Power Plant Engineer

This onsite role in Texas contributes to the design, construction, commissioning, and ongoing operation of SpaceX's combined-cycle gas turbine power plants. You will own commissioning in the control room during startup and perform field troubleshooting to support reliable plant performance.

Responsibilities

• Support the full lifecycle of gas turbine power generation assets, including installation, commissioning, startup, operations, and long-term maintenance
• Lead or support commissioning activities such as combustion tuning, control system checkout, protective relay testing, and performance and reliability run verification
• Own root-cause analysis and corrective actions for turbine trips, forced outages, and performance degradation, implementing fixes to prevent recurrence
• Develop and refine operating procedures, startup/shutdown sequences, and abnormal operating condition playbooks
• Interface directly with OEMs (GE, Siemens Energy, Mitsubishi Power, Doosan) on warranty issues, LTSA scope, outage planning, and technical issues
• Plan and execute major and minor inspections, hot gas path outages, and combustion inspections in line with OEM maintenance intervals
• Analyze turbine performance data (heat rate, capacity factor, degradation curves) to identify efficiency losses and propose corrective actions
• Coordinate with balance-of-plant teams (HRSG, steam turbine, cooling systems, water treatment) to ensure integrated performance
• Build and maintain relationships with EPC contractors during construction handoff to ensure a clean transition from construction to commercial operation
• Develop spare parts strategy, critical spares inventory, and maintenance budgets

Requirements

• Bachelor's degree in Mechanical Engineering, Electrical Engineering, or a related engineering discipline
• 2+ years of hands-on experience with utility-scale gas turbines in commissioning, operations, or maintenance roles

Technologies

• Mark VIe
• SPPA-T3000
• SOLIDWORKS
• Siemens NX

Additional requirements

• Schedule varies depending on site operational needs; must be willing to work extended hours and/or weekends as business needs require
• Flexibility to travel to other SpaceX sites
• Ability to perform job duties that require standing, kneeling, crouching, twisting upper body, working in cramped positions in small openings and climbing hand over hand
• Typically exposed to work in outdoor environments – heat, cold, rain
• Stand up to 3 hours per day
• Sit up to 6 hours per day
• Push/Pull up to 50 lbs (unassisted) for up to 15 minutes per day
• Overhead reach up to 3 hours per day
• Walk up to 3 hours per day
• Lift/Carry up to 25 lbs (unassisted) for up to 15 minutes per day
• Climb ladders or stairs up to 1 hour per day
• Kneel or crouch: not applicable
• Upper body twist: not applicable
• Ability to work in temperatures over 80 degrees Fahrenheit for up to 30 minutes per day
• Ability to safely work at heights up to 500 feet, in confined spaces, and to use an air purifying respirator
• A pre-employment questionnaire and/or physical may be required to confirm capabilities

ITAR REQUIREMENTS

To conform to U.S. Government export regulations, applicants must be a U.S. citizen or national, a U.S. lawful permanent resident (green card holder), a refugee under 8 U.S.C. § 1157, or an asylee under 8 U.S.C. § 1158, or be eligible to obtain the required authorizations from the U.S. Department of State. Learn more about the ITAR here.