Thermal Performance Engineer, Heat Balance - Kiewit Power Engineering

Kiewit; United States; Remote; USD 120,000 - 180,000; Full time

Job summary

Kiewit is seeking a Lead Thermal Performance Engineer with power plant performance analysis expertise. You will model cycles, assist design, test cycles, and prepare correction curves, data collection and results communication. Some travel to project sites and main office is expected.

Responsibilities include heat balances, performance modeling with Ebsilon, coordinating with vendors, and supporting field tests; strong thermodynamics and Excel skills required; 20–40% travel across North America.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Mechanical Engineering from ABET-accredited program.
• Experience with ASME Performance Test Codes and power plant performance modeling.
• Proficiency in thermodynamics, thermodynamic cycles, and fluid mechanics.

Responsibilities

• Develop power plant heat balances to support proposal efforts, plant guarantees, risk calculations and performance test curves.
• Prepare and assess plant thermal performance development using modeling and estimating software like Ebsilon.
• Coordinate with equipment vendors for thermal sizing and performance evaluations.
• Assist with development of thermal performance test procedures for project requirements.
• Support execution of performance tests in the field.
• Assist calculations for emission guarantees and startup times.

Skills

Performance analysis

Thermodynamics

Heat balance

Data acquisition

Excel skills

Thermodynamic cycles

Education

Bachelor’s in Mechanical Engineering (ABET)

Tools

Ebsilon

GateCycle

Thermoflex

Job description

Requisition ID: 182651

Job Level: Senior Level

Home District/Group: Kiewit Power Engineering

Department: Design Engineering

Market: Power

Employment Type: Full Time

Position Overview

Our Kiewit Engineering Group is seeking a Lead Thermal Performance Engineer who has experience in Power Plant Performance analysis. This individual will model cycles and assist design of cycles along with testing assistance of the cycle in the form of creating correction curve and supporting calculations reviews, collect data, calculate test results, and communicate results with various teams involved. Occasional travel will be required from project sites to the main office for accurate testing.

District Overview

Kiewit Engineering Group, Inc is a full-service consulting and engineering firm serving the infrastructure and engineering markets. Our combined staff of more than 1,300 engineers and design professionals have expertise that spans all major engineering disciplines to serve transportation, power, water/wastewater, mining, building, and oil, gas & chemical markets. Backed by 130 years of construction experience, our construction-driven engineering focuses on constructability and safety in the earliest phases of projects to ensure on-time and on-budget project delivery.

Our rapidly growing Power district, which includes structural, civil, piping, mechanical, process, process safety, electrical, instrument and control disciplines, is a multi-faceted division of Kiewit with best-in-class technical expertise focused on the EPC delivery model for power facilities. We offer a variety of engineering services, including owner's engineering, project development, detailed engineering and design, construction management and plant services. Our engineering teams bring power projects to life across North America in the following areas:

• Gas-fired generation
• Power delivery
• Environmental retrofits
• Renewables and new technology
• Water/wastewater

Location

Candidates may work remotely from anywhere in the U.S. While relocation is not required, the ideal candidate would be open to relocating to Lenexa, KS in the future to support collaboration and team growth.

Responsibilities

• Develop power plant heat balances to support proposal efforts, plant guarantees, risk and liability calculations as well as project team detailed design efforts, and performance test correction curves.
• Prepare and assess Plant Thermal Performance development and design using plant thermal performance modeling and estimating software tools like Ebsilon software.
• Coordinate with equipment vendors for thermal sizing and performance evaluations, including combustion turbine, heat recovery steam generator, steam turbine, steam surface condenser, wet cooling tower, air-cooled condenser, and pump vendors.
• Assist with development of thermal performance test procedures based on project requirements.
• Support execution of performance tests in the field.
• Assist calculations to determine plant emission guarantees and plant start-up times guarantees.
• Assist combined cycle power plant startup curves preparations.
• Perform non-compressible and compressible fluid flow calculations including pressure drop, choked flow, bypass valve sizing.

Qualifications

• 2-10+ years’ experience in power plant performance analysis and performance modeling and/or performance testing using ASME Performance Test Codes.
• Bachelor’s degree in Mechanical Engineering (or other engineering discipline with strong thermodynamic component) from an ABET accredited four-year college or university program.
• Proficiency in thermodynamics, thermodynamic cycles, and fluid mechanics.
• Understanding of power plant equipment operation from a thermodynamic perspective.
• Experience with industrial instrumentation and data acquisition systems. Familiarity with distributed control systems a plus.
• Strong Microsoft Excel skills. Experience in development of XLL add ins a plus.
• Familiarity and working knowledge of heat balance calculation software (Ebsilon/GateCycle/Thermoflex or similar in-house software) a plus.
• Highly self-motivated, with a demonstrated passion for excellence and taking initiative.
• Strong work ethic, willing to do what it takes to get the job done right the first time.
• Demonstrated commitment to ethics and integrity.
• Passion for safety, with the ability to help us ensure that nobody gets hurt.
• Strong interpersonal, written, and verbal communication skills.
• Team player with the ability to work independently to meet deadlines, goals and objectives.
• Strong organization, time management, and attention to detail.
• This position may require approximately 20%-40% travel in 1-4 week intervals to project sites across North America. Travel percentage is highly dependent on project schedules

Working Conditions

• Regular, reliable attendance
• Work productively and meet deadlines timely
• Communicate and interact effectively and professionally with supervisors, employees, and others individually or in a team environment.
• Perform work safely and effectively. Understand and follow oral and written instructions, including warning signs, equipment use, and other policies.
• Work during normal operating hours to organize and complete work within given deadlines. Work overtime and weekends as required.
• May work at various different locations and conditions may vary.

We offer our fulltime staff employees a comprehensive benefits package that’s among the best in our industry, including top-tier medical, dental and vision plans covering eligible employees and dependents, voluntary wellness and employee assistance programs, life insurance, disability, retirement plans with matching, and generous paid time off.

Equal Opportunity Employer, including disability and protected veteran status.