Principal Mechanical Engineer — Power Plant Systems

American Electric Power (AEP); North Carolina; On-site; USD 116,000 - 151,000; Full time

Job summary

American Electric Power (AEP) seeks a Mechanical Engineer Principal SG9 to lead mechanical design for gas, coal, and renewable plant retrofits and new-generation projects. You will define design-basis expectations, coordinate with AE/EPC firms, and ensure compliance with safety and regulatory standards.

The role requires deep turbomachinery knowledge, advanced analysis, vendor engagement, and lifecycle support across sites in Columbus, OH; Shreveport, LA; Tulsa, OK; and Charleston, WV.

Qualifications

• 8+ years of related engineering experience with an ABET-accredited degree.
• Professional Engineer (PE) license preferred.
• Experience in mechanical engineering for power generation (gas, coal, renewables).
• Familiarity with ASME/API/IEEE codes and standards.

Responsibilities

• Develop mechanical design basis for plant equipment including turbines, HRSGs, boilers, pumps, and piping.
• Evaluate equipment selection and system integration for simple/combined cycle plants.
• Review and approve mechanical designs, drawings, and calculations with AE and EPC teams.
• Prepare technical specifications and RFx documentation; participate in vendor reviews.
• Provide construction, commissioning, and startup support at sites.
• Lead analyses (stress, vibration, thermal, piping flexibility) to validate designs.

Skills

Power generation

Gas turbine knowledge

Vibration analysis

CAD/engineering tools

Education

ABET-accredited engineering degree

Master's or PhD in engineering

Professional Engineer license

Tools

AutoCAD

MicroStation

MATLAB/SolidWorks

Job description

American Electric Power (AEP) seeks a Mechanical Engineer Principal SG9 to lead mechanical design for gas, coal, and renewable plant retrofits and new-generation projects. You will define design-basis expectations, coordinate with AE/EPC firms, and ensure compliance with safety and regulatory standards.

The role requires deep turbomachinery knowledge, advanced analysis, vendor engagement, and lifecycle support across sites in Columbus, OH; Shreveport, LA; Tulsa, OK; and Charleston, WV.