Principal Combustion Engineer

Reworld Waste; Pennsylvania; On-site; USD 91,200 - 121,400; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Medical and dental coverage

401(k) plan

Paid parental leave

Paid time off

Job summary

Reworld Waste is seeking a Principal Combustion Engineer in Pennsylvania to lead on Waste-to-Energy combustion performance and boiler behavior. This role demands expertise in combustion systems and the ability to analyze complex data to drive improvements in operational performance.

The ideal candidate will possess a Bachelor's degree in Chemical or Mechanical Engineering, with a minimum of 8–10 years of technical experience. Additionally, this position calls for a deep understanding of environmental compliance and process optimization.

Qualifications

• Minimum of 8–10 years of experience in combustion systems and boiler performance.
• Experience supporting operating facilities in a senior technical capacity.
• Proven ability to analyze complex operating data.

Responsibilities

• Serve as the technical authority on waste-to-energy combustion performance.
• Evaluate operating data to identify performance issues.
• Support root cause analyses related to environmental exceedances.

Skills

Combustion systems expertise

Boiler performance analysis

Technical judgment

Organizational skills

Communication skills

Education

Bachelor’s degree in Chemical or Mechanical Engineering

Tools

Distributed control systems (DCS)

Job description

About the Role

Reporting to the Vice President, Plant Support, the Principal Combustion Engineer serves as the company’s senior technical authority on Waste-to-Energy combustion performance, furnace operation, and boiler thermal behavior.

This role provides expert-level technical support to operating facilities, with a focus on identifying true performance drivers, stabilising combustion, improving throughput and availability, and supporting investigations related to environmental exceedances.

The position requires strong technical judgment, systems-level thinking, and the ability to distinguish signal from noise. Success in this role depends as much on credibility, discretion, and influence as it does on combustion expertise.

The Principal Combustion Engineer acts as a trusted conduit between plant operations, plant leadership, and corporate engineering.

Key Responsibilities

Senior Technical Leadership – Combustion & Boiler Performance

• Serve as the subject‑matter expert for combustion systems, furnace operation, and boiler performance across all Reworld Waste‑to‑Energy facilities.
• Evaluate operating data, trends, and transient events to identify underlying cause‑and‑effect relationships impacting performance, reliability, and emissions.
• Apply fundamental combustion principles, including air/fuel balance, residence time, and temperature, to guide troubleshooting and performance improvement efforts.
• Provide expert guidance on control strategy adjustments, operating targets, and system interactions affecting combustion stability and throughput.

Performance Triage & Problem Selection

• Review operating and exceptions data to identify issues that merit deeper investigation versus those that are expected or non‑actionable.
• Exercise sound technical judgment in prioritizing effort, focusing on issues where combustion engineering can materially improve outcomes.
• Avoid unnecessary intervention in well‑performing facilities while proactively engaging where emerging risks or degradation are identified.
• Help plants and leadership understand what matters, why it matters, and what does not within the expected skillset.

Environmental Exceedance & RCA Support

• Support root cause analyses related to environmental exceedances, abnormal emissions events, and combustion‑related operating deviations.
• Analyze event timelines, operating data, and control system trends to determine causal mechanisms rather than symptoms.
• Partner with Environmental, Operations, and Maintenance teams to define corrective and preventive actions that are technically sound and operationally sustainable.
• Provide expert input on whether events warrant deeper investigation or represent known, understood failure modes.

Cross‑Functional Influence & Relationship Management

• Build trusted relationships with plant personnel by listening, demonstrating technical credibility, and valuing operational insight.
• Act as a conduit between facilities, plant leadership, and corporate engineering, ensuring critical information flows appropriately.
• Support alignment between facility operations and facility management when technical perspectives differ.

Knowledge Stewardship & Capability Building

• Leverage historical operating data, prior analyses, and plant‑specific documentation to inform recommendations and share relevant insights.
• Contribute to the development and dissemination of combustion‑related best practices, guidance documents, and institutional knowledge.
• Coach and mentor other engineers and plant personnel on combustion fundamentals, performance drivers, and systems thinking.
• Reinforce consistent application of combustion basics across the fleet.

Qualifications

Education

• Bachelor’s degree in Chemical Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, or a related engineering discipline. Candidates who do not have a 4‑year degree may be considered with equivalent job experience.

Travel Requirement

• Ability and willingness to travel up to 20% to support facility needs, investigations, performance improvement efforts, and stakeholder engagement.

Experience

• Minimum of 8–10 years of experience in combustion systems, boiler performance, thermal processes, or industrial power generation.
• Demonstrated experience supporting operating facilities in a senior technical or advisory capacity.
• Proven ability to compile and analyze complex operating data and translate findings into practical, high‑impact recommendations.

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities

• Ability to operate with minimal direction and set technical direction within their domain.
• Recognized internally as a trusted expert whose judgment is relied upon during high‑impact events.
• Ability to balance technical rigor with practical operational realities.
• Strong organizational, communication, and reporting skills.

Preferred Qualifications

• Waste‑to‑Energy or solid‑fuel combustion experience strongly preferred.
• Experience supporting environmental compliance investigations or emissions‑related RCAs.
• Deep familiarity with combustion control systems and distributed control systems (DCS).
• Track record of influencing outcomes without direct authority.

In addition to salary, this role is eligible for benefits. The benefits would include medical, prescription drug, vision, and dental plans; 401(k) plan; paid parental leave; paid time off; and paid holidays.

Additional details are available at https://www.reworldwaste.com/careers/benefits.

For additional information, refer to the Pay Transparency section below.

All Reworld positions require a candidate's ability to perform the duties and responsibilities of the role while upholding Reworld's Values, including (but not limited to) contributing to a safe and inclusive workplace, delivering results through trust, and building breakthrough capabilities.

Please note that Level, Title and/or Salary may be adjusted based on the applicant's experience or skills.

Pay Transparency

Reworld is committed to paying its staff equitably, and we strive to provide competitive compensation and benefits packages. The range below reflects Reworld’s reasonable estimate of base pay for this role based on primary posting location. It is expected that most qualified candidates in this location will fall within the posting range. The final salary offered for this role will be determined based on factors including, but not limited to: experience, education, geographic location, skills and competencies, travel requirements and/or union contracts (if applicable). Pay ranges are reviewed from time to time and may be modified in the future.

The pay range for the primary location of this position is: $91,200.00 - $121,400.00 USD. For hourly roles, this is the annualised salary. To calculate the hourly rate, divide by 2080.

Our DEI Commitment

Reworld is an Equal Opportunity Employer, has developed an affirmative Action Program (AAP), and will not discriminate against any qualified applicants because of race, colour, religion, sex, national origin, sexual orientation, gender identity, disability (including perceived disability, physical, mental, and/or intellectual disabilities), veteran status, liability for service in the armed forces of the United States, or any other characteristic protected by law.

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Attention Staffing Agencies & Search Firms

Reworld may sometimes selectively collaborate with staffing agencies and search firms (agencies). Reworld will only consider candidates from agencies with whom a signed agreement and a duly authorized work order (for a specific role) has been duly executed. Any unsolicited candidate submissions or candidate submissions from agencies that do not meet these criteria, will be deemed invalid and ineligible for any fees.