/hearing protection, steel-toed shoes with heels and non-slip soles.
• Adherence to site-specific safety requirements is mandatory.

WHAT YOU'LL DO

• Technical Expertise: Exhibits advanced level proficiency plus advanced knowledge of a specialized technical area that enables the engineer to serve as a resource for the company in an area such as system production, underground systems, extensive control systems, thermo-hydraulic control systems, distribution standards, fossil or nuclear plant operations, etc.
• Leadership & Guidance: Influences the direction of thinking throughout the organizational unit as a recognized authority in an area of expertise. Leads, facilitates and coordinates work activities of others within work group, team, department, corporate entity, or those external to the company and assumes the role of project or function manager for assigned tasks.
• Planning & Organization Ability: Develops, recommends, and implements plans that include all scheduling, resource, and cost information and control required to address complex engineering problems that require the input and efforts of