Senior Hydropower Engineer

Schnabel Engineering; Harrisburg, Chadds Ford Township (Dauphin County, PA); On-site; USD 115,000 - 150,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Medical insurance

Flexible spending accounts

Employee life & ADD insurance (100%公司-

Short-term disability (100% company-)

Long-term disability

Supplemental life insurance

401(k) and profit-sharing plan

Employee stock ownership plan (ESOP)

Paid time off

9 Paid Holidays

Wellness program

Professional development and tuitionre

Job summary

Schnabel Engineering is seeking a Senior Hydropower Engineer to join our Harrisburg or Chadds Ford, PA offices. You will support clients with assessments, planning, and modernization of hydropower facilities, focusing on life extension and reliability.

This role involves design of dams, pumps, intakes, gates, and related water infrastructure, plus mentoring junior staff, managing project scope, and traveling up to 20% for field work and client meetings.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's or master's degree in engineering from ABET-accredited institution.
• 10+ years of engineering experience in planning, design, and modernization of hydropower generation equipment.
• PE license or willingness to become licensed as a Professional Engineer.
• Experience with dams, hydropower plants, pumps stations, hydropower turbines, generators, and governors.
• Proficiency with modern CAD software for design and drafting.
• Strong written and verbal communication and ability to work in a team.

Responsibilities

• Analyze and design components related to hydropower generation and water infrastructure.
• Inspect and assess flow control structures, turbines, generators, governors, and related equipment.
• Prepare technical reports summarizing findings, analyses, and recommendations.
• Perform mechanical analyses, including FEA and CFD where appropriate.
• Assist in preparing engineering plans and technical specifications.
• Prepare 2D design drawings and review teammates' work.
• Manage project scope, schedule, and deliverables with stakeholders.
• Communicate with clients to align goals and coordinate resources.
• Mentor engineering staff and supervise project team.
• Travel up to 20% for field investigations and client meetings.

Skills

Hydropower engineering

Project management

CAD software

Team leadership

Client communication

Field investigations

Education

ABET-accredited engineering degree

Tools

Mathcad

AutoCAD

SolidWorks

Inventor

Revit

Job description

Schnabel is an employee-owned, professional engineering and consulting firm that focuses on solving problems related to the earth and environment through specialization in geotechnical, geostructural, tunnel, and dam engineering. Schnabel’s high standards for quality, business ethics, and concern for the communities in which we live are a vital part of who we are. Schnabel is an ENR Top 500 Design Firm with 700+ employees in 32 offices throughout the United States.

Recognized by CE News as one of the Best Engineering Firms to Work for, Schnabel provides employees with a competitive benefits package including maternity leave, tuition reimbursement for continuing education, health, dental, life and disability insurance and a wellness program. As an employee-owned company, through the Employee Stock Ownership Plan, Schnabel employees directly benefit from the success of our growing firm.

Benefit options include:

• Medical insurance
• Flexible spending accounts
• Employee life & ADD insurance (100% company-paid)
• Short-term disability (100% company-paid)
• Long-term disability
• Supplemental life insurance
• 401(k) and profit-sharing plan
• Employee stock ownership plan (ESOP)
• Paid time off
• 9 Paid Holidays
• Wellness program
• Professional development and tuition reimbursement

Job Description:

Schnabel Engineering is seeking a Senior Hydropower Engineer to join our growing team in our Harrisburg or Chadds Ford, PA locations. In this role, you will support clients with assessments, planning, and optimization of hydropower facilities with a focus on life extension and modernization. This role will also support engineering and design of other water infrastructure projects, including dams, pump stations, intakes, penstocks, gates, and valves.

Job Responsibilities:

• Analyze and design components related to hydropower generation, dams, and water infrastructure, including stationary and rotating power unit equipment, water control devices, steel fabrications, and hydraulic structures.
• Perform inspections and assessments of flow control structures, hydroelectric turbines, generators, governors, and other hydropower plant equipment.
• Prepare technical reports that summarize findings, analysis, and provide recommendations with clarity.
• Conduct mechanical analysis, including detailed design calculations, Finite Element Analysis (FEA), and Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) were appropriate.
• Assist in the preparation of engineering plans and technical specifications.
• Prepare 2D design drawings.
• Review the work of team members.
• Organize and manage project specific engineering scope, schedule, and deliverables.
• Communicate with clients and project stakeholders, establish goals and objectives for project teams, schedule and coordinate resources to deliver projects on time, within budget, and to the quality expectations of the contract.
• Serve as a direct supervisor to oversee, develop, and mentor engineering staff.
• Travel periodically—up to 20%—for field investigations, client meetings, and business development activities.

Required Skills/Experience:

• A bachelor’s or master’s degree in engineering from an ABET-accredited institution is required.
• 10+ years of engineering experience with planning, design, and modernization of hydropower generation equipment.
• Ability to manage simultaneous tasks and multi-discipline projects throughout the project lifecycle.
• High proficiency with technical engineering principles and analysis methods.
• PE license or desire and ability to become a Licensed Professional Engineer.
• Experience and interest in the following types of water infrastructure projects:
• Dams
• Hydropower Plants
• Pumps Stations
• Hydroelectric Turbines, Generators, & Governors
• Intakes
• Penstocks
• Gates and Valves
• Proficiency with modern CAD software.
• Excellent communication skills and the ability to work independently and as part of a team.
• Have a positive attitude and work well in a team environment.
• A strong work ethic and the desire to perform professionally at a high level.

Preferred Skills/Experience:

• 12+ years of relevant work experience on hydropower, water infrastructure, and dam engineering projects.
• Experience with Mathcad, AutoCAD, SolidWorks, Inventor, or Revit.

Other Requirements:

• Ability to pass a background check which may include criminal history, motor vehicle record, credit check.
• Ability to pass a pre-employment drug screening.

The compensation range for this position is between $115,000 to $150,000. Compensation for this position may vary based on geographic location and other factors. We remain committed to providing competitive and equitable compensation to all employees, regardless of their location.

Equal Opportunity Employer/Protected Veterans/Individuals with Disabilities
This employer is required to notify all applicants of their rights pursuant to federal employment laws.For further information, please review the Know Your Rights notice from the Department of Labor.