Combustion Turbine / Renewables Engineer (Hutchinson)

Great Plains Energy$83K — $125K *
Energy & Utilities
Less than 5 years of experience
Job Overview by Ladders

Qualifications

  • Bachelor's degree in Mechanical, Electrical, Civil, Renewables, or Industrial Engineering from an ABET-accredited university
  • 2-5 years of Project or Construction management experience on projects valued between $1-15M
  • Experience in managing utility scale energy projects preferred
  • Familiarity with power plant operations and the electric grid is highly desirable
  • Proficiency in Microsoft Office, project scheduling software, and technical documentation interpretation

Responsibilities

  • Drive a culture of safety across all project levels
  • Lead comprehensive project management for renewable and combustion turbine initiatives
  • Optimize capital and O&M budgets for efficient resource allocation
  • Ensure projects meet scope, timeline, and financial targets
  • Communicate performance metrics clearly to senior leadership
  • Identify and assess future strategic project opportunities
  • Oversee contractor performance to maintain quality and safety standards
  • Facilitate the integration of emerging technologies into project designs

Benefits

  • Scheduled work hours are Monday to Friday, 7:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.
  • Opportunity to lead multi-million dollar energy projects
  • Involvement in diverse and multidisciplinary teamwork
  • Support for project management certification advancement
  • Work in both office and field environments with real-world impact
Full Job Description
JOB TITLE: Combustion Turbine / Renewables Engineer (Hutchinson)

REQUISITON: FOS00KV

DEPARTMENT: Gas and Oil Management - Hutchinson Energy Center

LOCATION: Hutchinson, KS

PAY RANGE:

Engineer II: $83,600 - $104,500 - $125,400

Staff Engineer: $93,400 - $116,800 - $140,200

Sr Engineer: $94,600 - $126,500 - $157,600

Lead Engineer: $111,400 - $148,500 - $185,600

Principal Engineer: $116,200 - $154,900 - $193,600

Scheduled Work Hours: Monday - Friday, 7:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m. (Other hours as required)

Summary of Primary Duties and Responsibilities:

The candidate will serve as a strategic leader with full accountability for delivering safe, timely, cost-effective, and environmentally responsible projects across Evergy's combustion turbine and renewable power generation portfolio. This role encompasses oversight of major initiatives such as new solar developments, simple-cycle combustion turbine installations, capital replacement projects, new technology implementation, and critical O&M programs. Many of these projects are highly complex, multi-million-dollar capital investments with multi-year timelines, requiring coordination across diverse technical and operational disciplines.

The candidate will direct and inspire a multidisciplinary team of internal and external professionals-including site management, engineering, procurement, project controls, regulatory affairs, real estate, vegetation management, legal, and administrative support-ensuring alignment from initial concept and strategic analysis through energization and final completion. They will champion the development and implementation of robust project control systems, outage scheduling, and risk management frameworks to guarantee adherence to scope, schedule, budget, and safety standards.

Beyond execution, this candidate will act as the primary advocate for project interests, fostering collaboration and transparency through consistent, high-quality communication with a broad range of stakeholders, including executive leadership, regulatory bodies, community representatives, and industry partners. The candidate will demonstrate vision, influence, and operational excellence, positioning Evergy's generation portfolio for long-term success in a rapidly evolving energy landscape.

Responsibilities include but not limited to:
• Drive a culture of safety by modeling best practices and ensuring compliance for employees, contractors, and the organization.
• Lead end-to-end project management for solar, combustion turbine, and new technology initiatives, delivering results on time and within budget.
• Control and optimize capital and O&M budgets, ensuring efficient allocation of resources and cost accountability.
• Guarantee project success by meeting scope, schedule, and financial targets through proactive planning and execution.
• Communicate project performance and financial status to senior leadership with clear, data-driven reporting.
• Identify and evaluate future projects and strategic opportunities, aligning them with Evergy's long-term goals.
• Direct contractor performance during implementation, ensuring quality, safety, and adherence to contractual obligations.
• Advance innovation by supporting development teams in assessing and integrating emerging technologies into Evergy's portfolio.

Education and Experience Requirements:

A bachelor's degree from an ABET accredited university in one of the following: Mechanical Engineering, Electrical Engineering, Civil Engineering, Renewables Engineering, or Industrial Engineering. Candidates must have 2-5 years of experience in Project or Construction management on projects ranging from $1-15M.

The ideal candidate will have at least 2-5 years of Project Management experience working on utility scale energy projects. Understanding power plant operations, utility operations, and the electric grid is not required but highly preferred.

Skills, Knowledge, and Abilities Required:
• Dependable, self-motivated, detail-oriented with strong organizational and proofreading skills.
• Strong organizational skills.
• Effective communicator with internal teams and external stakeholders.
• Knowledge of project controls, including scheduling, cost tracking, and progress monitoring for small projects.
• Ability to meet physical job requirements and promote a strong safety culture.
• Proficient in Microsoft Office and related technology tools.
• Comfortable working in field environments and active construction sites.
• Skilled in technical writing, project scheduling (Microsoft Project or Primavera), and interpreting technical documentation.
• Strong time management, able to prioritize multiple tasks in high-pressure environments.

Licenses, Certifications, Bonding, and/or Testing Required:

None required. Project management certification is a bonus. CMRP or CRL certification is encouraged.

Working Conditions:

Normal working conditions will vary by location and project but typically include 70% or work in an industrial environment at an operational site and 30% in an office environment. Work can occur across all weather extremes within Kansas. During project outages or critical events, work weeks could extend to 7 days a week on 12 hour shifts until site restoration is complete.

Disclaimer: The above information has been designed to indicate the general nature and level of work performed by employees within this classification. It is not designed to contain or be interpreted as a comprehensive inventory of all duties, responsibilities, and qualifications required of employees assigned to this job.

About Great Plains Energy

Great Plains Energy Incorporated was a holding company based in Kansas City, Missouri that owned electric utility Kansas City Power and Light Company and Strategic Energy, LLC, an energy management company. KCP&L established the holding company on October 1, 2001. Great Plains acquired Aquila, Inc. in July, 2008. In 2014, it ranked #855 on the Fortune 1000 list. In 2016, Great Plains and Westar Energy announced merger plans, but this proposed merger was rejected by Kansas Corporation Commission utility regulators as unfavorable to Kansas consumers. A new merger plan with Westar was announced in 2017. As of May 24, 2018, this merger has been approved by both the Missouri Public Service Commission and Kansas regulators, with the combined company to be named Evergy. On October 7, 2019 the two operating companies officially changed names and rebranded to Evergy in the communities they serve.
Learn more about Great Plains Energy
Industry
Founded
1919

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