Senior Mechanical Engineer

Position Overview

Omaha Public Power District (OPPD) delivers affordable, reliable, and environmentally responsible energy to the communities we serve. As a publicly owned utility, OPPD is committed to operational excellence, innovation, and ensuring long-term reliability and resilience across all generating assets.

As a Senior Mechanical Engineer, you will serve as a technical expert and provide high-level engineering leadership for OPPD's power generation facilities. You will establish engineering standards, lead multi-disciplinary efforts to improve system reliability, develop advanced technical solutions, and perform complex evaluations that shape the safety, performance, and economic viability of OPPD's generating fleet. This role requires independent technical judgment, broad engineering expertise, and the ability to guide teams and mentor developing engineers.

The Impact You'll Have

• Independently execute comprehensive system health monitoring and develop corrective action plans that strengthen long-term equipment reliability

• Assess present and future risks to safety, performance, and system reliability, providing expert technical recommendations

• Perform advanced engineering analyses across diversified and complex assignments, applying broad and deep technical knowledge

• Develop and maintain expert-level understanding of assigned systems, including design intent, operational modes, failure mechanisms, and performance standards

• Lead complex troubleshooting efforts for highly challenging plant issues, guiding cross-functional teams to resolution

• Apply project management principles to large, complex, or time-sensitive projects, ensuring high-quality execution

• Ensure full adherence to applicable codes, standards, regulations, and internal procedures

• Lead teams of engineers and craft personnel and provide mentorship, guidance, and technical development to early-career engineers

What You'll Bring

• Bachelor of Science in Engineering

• Professional Engineer (PE) license, or the ability to obtain reciprocity within six months

• Minimum of five years of engineering experience (Master's degree may substitute for up to two years)

• Demonstrated ability to perform complex engineering studies and present technical findings effectively

• Strong analytical, problem-solving, and decision-making abilities, using creativity and sound judgment

• Excellent communication, presentation, and negotiation skills

• Strong understanding of power plant system design, operations, maintenance, and system interactions

• Ability to work collaboratively, demonstrate flexibility, and take ownership of assigned work

• Understanding and application of relevant industry standards and construction codes (ASME, OSHA, NFPA, etc.)

Preferred Experiences

• Experience with Ventyx (Asset Suite), Cognos, AutoDesk tools, Bentley MicroStation, PeopleSoft, or SharePoint

• Master's degree in Engineering or Business

• Advanced proficiency in MS Office (Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Outlook)

• Hands-on experience in power plant engineering, operations, maintenance, or design

• Experience with reliability-centered maintenance programs

• Knowledge of energy markets and generating station operations

• Project Management Professional (PMP) certification

Type of Work:

Non-Shift Work

Time Demands: This role is considered a -non-essential- role, however, this role may be required to report to work to support the restoration of normal business operations.

This position must be available for overtime work and callouts as required to ensure continuance of efficient operation.

This position must maintain 24-hour availability for technical and professional assistance, emergency response, and direction of remedial action in response to such emergencies, as well as maintain availability as required for on-call duty.

Work Location:

Office: Work will be performed in a modern office environment amid normal conditions of dust, odors, fumes, and noises.

Field: Work will be performed outside in a wide variety of weather conditions (snow, rain, heat, cold, wind, etc.), terrain, and other natural environmental hazards as well as pollen and other airborne allergens.

Generation Plant: Work will be performed inside with exposure to industrial building conditions and will be exposed to extreme temperatures, odors, dust, gases, poor ventilation and exposure to sounds. Noise levels may require shouting to be heard.

Work Environment:

Work will be performed in high traffic environments.

Will work around energies high voltage electrical equipment.

Will work in construction areas that present many physical hazards.

Will work at heights.

Will work in closed or confined spaces.

Will work around asbestos and lead.

Physical Demands:

Minimal physical effort typically found in clerical work. Primarily sedentary, may occasionally lift and carry light objects. Walking and/or standing as needed and minimal.

Light to moderate physical effort that includes frequent standing or walking or maintaining arms and hands in the same position for repetitive tasks. Frequently works with light objects and light hand tools.

Moderate to considerable physical effort that includes working from ladders in awkward positions. Frequent use of light or medium weight objects (e.g., 25-50 lbs.) and use of medium weight tools.

Strenuous to extreme physical effort that includes frequent use of heavy objects (e.g., 50+ lbs.) and may also use heavy tools or require strenuous application in awkward positions.

Salary/Wage Info

Grade: S6

Minimum: $109,942

Midpoint: $137,428

The OPPD Difference

Our Culture & Mission

At Omaha Public Power District, everything starts with people. Our teams, our communities, and the customer owners who count on us. As the 12th largest public power utility in the U.S., we serve more than 900,000 people across 13 counties, and we take that responsibility seriously.

We lead with integrity, support one another, and do what is right because how we serve matters just as much as what we deliver. Our goal is simple: provide affordable, reliable, and environmentally responsible energy today and for generations to come.

We create power with purpose. Your work here has real impact on families, the environment, and on the future of energy. And we believe great ideas can come from anywhere.

If you want to be part of a team that takes care of the community and the people who serve it, you are in the right place. We back up our mission by taking care of our employees, too, which is why our benefits are among the most comprehensive and competitive in the region.

Ready to apply?

When you apply, be sure your resume highlights the skills and experience that will help you succeed in this role.

EOE: Protected Veterans/Disability

Recruiter: Mike Fierro - View email address on click.appcast.io #LI-MF