Director of Engineering

Job Description

Director Engineering (Combined-Cycle Power)

The Charlotte office of Zachry offers a unique opportunity to join a high-growth team at the center of critical infrastructure work across the region. Our team supports a large and expanding portfolio driven by strong, long-standing partnerships with major utility and industrial clients. This provides our employees consistent exposure to high-impact, technically challenging projects with real visibility.

Because of the volume and continuity of work, team members in Charlotte benefit from both stability and variety—working on meaningful projects while continuing to develop new skills and advance their careers. The environment is fast-paced and collaborative, where individuals are empowered to take ownership, contribute ideas, and make a tangible difference from day one.

If you’re looking for a role where your work matters, your expertise is valued, and your impact is visible, the Charlotte Zachry team is the place to be.

About The Role

We are seeking a cross-functional Engineering Manager to lead the planning and execution of engineering for combined-cycle power plant projects. This leader will be responsible for technical execution, quality, and disciplined procedures, ensuring effective information flow across engineering disciplines and seamless integration with construction, project management, supply chain, and field services. The role requires a business-minded manager who can drive staffing, manage budgets, champion the use of our High Value Engineering (HVE) center, and hold teams accountable while modeling servant leadership.

Responsibilities

What You’ll Do

Cross-Functional Leadership & Information Flow

• Orchestrate work across mechanical, electrical, I&C, civil/structural, and field engineering teams with clear interfaces, handoffs, and deliverable owners.
• Establish and enforce information flow processes (e.g., requirements management, design inputs/outputs, change management, RFI/submittal workflows) to minimize rework and schedule risk.
• Ensure engineering decisions reflect constructability and downstream impacts on procurement, construction means/methods, commissioning, O&M, and client requirements.
  
  
  

Technical Execution & Quality Ownership

• Own the technical execution plan and quality of engineering deliverables (calculations, drawings, 3D models, data sheets, specs, studies, and vendor documents).
• Lead phase-gate reviews, design reviews, constructability reviews, and management of change (MOC).
• Implement procedures, checklists, QA/QC hold points, and compliance with codes/standards for combined-cycle facilities (e.g., ASME, API, NFPA, NEC/NFPA 70, NERC, and applicable environmental/permitting requirements).
• Drive lessons learned and continuous improvement across projects and portfolios.
  
  
  

Team Leadership (100 People, Direct, Indirect & Matrix)

• Lead and influence large, direct, indirect and matrixed teams of 100 across in-house staff, contractors, and HVE resources.
• Set expectations, drive accountability, and cultivate a servant leadership culture that emphasizes clarity, follow-through, and psychological safety.
• Coach discipline leads/PMs; ensure clear scope, deadlines, and ownership.
  
  
  

Staffing, Resource Planning & HVE Center Utilization

• Own project staffing plans, demand forecasting, and leveling; align resources with schedules and budgets.
• Champion the High Value Engineering (HVE) center: identify opportunities, define scope split, standardize interfaces, and track productivity/quality metrics to maximize value.
• Partner with Department Managers & Talent Acquisition on proactive hiring initiatives and critical role coverage.
  
  
  

Qualifications

Required Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Mechanical, Electrical, Civil/Structural, Chemical, or related engineering field.
• Demonstrated leadership of large teams (50-100 people) - direct, indirect and matrixed - across multiple disciplines.
• Proven ownership of technical execution and quality with strong procedure orientation and information-flow governance.
• Solid understanding of gas turbines, HRSGs, steam turbines, balance of plant, I&C, and electrical systems.
• Experience managing budgets, forecasts, and performance metrics (e.g., EVMS, productivity, cost/schedule variance, change management).
• Strong communication skills and the ability to influence across stakeholders.
  
  
  

Preferred Qualifications

• 10–15 years delivering combined-cycle power plant projects across design, procurement, construction, commissioning, and handover.
• Professional Engineer (PE) license; ability to oversee stamping strategy and licensing compliance across jurisdictions.
• EPC or OEM/EPCm experience with phase-gated execution from FEED through commissioning/startup.
• Familiarity with standards and practices: ASME/ANSI, API, NFPA/NEC, NERC, OSHA, environmental permitting, and grid interconnection.
• Tools exposure: Primavera P6 or MS Project, Navisworks/Clash, CAESAR II, ETAP, plant design suites, PLM/PDM, EDMS, and analytics/reporting tools.
• Experience with Advanced Work Packaging (AWP), modularization, and construction-driven design.
• Background in leveraging High Value Engineering centers with defined SLAs, KPIs, and quality gates.
  
  
  

Why Join Us

• Lead high-impact, grid-relevant projects in a critical energy segment.
• Influence execution methods, tools, and standards across the portfolio.
• Grow and mentor a large, high-performing, cross-functional team.