Power Plant Project Development Specialist

8rivers; Durham (NC); On-site; USD 140,000 - 230,000; Full time

Job summary

8 Rivers in Durham, NC is seeking a Power Plant Project Development Specialist to guide technical scoping, engineering design integration, and site evaluation for large-scale power generation assets.

You will coordinate grid interconnection, equipment selection, and regulatory environmental compliance to move projects from concept to construction-ready state, overseeing OE liaison and consultant teams throughout development.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s or Master’s degree in Engineering (Mechanical or Electrical).
• 8+ years in technical project development or utility-scale plant design.
• Experience overseeing external engineers and sub-contractors on large projects.
• Strong knowledge of power cycle thermodynamics and interconnection processes.
• Familiar with NSR/PSD permitting and environmental compliance.

Responsibilities

• Evaluate site for grid interconnection capacity and water/ gas logistics.
• Collaborate with engineering teams to select turbines, HRSGs and steam turbines.
• Define scopes, deliverables, and QA/QC for external studies.
• Lead RTO/ISO interconnection studies and compliance.
• Oversee environmental permitting and emissions control strategies.
• Direct external consultants and OE liaison for detailed engineering scopes.
• Onboard and integrate long-term O&M providers in late development.
• Draft EPC technical scopes and performance criteria.

Skills

Power-cycle thermodynamics

Gas turbine combustion

ISO/RTO interconnection processes

QA/QC for consultants

Project development management

Education

Bachelor’s or Master’s in Engineering (Mechanical/Electrical)

Tools

PSS/E

Thermoflow GT PRO/GT MASTER

Open Infrastructure Map / Google Earth

Job description

Company

8 Rivers is a Durham, NC firm focused on the invention, development, and commercialization of sustainable, infrastructure-scale solutions to global problems through impactful technologies. The company maintains the agility, creativity, and fast-paced environment of a start-up, while partnering with large, industry-leading companies to develop and deploy those technologies. Our process enables us to innovate in industrial fields that are lacking in creative disruption. 8 Rivers has demonstrated expertise in generating and commercializing large-scale, meaningful solutions to some of the most challenging problems facing the world today and across a variety of industries in the clean energy, carbon capture, and clean fuels sectors.

The company innovates widely in adjacent markets in the clean energy technology space. Some of our marquee technologies include the Allam-Fetvedt Cycle - a zero-emission power production system that enables low-cost power production with inherent carbon capture, 8RH2 - our innovative clean hydrogen technology utilizing CO2 convective reforming to achieve > 99% carbon capture.

Opportunity

The Power Plant Project Development Specialist drives the technical scoping, engineering design integration, and site evaluation for large-scale power generation assets. This role focuses on technical feasibility, grid interconnection coordination, equipment selection, and regulatory environmental compliance to advance projects from concept to construction-ready state.

As the lead technical strategist for new generation projects, you will oversee the engineering and technical development of greenfield or brownfield power project developments. You are responsible for optimizing efficiency, defining technical plant boundaries, managing utility logistics, and ensuring strict alignment with grid codes and environmental standards.

Key Responsibilities

• Site Selection & Technical Feasibility: Evaluate physical sites for grid interconnection capacity, proximity to gas transmission pipelines, raw water sourcing logistics, and structural zoning suitability.
• Technology Selection: Collaborate with engineering teams to analyze heat balances and select heavy-duty gas turbines, Heat Recovery Steam Generators (HRSGs), and steam turbines to maximize plant flexibility and lower heat rates.
• Studies Oversight: Define clear scopes of work, technical deliverables, and QA/QC standards for external consultants delivering ambient air quality modeling, noise impact studies, etc.
• Grid Interconnection Engineering: Manage the RTO/ISO interconnection process, directing system impact studies, facilities studies, and technical compliance with transmission system reliability standards.
• Environmental & Permitting Compliance: Define technical parameters for air emission control systems (e.g., SCR, CO catalysts), water treatment systems, and noise mitigation to meet federal, state, and local regulatory criteria.
• Consultant Management: Direct specialized third-party engineering consultants, geotechnical firms, and environmental scientists to execute detailed site investigations, and specialized plant modeling.
• Owner's Engineer (OE) Liaison: Act as the primary technical point of contact for the Owner’s Engineer, managing the translation of developer requirements into detailed engineering scopes, design reviews, and technical specifications.
• Operations & Maintenance (O&M) Service Provider Engagement: Lead the technical selection and onboarding of long-term O&M service providers during the late-stage development phase. Integrate O&M requirements into the plant's functional design criteria, establishing clear boundaries of responsibility between the EPC contractor and the operator. Facilitate the technical transition of performance guarantees, spare parts philosophies, and specialized tooling needs from OEMs to the O&M team.
• EPC Technical Scoping: Draft technical scopes of work, functional design criteria, and performance guarantees for Engineering, Procurement, and Construction (EPC) specifications.

Required Qualifications

• Education: Bachelor of Science or Master’s degree in Engineering, Mechanical or Electrical Engineering.
• Experience: 8+ years of technical project development, plant design, or systems engineering experience specifically within utility-scale power plants.
• Consultant Oversight: Proven track record managing external Owner’s Engineers, environmental consultants, and technical sub-contractors on large-scale infrastructure projects.
• Technical Skills: Deep knowledge of power-cycle thermodynamics, gas turbine combustion technologies, auxiliary plant systems, and ISO/RTO electrical interconnection processes.
• Regulatory Knowledge: Strong working familiarity with EPA New Source Review (NSR), Prevention of Significant Deterioration (PSD) permitting, and local environmental compliance frameworks.

• Site & Land Diligence:Coordinate technical diligence of land parcels, including title and survey review, easement and access requirements, site control constraints, environmental sensitivities, and development risks that could affect project layout, permitting, or constructability.

Preferred Qualifications

• Professional Engineer (PE) license in mechanical or electrical engineering.
• Direct project history navigating complex RTO/ISO queue reforms or fast-tracked interconnection processes.
• Professional network with major power generation equipment OEMs, EPC contractors, and top-tier national O&M service firms.
• Experience with
  land development software tools. (i.e., Google Earth, Open Infrastructure Map, etc.) and power plant simulation and engineering software such as PSS/E, Thermoflow (GT PRO/GT MASTER)
• Familiarity with emerging technologies such as carbon capture utilization and storage (CCUS), hydrogen fuel blending, or hybrid energy storage systems.