Principal EPC Engineer - Power & Energy Systems ArchitectLocation: Odessa, TX, Hayward-Pleasanton, CA (hybrid, with site travel)
Reports to: CEO / VP Infrastructure
Type: Full-time
Position SummarySTN is seeking a Principal EPC Engineer to serve as the single technical authority for all engineering, procurement, and construction of power and energy systems across our AI/GPU data center campuses. This is a hands-on architect role: you own the electrical one-line from utility interconnection through the rack, and you architect on-site generation and storage. You will lead high-voltage and medium-voltage distribution design and the behind-the-meter gas microgrid that keeps our compute load resilient. You are the person who signs off that the power system is buildable, code-compliant, and bankable.
Core ResponsibilitiesHigh-Voltage (HV) Systems- Own utility interconnection design and coordination (ERCOT/TSP), including the point-of-interconnection, main step-up transformer, and HV switchyard architecture.
- Architect substation and HV switchgear layouts, protection & relaying schemes, grounding, and arc-flash studies.
- Direct interconnection studies, SCADA/telemetry requirements, and compliance with NERC/ERCOT and applicable interconnection agreements.
Medium-Voltage (MV) Systems- Design the MV collection network - feeders, switchgear, ring-bus or radial topology, and MV-to-LV transformation to the data hall.
- Coordinate protective device settings, selectivity, and fault-current studies across the MV distribution.
- Integrate MV distribution with BESS PCS tie-ins and generation step-up so storage, generation, and utility power operate as one coordinated system.
Gas Microgrid & On-Site Generation- Architect the behind-the-meter gas microgrid: aeroderivative gas turbines (e.g., TM2500 / LM6000-class), fuel supply and conditioning, and synchronization/paralleling with utility and BESS.
- Design microgrid controls and islanding/black-start logic, load-shedding, and seamless transfer between grid-connected and islanded operation.
- Own emissions and combustor strategy (SAC + SCR vs. DLE), water/NOx balance, and TCEQ air-permitting coordination.
- Integrate LFP BESS as the bridging/resilience layer (not traditional UPS) and coordinate the row-level transient layer with bulk storage.
EPC Program Ownership- Serve as design authority across all EPC packages - set standards, review and stamp deliverables, and hold EPC contractors and OEMs to spec.
- Own the electrical scope of RFPs, vendor/EPC selection, and technical evaluation of quotes (pricing, warranty, DoD/performance terms, reference history).
- Drive value engineering, LCOE modeling inputs, long-lead procurement planning (turbines, transformers, switchgear, BESS), and critical-path management.
- Interface with permitting, AHJs, insurers, and lenders' independent engineers to keep designs bankable and code-compliant.
Required Qualifications- BS in Electrical Engineering (or related); PE license strongly preferred (TX PE or ability to obtain).
- 10+ years in EPC of power systems for data centers, utilities, industrial, or large-scale generation.
- Demonstrated ownership of HV interconnection AND MV distribution design on projects at the tens-to-hundreds-of-MW scale.
- Direct experience architecting on-site generation and/or microgrids - gas turbine paralleling, synchronization, and islanding.
- Fluency with NEC, IEEE, NERC, and ERCOT interconnection requirements; power-system studies (load flow, short circuit, arc flash, protection coordination).
- Experience integrating BESS at grid scale and coordinating storage with generation and utility supply.
Preferred Qualifications- Hyperscale / AI data center power design experience (liquid-cooled, high-density racks).
- ERCOT market and TCEQ air-permitting familiarity.
- Hands-on with tools such as ETAP, SKM, or PSS/E; SCADA/EMS and microgrid controls.
- Track record standing up a discipline or serving as sole senior authority on a fast-moving development program.
What Success Looks Like (First 12 Months)- Own and defend the full electrical one-line for the Odessa campus from POI to rack.
- Deliver a permit-ready, bankable design for HV interconnection, MV distribution, and the gas microgrid.
- Establish STN's EPC engineering standards and vendor-evaluation framework so future sites scale off a repeatable playbook.
Compensation:Odessa, TX: $150,000-$180,000/yr., DOE
Pleasanton, CA: $160,000-$200,000/yr., DOE
Benefits:- Health Coverage - Medical, Dental & Vision
- FSA Health and Dependent Care available
- 401(k) Plan
- Unlimited Paid Time Off (PTO)
- Observed Holidays Paid
- Cell Phone Allowance
- Collaborative, growth-driven culture
Candidates must be U.S. Citizens or Permanent Residents. We are unable to provide sponsorship at this time.
Employment is contingent upon the successful completion of a background check and reference verification. All applicants must be authorized to work in the United States on a full-time basis.
