Senior Project Engineer

Net Power is an energy technology and project development company focused on the development of natural gas power generation projects to meet growing demand for reliable power. Our near-term development activities are focused on delivering natural gas power generation, with equipment designed to accommodate carbon capture in later phases.

Our vision is to make natural gas the lowest cost form of clean firm power.

Our impact is transformational - Headquartered in Houston, Texas, we aspire to improve the communities where we work and we’re committed to pioneering advancements that redefine the energy landscape, ensuring a better future for generations to come.

Job Overview

Net Power is seeking an experienced Senior Project Engineer to support the development, engineering, and execution of complex power generation projects. This role will serve as a critical technical and project execution interface across engineering disciplines, project management, commercial teams, equipment suppliers, EPC contractors, and project partners.

The ideal candidate will have significant experience developing and executing utility-scale generation projects and has worked directly for an Independent Power Producer (IPP) . This IPP experience is essential: we are looking for someone who understands how an owner evaluates, develops, contracts, finances, engineers, constructs, commissions, and ultimately operates a power generation asset—not simply how an individual engineering discipline performs its scope.

The Senior Project Engineer will help translate Net Power’s technology and project requirements into executable plant designs and will play an important role in ensuring projects are technically sound, commercially practical, constructible, operable, and delivered in accordance with project objectives.

This role is based on-site in Houston, TX. Net Power offers a hybrid work schedule, 3 days in the office and 2 days remote. Travel to the project site will be required; frequency will depend on project phase (heavier during construction).

Key responsibilities include but are not limited to:

• Serve as an owner’s project engineer for the development and execution of utility-scale power generation projects.
• Coordinate technical activities across engineering disciplines, including process, mechanical, piping, electrical, instrumentation and controls, civil/structural, and balance-of-plant systems.
• Act as a primary technical interface among Net Power, project developers, EPC contractors, engineering firms, OEMs, suppliers, utilities, and other project stakeholders.
• Support projects throughout the full lifecycle, including development, feasibility, conceptual engineering, FEED, detailed engineering, procurement, construction, commissioning, startup, and turnover to operations.
• Establish and manage project technical requirements, design criteria, engineering deliverables, interface registers, and key technical decisions.
• Review engineering drawings, specifications, calculations, equipment data sheets, PFDs, P&IDs, electrical one-lines, layouts, and other project deliverables from an owner’s perspective.
• Identify technical risks, design gaps, interface issues, and constructability or operability concerns early enough to protect project cost and schedule.
• Lead or participate in design reviews, HAZOPs, constructability reviews, operability reviews, technical workshops, and project readiness reviews.
• Support equipment and contractor selection through preparation and review of technical specifications, bid packages, technical bid evaluations, and vendor proposals.
• Work closely with project controls and project management to understand engineering progress, schedule dependencies, cost impacts, and emerging risks.
• Evaluate proposed design changes and contractor deviations with consideration for technical performance, capital cost, lifecycle cost, schedule, reliability, maintainability, and commercial obligations.
• Support development of project capital cost estimates, schedules, contracting strategies, and technical assumptions.
• Provide technical input into EPC agreements, equipment supply agreements, LTSA/service agreements, interconnection requirements, permitting activities, and other project contracts as required.
• Coordinate technical interfaces between major equipment packages and balance-of-plant systems.
• Support commissioning and startup planning, including system turnover, punch-list management, performance testing, and resolution of field technical issues.
• Capture lessons learned and help develop standardized engineering requirements, specifications, processes, and project execution practices for future Net Power projects.

Required Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Mechanical, Chemical,Electrical, Civil, or other relevant engineering discipline.
• 8+ years of experience in power generation,energy infrastructure, or closely related industrial projects.
• Direct experience working for an IndependentPower Producer (IPP) is required.
• Demonstrated experience performing an owner’sengineering or project engineering role on major capital projects.
• Experience with utility-scale power generationproject development and/or execution.
• Strong understanding of the complete projectlifecycle from early-stage development through commercial operation.
• Experience coordinating multidisciplinaryengineering teams and managing technical interfaces between major plantsystems.
• Working knowledge of EPC project execution,major equipment procurement, construction, commissioning, and startup.
• Ability to review engineering work criticallyfrom an owner’s perspective rather than solely for technical compliance.
• Strong commercial judgment and an understandingof how engineering decisions affect project economics, schedule, risk,operability, and long-term asset performance.
• Experience working with EPC contractors,engineering consultants, OEMs, equipment suppliers, and constructionorganizations.
• Excellent written and verbal communicationskills.
• Strong organizational skills and the ability tomanage multiple technical priorities simultaneously.
• Willingness to travel to engineering offices,supplier facilities, construction sites, and project locations as required.

Preferred Qualifications

• 10+ years of relevant project engineering orpower generation experience.
• Professional Engineer (PE) license.
• Experience with Simple cycle, combined-cyclegas turbine, thermal power, battery storage, carbon capture, or other complexpower process facilities.
• Experience supporting projects from developmentthrough construction and commercial operation.
• Experience with EPC contract development andadministration from an owner’s perspective.
• Familiarity with power plant performance guarantees, reliability requirements, availability guarantees, and performance testing.
• Experience with reliability, availability & maintainability (RAM) modeling for behind the meter power plant design is a plus.
• Experience with project finance or lender’s technical due diligence.
• Familiarity with utility interconnection, transmission, environmental permitting, and generation project development.

Additional Requirements

Candidates must be able to perform essential functions as outlined above, including but not limited to:

• Operate at a computer and sit for long periods of time.
• Repeat motions that may include the wrists, hands, or fingers.

This description reflects the general nature and scope of the role and is not an exhaustive list of duties. It may evolve with the needs of the business.

Net Power is an equal opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex (including pregnancy), sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, age, disability, genetic information, protected veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by applicable law. Net Power provides reasonable accommodation to qualified individuals with disabilities and for sincerely held religious beliefs. Applicants who need an accommodation during the application or interview process may contact Human Resources.