Plant Performance Engineer — Reliability & Optimization

AEP; Town of Texas, Northern (WI, KY); Hybrid; USD 88,000 - 129,000; Full time

Job summary

AEP in the United States seeks a Plant Engineer to provide technical leadership and engineering support for safe, reliable, and compliant plant operation. You will monitor performance, manage reliability programs, and coordinate with operations, maintenance, vendors, and regulatory agencies.

The role includes troubleshooting, data analysis, and project execution in a team-focused environment, with emphasis on regulatory compliance and continuous improvement within the power plant.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in engineering in a program ABET-accredited with 2+ years of related experience, or military equivalent.
• Master’s degree in engineering from an ABET-accredited program may enter at Plant Engineer Sr level.
• Alternative: (1) non-ABET engineering bachelor’s + master’s/PhD from ABET ABET-accredited program; (2) engineering technology bachelor’s. VP or above may waive.

Responsibilities

• Provide engineering support and technical execution for plant operations and maintenance; diagnose issues and support startups/shutdowns.
• Perform structured troubleshooting and root cause analysis to improve reliability and reduce recurrence.
• Monitor and analyze plant operating data to identify performance gaps and opportunities affecting availability, heat rate, and efficiency.
• Support reliability and condition monitoring programs (e.g., vibration analysis, thermography, oil analysis, controls diagnostics).
• Maintain configuration control and documentation, including drawings and Management of Change records.
• Coordinate capital projects with vendors/contractors to ensure safe, compliant execution.
• Support regulatory and code compliance, including audits.

Skills

Troubleshooting

Root cause analysis

Equipment reliability

Plant performance monitoring

Control systems

Instrumentation

Education

ABET-accredited engineering degree

Master's degree in engineering (ABET accredited)

Tools

Control systems

Instrumentation

Job description

AEP in the United States seeks a Plant Engineer to provide technical leadership and engineering support for safe, reliable, and compliant plant operation. You will monitor performance, manage reliability programs, and coordinate with operations, maintenance, vendors, and regulatory agencies.

The role includes troubleshooting, data analysis, and project execution in a team-focused environment, with emphasis on regulatory compliance and continuous improvement within the power plant.