Regional Engineering Manager

Direct Energy Business; Houston (TX); On-site; USD 140,000 - 190,000; Full time

Job summary

NRG Energy in Houston seeks a senior engineer to oversee technical activities, manage engineering resources, and drive continuous improvement across power generation facilities. Role requires leadership, power generation experience, and oversight of plant performance with budgetary acumen.

Travel up to 75% domestically within a 2-3 state region is expected; strong communication and safety-conscious leadership are essential for success in this role.

Qualifications

• BS Engineering or technical degree required.
• 5 years of experience in a power, chemical or industrial plant.
• Experience overseeing technical or O&M teams.
• Strong written and verbal communication skills.

Responsibilities

• Provide technical leadership for plant operations across facilities.
• Collaborate with engineers, plant staff, and external firms on projects.
• Monitor performance, identify root causes, and implement improvements.
• Develop and manage budgets and project plans.

Skills

Leadership

Communication

Power plant experience

MS Word

MS Excel

PI ProcessBook

LOTO knowledge

Education

BS Engineering or Technical Degree

Tools

PI ProcessBook

Lockout/Tagout procedures

Job description

Date: Jul 28, 2026

Location: Houston, TX, US, 77010

Company: NRG

Welcome to the intersection of energy and home services. At NRG, we’re all about propelling the next generation of leaders forward. We are driven by our passion to create a smarter, cleaner and more connected future. We deliver innovative solutions that make our customers’ lives easier—helping them power, protect, and intelligently manage their homes and businesses. To do this, we need creative and talented people to join our company.

We offer a dynamic work environment and a unified and inclusive culture. NRG fosters a strong sense of belonging that leads to better collaboration and business performance. Our company programs are designed to help employees develop the skills they need for success now and in the future. In everything we do, we aim to champion our employees and bring value to our customers, investors and society.

More information is available at www.nrg.com. Connect with NRG on Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn and X.

Job Summary

Core function of this position is to oversee technical activities, manage engineering resources, and drive continuous improvement across power generation facilities within a specified geographic region. Position requires demonstrated leadership skills and power generation experience, providing engineering oversight of plant performance, identifying opportunities for process improvements thru assessment of ongoing operations and assisting in root cause analysis of equipment failure to ensure safe, efficient, and environmentally compliant plant operation.

Essential Duties/Responsibilities

• Technical Leadership: Leading the technical operations at various plants, ensuring safe, reliable, and efficient operation. Safety focused individual who can provide engineering direction to site leadership to ensure plant equipment remains available and reliable. This includes fostering technical and financial decisions which impact the overall equipment availability and reliability.
• Develop, build and maintain a working relationship with site personnel consistent with supporting open communication.
• Work effectively in a team environment as a leader, member and/or facilitator.
• Project and Work Management: Collaborating with corporate engineering, plant personnel, and external firms on the design and commissioning of complex projects. Oversee, conduct and document feasibility reviews of proposed projects. Provides a review path for all engineering, designs, and economic justification of station projects and modifications. Aid in the development of project management strategies, contract strategies and enhancements to improve project execution.
• Performance Monitoring and Improvement: Tracking plant performance parameters, coordinating testing to determine root causes of problems, and identifying process improvements to enhance commercial availability and heat rate.
• Budgeting and Financial Analysis: Supporting project budget development, managing annual budgetary requirements, and performing spend analysis and variance reporting. Assists in the development of business plans and capital/ expense budgets to support ongoing asset integrity.
• Compliance and Safety: Ensuring compliance with industry standards, safety regulations, and applicable laws and rules.
• Team Development: Providing technical support and training to junior staff, fostering strong labor-management relations, and assisting in the hiring of personnel. Conduct or help procure training as required within identified processes.
• Data and Reporting: Utilizing data systems for cost control, asset management, and financial reporting, and presenting data and analysis to executive management.
• Provide guidance in the resolution of plant O&M problems by reviewing and building preventive maintenance plans consistent with supporting safe, reliable, and environmentally compliant plant operation.
• Provide oversight in ensuring industry standard operational practices are in place.
• Assist in the development, review & revision of station technical instructions and procedures.
• Perform other duties and assignments as required.

Working Conditions

• This position is a combination of work in office and industrial settings.
• This position can require up to 75% domestic travel, primarily within a 2-3 state region.

Minimum Requirements

• BS Engineering or Technical Degree
• 5 years of experience in a power, chemical or industrial plant dealing with boilers, turbines, heat exchangers, condensers, material handling equipment, compressors, fans, pumps, generators, transformers, motors, power distribution equipment and electrical protection systems.
• Previous experience overseeing technical or O&M teams (i.e. team leader or higher)
• Strong written and verbal communication skills

Preferred Qualifications

• BS Engineering or Technical Degree
• 10 years of experience in a power plant, chemical plant or industrial plant dealing with boilers, turbines, heat exchangers, condensers, material handling equipment, compressors, fans, pumps, generators, transformers, motors, power distribution equipment and electrical protection systems.
• Demonstrated leadership skills overseeing technical or O&M teams
• Successful candidates typically possess strong problem-solving and analytical skills, excellent written and verbal communication abilities, and a commitment to safety and continuous improvement. The role requires the ability to manage large budgets and lead cross-functional teams in a geographically diverse organization.

Additional Knowledge, Skills And Abilities

• Proficiency in MS Word, Excel, PI Processbook
• Basic understanding of Lock-out, Tag-out (LOTO) practices for related process equipment

Physical Requirements (Demand And Frequency)

• Must be able to wear required personal protection equipment (PPE) such as hard hats, safety glasses, goggles, face shields, hearing protection, respirators, fall protection harnesses, and other PPE as required.
• Duties require extensive manual dexterity in usage of computer terminal and keyboard, while sitting for extended periods of time preparing budgets, work scopes, outage schedules, and other reports as needed.
• May be required to enter Permit Entry Confined Spaces
• May be required to perform equipment inspections by climbing vertical ladders and accessing scaffolding, kneeling, bending, walking over uneven surfaces such as loose rock, open grating, up and down staircases.

We support the use of AI tools to help you prepare for your interview (e.g., practicing responses, researching the role, or refining your resume). However, during interviews and assessments, we expect responses to reflect your own thinking, experience, and communication. Use of AI to generate or read answers in real time, complete assessments, or misrepresent your qualifications is not permitted and may impact your candidacy.

NRG Energy is committed to a drug and alcohol-free workplace. To the extent permitted by law and any applicable collective bargaining agreement, employees are subject to periodic random drug testing, and post-accident and reasonable suspicion drug and alcohol testing. EOE AA M/F/Protected Veteran Status/Disability. Level, Title and/or Salary may be adjusted based on the applicant's experience or skills.

EEO is the Law Poster (The poster can be found at http://www.eeoc.gov/employers/upload/poster_screen_reader_optimized.pdf)

Official description on file with Talent.

Nearest Major Market

Houston