Principal Mechanical Engineer – Power Generation Systems

American Electric Power; Columbus (OH); On-site; USD 116,000 - 151,000; Full time

Job summary

The Mechanical Engineer Principal SG9 at American Electric Power sits on site in Columbus, Ohio, and leads mechanical design basis development for gas, coal, and renewable plant retrofit and new-generation projects. You will define equipment requirements, review calculations, and collaborate with AE and EPC teams to ensure performance, reliability, and safety.

You will engage with OEMs during RFx, support self-build proposals, and provide construction, commissioning, and lifecycle support,

Qualifications

• 8+ years of engineering experience with a Bachelor's in engineering.
• Or 6 years with a Master's or PhD in ABET-accredited program.
• PE license preferred for U.S. operations.
• Experience in mechanical engineering for power generation (gas/coal/renewables).
• Familiarity with ASME, API, ANSI, NFPA, IEEE codes and standards.
• Experience reviewing vendor drawings, RFx, and technical specifications.
• Proficiency with CAD and engineering calculation tools.

Responsibilities

• Define mechanical design basis and equipment requirements for plants.
• Apply simple/combined cycle gas turbine knowledge to equipment selection.
• Review designs, drawings, and calculations with AE and EPC teams.
• Prepare procurement specs and RFx deliverables.
• Interface with OEMs during RFx and procurement processes.
• Support vendor evaluation and bid reviews, focusing on turbine/HRSG interfaces.
• Provide construction, commissioning, and startup support.
• Perform analyses (stress, vibration, thermal, piping) as needed.
• Ensure compliance with codes and standards; support lifecycle cost assessments.
• Coordinate with multiple stakeholders for O&M documentation and spare parts.

Skills

Turbomachinery

Rotor dynamics

Vibration analysis

Piping stress

FEA/CFD tools

Reliability engineering

Lifecycle cost

CAD/Calculation tools

Team collaboration

Education

ABET-accredited engineering degree

Professional Engineer license (PE)

Tools

AutoCAD

MicroStation

MathCAD

MATLAB

SolidWorks

PDMS/AVEVA

Job description

The Mechanical Engineer Principal SG9 at American Electric Power sits on site in Columbus, Ohio, and leads mechanical design basis development for gas, coal, and renewable plant retrofit and new-generation projects. You will define equipment requirements, review calculations, and collaborate with AE and EPC teams to ensure performance, reliability, and safety.

You will engage with OEMs during RFx, support self-build proposals, and provide construction, commissioning, and lifecycle support,