Senior Staff Engineer, Thermal Engineering

Invenergy, LLC; Chicago (IL); Hybrid; USD 85,000 - 108,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Medical, dental and vision insurance

401k

Paid time off

Hybrid schedule

Job summary

Invenergy LLC is seeking a Senior Staff Engineer, Thermal, to support development, engineering, permitting, construction, and commissioning of geothermal and thermal power projects across North America. The role requires coordinating with engineering teams, geophysicists, and contractors, reviewing bids, and managing major equipment suppliers while ensuring project performance and safety.

The position emphasizes thermodynamics, heat transfer, and turbine performance, with a hybrid work schedule

Qualifications

• BS in mechanical, electrical, civil, petroleum, chemical or related engineering.
• 2+ years’ experience in project engineering management of large capital projects with a focus on geothermal power generation or thermal power generation.
• Knowledge of regulatory, siting, and environmental permitting processes for large-scale industrial projects.
• Experience with geothermal production facilities focusing on translating subsurface energy into usable power, emphasizing facility design and fluid mechanics.
• Excel spreadsheet modeling.

Responsibilities

• Perform and review basic and detail design for power generation projects.
• Advise on feasibility using geothermal technologies and project constraints.
• Lead technical efforts during development and collaborate on reservoir modelling and detailed design.
• Perform and review thermal heat balances for thermal power generation projects.
• Coordinate with vendors and OEMs to define technical requirements and receive proposals.
• Provide engineering oversight during project design, construction, and commissioning.
• Coordinate internal teams to align development with financial objectives.

Skills

Geothermal power

Project engineering

Thermodynamics/heat transfer

Team collaboration

Education

BS in mechanical, electrical, civil, petroleum, chemical or related engineering

Tools

Microsoft Excel

ORC (Organic Rankine Cycle)

Steam turbines

Job description

Job Description

Invenergy is North America’s largest privately held developer, owner, and operator of power infrastructure. With 25 years of trusted execution, we deliver reliable, affordable energy through a diverse portfolio that includes natural gas, solar, land-based wind, energy storage, transmission, and domestic manufacturing. Headquartered in Chicago, we develop, own, and operate large scale projects that power communities and support the energy future. Invenergy follows a hybrid schedule, working in office Monday through Thursday and remotely on Fridays if work permits.

Position Overview

Position Overview The Senior Staff Engineer, Thermal, reporting to the Senior Director of Thermal Engineering, will support Invenergy’s efforts to develop, permit, engineer, construct and commission new geothermal and thermal (simple and combined cycle combustion turbine and reciprocating engine) power generation projects throughout North America. This role will encompass the full project life cycle of project development from siting and origination through commercial operation of the project and will assist managing third party engineering consultants and contractors; preparing permit applications; specifying project configurations; specifying project performance, creating project specifications; preparing bids; evaluating bids; managing major equipment manufacturers supplying combustion turbines, steam turbines, heat recovery steam generators, injection pumps, Organic Rankine Cycle systems,; reviewing detailed engineering; construction monitoring and commissioning efforts. A strong background in thermodynamics, heat transfer, and combustion turbine performance is desired. Invenergy follows a hybrid schedule, working in office Monday through Thursday and remotely on Fridays.

Responsibilities

Responsibilities Perform and review basic and detail design for power generation projects. Advise on the feasibility of projects based on available geothermal technologies and project constraints. Lead technical efforts during the development phase and collaborate with other engineering and geophysicists during the reservoir modelling and detailed design process. Perform and review thermal heat balances for thermal power generation projects. Support technical efforts for project development work such as site selection, general arrangement development, site surveying, environmental studies, permit applications, geotechnical investigations and others. Interface with equipment vendors to explain technical requirements and receive technical proposals. Support and lead technical efforts with OEMs. Review technical deliverables like P&ID, heat and mass balances, project design documents, equipment specifications and drawings, layouts, and electrical one-line drawings. Provide engineering oversight during project design and construction. Interface with contractors for resolution of technical issues. Assist oversight of power plant commissioning activities. Coordinate with internal teams to align project development and execution with financial and commercial objectives, including coordination of internal administrative workload with the Project Management team for the technical interface of the project, i.e., purchase orders, service orders, MSAs and ESA agreements for consultants. Establish relationships with various technical experts among stakeholders, utilities, RTO/ISOs. Understand project interfaces across multiple contractors and work packages and monitor performance, ensuring adherence to project requirements, budget and schedule.

Minimum Qualifications

Minimum Qualifications BS in mechanical, electrical, civil, petroleum, chemical or related engineering discipline. 2+ years’ experience in project engineering management of large capital projects with a focus on geothermal power generation, thermal power generation or transferable energy sector work. Familiarity with regulatory, siting, and environmental permitting processes for large-scale industrial projects. Knowledge and experience with project design and configuration. Experience with geothermal production facilities with focus on translating subsurface energy into usable power, emphasizing facility design, heat exchange, gathering systems, reinjection systems and fluid mechanics will have an advantage. Spreadsheet modeling using Microsoft Excel. Eligible to work in the United States without the need for employer visa sponsorship now or in the future. Must have a valid US driving license. Ability to travel up to 25%.

Preferred Qualifications

Preferred Qualifications Master’s degree in engineering or Professional Engineering License Experience with ORCs, steam turbines for geothermal applications, production and injection pumps, and other heavy duty industrial rotatory equipment. Experience in the power generation industry, specifically thermal energy, with a focus on utility‑scale project development. Oil & Gas project or reservoir engineering experience relevant to geothermal or conventional thermal projects. Proficiency in spreadsheet modeling using Microsoft Excel. Excellent verbal and written communications skills.

Base Pay

#LI-Hybrid Base Pay $85,000.00 - $108,000.00 USD Annual Bonus: 15% The base pay range reflects the minimum and maximum target salary for the position. Invenergy considers a number of factors when determining base pay offers such as the scope and responsibilities of the position and the candidate's experience, education and skills. In addition to base pay, the total annual compensation package may also include eligibility to participate in our bonus program(s) which are designed to reward individual and company performance. Your recruiter can share more about bonus eligibility for this position during the hiring process. Invenergy offers a variety of other benefits including medical, dental and vision insurance, 401k, paid time off, etc. Invenergy LLC is an equal opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to, among other things, race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, age, status as a protected veteran, or disability.

Invenergy is North America’s largest privately held developer, owner, and operator of power infrastructure. With 25 years of trusted execution, we deliver reliable, affordable energy through a diverse portfolio that includes natural gas, solar, land-based wind, energy storage, transmission, and domestic manufacturing. Headquartered in Chicago, we develop, own, and operate large scale projects that power communities and support the energy future.