Project Engineer

Job Description

**Senior Owner's Engineer -- Billion-Dollar Power Generation Projects**  

You won't be buried in detailed design work. You'll be the one deciding whether someone else's design is good enough to build. You'll sit above the EPC contractor as the technical conscience of a $1B+ combined-cycle or simple-cycle power project, with the authority to say "this isn't right" and the standing to make that stick. You'll shape how the plant gets built, not just review the paperwork after the fact.

This is a role for someone who has spent over a decade around large power projects and is ready to stop being one voice in a big engineering team and start being the voice the project trusts. You'll work directly with project leadership, EPC contractors, commissioning teams, and OEMs, and your sign-off will carry real weight on RFIs, field changes, and multi-million-dollar change orders.

There's also a real financial upside here: short-term incentive pay tied to company and business unit performance, with a clear track toward long-term incentive eligibility as you grow into bigger technical governance roles.

**Why This Opportunity Is Different**  

Most "project engineer" postings are really detailed-design jobs with a fancier title. This one isn't. You'll function as independent technical oversight --- reviewing and validating EPC deliverables, not producing them --- which means your judgment, not your drafting speed, is the value you bring. You'll have direct exposure to project leadership and a documented voice in official Records of Decision on major project calls. You'll be the technical bridge between engineering, construction, commissioning, operations, and OEMs across the full lifecycle of a project most engineers only see one slice of. And because this sits within a much larger project execution organization, there's a genuine path upward into larger-scope technical governance and program leadership roles --- this isn't a career-ending specialist track.

**What You'll Be Doing**  

* Serve as the owner's technical representative on a major greenfield generation project
* Lead multidisciplinary engineering reviews of EPC deliverables for code, regulatory, and project compliance
* Drive technical resolution of RFIs, field changes, design deviations, and EPC change-order requests
* Build constructability, operability, and reliability considerations into engineering decisions before they become field problems
* Keep engineering, construction, commissioning, operations, and OEMs aligned as the project moves through each phase
* Author or contribute to formal Records of Decision documenting the reasoning behind major project calls
* Act as contract manager for engineering-related subcontracts outside the primary EPC agreement
* Participate in contractor and vendor selection, evaluating engineering competency and capability
* Support commissioning and confirm performance, reliability, and emissions testing are completed per contract
* Own the review and sign-off of System Turnover packages from construction through startup

**What We're Looking For**  

* 12+ years of progressive engineering experience in the design, construction, or operation of power systems (10 years accepted with a PE license, PMP certification, or Master's degree)
* Bachelor of Science in Engineering; advanced degree a plus
* Direct experience reviewing, executing, or managing large EPC contracts
* Expert-level knowledge in at least one core discipline --- civil, mechanical, electrical, controls, chemical, or construction
* Working knowledge of power generation permitting, QA/QC protocols, and construction materials and methods
* Fossil/gas plant experience preferred, ideally combined-cycle (CCGT); heavy industrial construction or CCGT operations/maintenance background also valued
* PE license and/or PMP certification preferred, not required
* Sharp critical thinking and complex problem-solving instincts, strong technical writing, and the interpersonal presence to lead without owning the org chart

**Compensation \& Work Model**  

* $109,000--$192,000 per year, depending on experience and qualifications
* Short-term incentive program targeting approximately 20%, with multiplier based on company and business unit performance
* Long-term incentive eligibility available as you progress into broader technical governance roles
* Primarily office-based with substantial field time on the assigned project

**Location \& Travel**  
Based out of the Woodlands, TX area, with travel expected to the assigned project site for extended periods. Most travel is within roughly a 1.5-hour drive of the Woodlands, with some overnight travel required. Overall travel expectation: 50%--75%.  

**How to Apply**  
To apply or learn more, contact: [email protected]  

About TAPP Workforce Solutions  
TAPP Workforce Solutions is a specialized recruitment and workforce solutions firm supporting organizations across skilled trades, engineering, manufacturing, and professional services. We act as an extension of our clients' teams, delivering thoughtful, relationship-driven hiring solutions focused on long-term fit, performance, and retention.