Project Engineer

Role Overview

The E&C Engineer II will serve as a project engineer supporting capital projects at Xcel Energy’s gas turbine plants, primarily located in the South Metro area (Blue Lake and Inver Hills), with occasional travel to Wheaton (Eau Claire, WI) and Anson (near Sioux Falls, SD). The role focuses on executing mechanically based projects, coordinating with plant engineers, vendors, and contractors to ensure successful project delivery.

Key Responsibilities

- Act as a project engineer managing approved capital projects from scope review to execution.

- Coordinate with reliability engineers and vendors to update quotes and specifications.

- Plan and execute projects during plant outages or while online, ensuring resource availability.

- Liaise with contractors and internal teams to ensure alignment on installation and commissioning.

- Maintain safety compliance and coordinate site access and orientation.

- Travel between plant locations as needed, with most work centered in the metro area.

Required Skills/Qualifications

- Bachelor’s degree in Engineering (ABET-accredited preferred).

- 5+ years of experience preferred, but candidates with less experience and strong aptitude will be considered.

- Experience in utilities, manufacturing, or heavy industry; gas turbine experience is a plus but not required.

- Strong organizational skills related to managing budgets, schedules, change orders, and team members.

- Regularly participate in customer-facing sales & project execution meetings.

- Coordinate equipment shipment, installation, and commissioning with contractors & customers.

- Proficiency in Microsoft Office Suite and SAP; familiarity with AutoCAD or Bluebeam is a plus.

- Ability to work collaboratively with plant operations, site management, and craft labor teams.

- Excellent communication and relationship management skills.

Location & Travel

Primary work will be conducted at Blue Lake (Shakopee, MN) and Inver Hills (Inver Grove Heights, MN) plants. Occasional travel to Wheaton and Anson plants is expected. Travel expenses will be reimbursed per company policy.

Risk Level

This role is classified as High Risk due to regular exposure to plant environments, including proximity to energized equipment, overhead lifting operations, and other industrial hazards. Appropriate safety protocols and training will be provided.