Plant Engineer (Project Engineering Focus)

About TECO

With more than 50 years of experience serving the Texas Medical Center (TMC) campus in Houston, TX, Thermal Energy Corporation (TECO) owns and operates the district energy system supplying thermal utilities to the largest medical city in the world. The chilled water and steam system – owned and operated by TECO since 1978 – began under the ownership of Houston Natural Gas Company in 1969.

TECO’s combined heat and power based (CHP) system pipes chilled water and steam to 25.4 million square feet in 51 buildings across 16 different institutions. Customers use TECO’s chilled water service for space cooling, cold rooms and refrigeration; and TECO’s steam service to meet space heating, dehumidification, humidification, sterilization, kitchen, sanitary and research requirements.

As the largest district cooling system in North America since it completed a major expansion in 2011, TECO produces chilled water and steam at two interconnected plants housing 27 chillers and nine boilers. TECO also has approximately 100MW of electrical generation capacity.

SUMMARY

Thermal Energy Corporation (TECO) currently has an opening for an experienced Plant Engineer (Project Engineering Focus). Once selected, the successful candidate will be working in a thermal energy plant environment in one of the largest District Energy Plants in the U.S. This person will provide engineering support for capital projects, daily operations, and maintenance including interfacing with plant personnel, procurement, consulting engineers, equipment vendors and construction contractors.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities

• Makes recommendations on issues regarding project components and tasks.
• Coordinates activities of project and contractor personnel to ensure project progresses on schedule, are being performed in a safe manner, and are completed within prescribed budget.
• Design equipment, facilities, components and systems for thermal plant.
• Develops, reviews, and updates plant process and instrumentation diagrams (P&IDs).
• Reviews project proposal or plans to determine time frame, funding limitations and procedures for accomplishing project.
• Develops and evaluates project scopes, budgets, and proposals, specifications, and analyzes engineering firms, contractors and suppliers capabilities and performance.
• Reviews design for compliance with engineering principles, company and safety standards, and related specifications.
• Evaluates and approves design changes, specifications, and drawing releases.
• Controls expenditures within limitations of project budget.
• Prepares interim and completion project reports; thoroughly documents all project events.
• Confers with Maintenance and Operations Department personnel to provide technical advice and to resolve problems. Provides direct supervision of TECO craft personnel when assigned.
• Uses computer assisted engineering and design software and equipment to perform engineering tasks.
• Performs all work in safe manner and in accordance to TECO's safety rules and procedures.
• Wears OSHA-approved safety glasses, hearing protection, safety shoes, and other personal protective equipment such as hard hats and respirators, as required.
• Uses common software packages such as MS Office, MS Word, MS Excel, MS Project, ACAD, etc.
• Perform other duties and responsibilities as may be directed by the Engineering Manager.

QUALIFICATION REQUIREMENTS

Education and/or Experience:

Four year engineering degree (Mechanical Engineering preferred) from ABET accredited institution; Minimum 8 years of directly related experience in project management/project engineering for thermal utilities systems.

Strong knowledge of central plant equipment, including pumps, chillers, boilers, and cooling towers, HVAC principles, fluids, and thermodynamics. A background with engineering central plant design and drafting is a plus.

Moderate experience with ACAD drafting.

Experience with hydraulic modeling software (such as AFT Fathom) and pipe stress analysis is a plus.

US Citizenship required.

Language Skills:

Ability to read, analyze, and interpret general business periodicals, professional journals, technical procedures, Industry Codes/Standards, and governmental regulations. Ability to write reports, business correspondence, and procedure manuals. Ability to effectively present information and respond to questions from groups of managers, clients, customers, and the general public.

Mathematical Skills:

Ability to apply engineering related mathematical concepts to perform calculations and statistical analysis.

Reasoning Ability:

Ability to define problems, collect data, establish facts, and draw valid conclusions. Ability to interpret technical instructions in mathematical or diagram form and deal with several variables.

Certificates, Licenses, Registrations:

Texas PE registration highly preferred.

PHYSICAL DEMANDS

While performing the duties of this job, the employee is regularly required to sit, stand, or walk; use hands to fingers, handle and feel objects, tools, and controls; ability to talk and hear. The employee frequently is required to reach with hands and arms. The employee is occasionally required to stoop, kneel or crouch and may be required to use stairs/ladders and personnel lifts to access equipment.

The employee must occasionally lift and/or move up to 10 pounds. Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision, distance vision, color vision, peripheral vision, depth perception, and the ability to adjust focus.

WORK ENVIRONMENT

While performing the duties of this job, the employee occasionally works near moving mechanical parts; in high, precarious places; and in outside weather conditions and is occasionally exposed to wet and/or humid conditions, loud operating equipment, fumes or airborne particles, toxic or caustic chemicals, risk of electrical shock, and vibration.

The noise level in the work environment is usually quiet.

DISCLAIMER

The information on this description 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. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

Pay: $100,000.00 - $130,000.00 per year

Benefits:

• 401(k)
• 401(k) matching
• Dental insurance
• Employee assistance program
• Flexible schedule
• Flexible spending account
• Health insurance
• Health savings account
• Life insurance
• Paid time off
• Tuition reimbursement
• Vision insurance

People with a criminal record are encouraged to apply

Experience:

• Mechanical Engineering: 5 years (Required)

License/Certification:

• BSME from ABET Accredited college (Required)

Ability to Relocate:

• Houston, TX 77030: Relocate before starting work (Required)

Work Location: In person

Salary : $100,000 - $130,000