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Senior Electrical Engineer – Gas Fired Power Plant

Houston, TX

COMPANY OVERVIEW 

Hanwha Energy USA, headquartered in Houston, Texas, is part of the Hanwha Group—a FORTUNE Global 300 company and one of South Korea’s most respected business enterprises. With over a decade of experience delivering high-quality, utility-scale energy projects across North America, Hanwha Energy USA has evolved into a comprehensive energy solutions provider. Our portfolio now spans utility-scale renewables, natural gas generation, retail electricity, and strategic partnerships that power America’s growing data center industry.

Our expertise covers the entire energy value chain—from project development and engineering to construction, operations, and maintenance. By integrating advanced technologies, proven processes, and strong partnerships, we deliver reliable, customized solutions that meet the dynamic needs of local energy markets.

Hanwha Energy USA is actively advancing strategic initiatives in natural gas generation and data center development, including hyperscaler solutions on both sides of the meter. We are proud to serve as the parent company of:

  • Hanwha Renewables – specializing in utility-scale solar and battery energy storage systems (BESS)
  • Chariot Energy – providing retail electricity services for residential, commercial, and industrial customers in deregulated markets

 

POSITION OVERVIEW

The Sr. Electrical Engineer - Gas Power Plant plays a critical role in the development, evaluation, and execution of utility-scale natural gas–fired power projects.
This position is responsible for electrical engineering leadership across the entire life-cycle (FEED, EPC, Operations) of new-build power plants, modifications and upgrades to existing power plants, and power plant acquisitions, with a strong focus on grid interconnection, substation design, plant electrical systems, and high-availability power supply, particularly for data center–driven loads.

The role requires close collaboration with internal development teams, EPC contractors, Owner’s Engineers (OE), OEMs, utilities, ISOs/RTOs, and regulatory bodies.

The employee may be required to perform other job-related duties as requested by management.  All duties will be assigned in accordance with applicable laws and company policies.

 

RESPONSIBILITIES

Electrical Engineering & Technical Development

  • Lead electrical engineering scope for natural gas power plant projects, including SCGT, CCGT, and engine-based generation.
  • Develop and review electrical system concepts, including:
    • Generator step-up (GSU) transformers
    • Medium- and low-voltage distribution systems (e.g., 34.5 kV, 13.8 kV, LV systems)
    • Auxiliary power systems (normal, emergency, black start)
  • Define substation and switchyard configurations (ring bus, breaker-and-a-half, double bus, etc.) aligned with project availability and reliability requirements.

Owner’s Engineer & EPC Coordination

  • Act as the Owner’s technical representative for electrical engineering during Pre-FEED and FEED.
  • Review EPC and OE deliverables, including:
    • Single Line Diagrams (SLDs)
    • Protection & control philosophies
    • Load lists and short-circuit studies
    • Grounding, lightning protection, and arc-flash analyses
  • Identify technical risks, gaps, and optimization opportunities early in the project lifecycle.

Technical Due Diligence & Project Evaluation

  • Support electrical due diligence for project acquisitions and investments.
  • Review existing plant electrical systems, compliance with codes/standards, and upgrade requirements.
  • Provide technical input to risk registers, CAPEX estimates, and development schedules.

Technology Integration & Optimization

  • Evaluate integration of BESS, black-start solutions, and future CCGT conversion paths.
  • Support optimization of electrical design to balance cost, constructability, reliability, and expandability.

 

REQUIRED QUALIFICATIONS

Education & Experience

  • Bachelor’s degree in Electrical Engineering.
  • 10+ years of experience in power generation, EPC engineering, Owner’s Engineering, or power project development.
  • Direct experience with gas-fired power plants (SCGT, CCGT, or engine-based) strongly preferred.
  • Experience supporting U.S. power projects and utility/ISO interconnection processes is a plus.

Technical Expertise

  • Strong understanding of:
    • Power plant electrical systems and substation design
    • High-voltage and medium-voltage equipment
    • Protection & control systems
    • Grid codes and utility interconnection standards
  • Familiarity with U.S. and international standards (IEEE, NEC, IEC, NFPA).
  • Experience reviewing EPC engineering documents and technical specifications.

Soft Skills & Work Style

  • Strong analytical mindset with attention to technical and commercial risk.
  • Ability to communicate effectively with engineers, developers, EPCs, and non-technical stakeholders.
  • Comfortable working in fast-moving startup-like development environments with multiple parallel projects.
  • Self-driven, structured, and capable of representing the owner’s technical interests.

 

Preferred

  • Experience with data center power supply projects or high-reliability power systems.
  • Exposure to ERCOT or other U.S. ISOs/RTOs.
  • Familiarity with BESS integration or hybrid generation systems.
  • Professional Engineer (PE) license or progress toward licensure.

 

COMPENSATION: $140,000 - $170,000 salary

 

Attention external recruitment firms, we will not accept any unsolicited resumes at this time. Please do not contact any internal member of our company to discuss the position or to solicit candidates.

 Hanwha Energy USA provides equal employment opportunities (EEO) to all employees and applicants for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, disability or genetics.

www.174powerglobal.com.

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