Performance Engineer

Job description

**Description**
**JOB TITLE:** Performance Engineer
**REQUISITION ID:** FOS00H3
**DEPARTMENT:** Generation Reliability – LaCygne Generating Station
**LOCATION:** LaCygne, KS
**PAY RANGE:**
Engineer I: $66,300 - $82,900 - $99,500
Engineer II: $81,000 - $101,200 - $121,400
Staff Engineer: $90,500 - $113,100 - $135,700
Sr Engineer: $91,600 - $122,100 - $152,600
Lead Engineer: $107,900 - $143,800 - $179,800
Principal Engineer: $112,500 - $150,000 - $187,500
**Scheduled Work Hours:** Monday - Friday, 7:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m. (Other hours as required)
**Summary of Primary Duties and Responsibilities:**
Execute engineering tasks and duties generally aligned with power generation with a focus on performance improvement.

Develop studies, plans, criteria, specifications, calculations, evaluations, design documents, performance assessments, integrated systems analysis, cost estimates, and budgets, as required.

Provide consultation and recommendations to various business units and/or customers within Evergy, with an emphasis on Generation Operations.

Study systems, processes, equipment, and facilities.

Reviews financial data from budget and actual costs of projects.

Operates independently and seeks guidance when appropriate.
General Duties and Responsibilities
+ Evaluate, develop and implement projects that have positive financial/operational impact and are generally aligned with improving plant performance
+ Coordinate and conduct applied research, make logical analyses, prepare reports and monitor performance of assigned generating unit(s).
+ Perform assignments in areas where engineering precedents are incomplete, lacking or require broad experience.
+ Interpret regulations, guides, standards, codes, methods, practices, and advanced engineering principles necessary to perform complex or unique assignments.
+ May serve as an expert for organization in a specific area or responsibility.
+ Responsible for continuous development of engineering skills.
Specific Role: Performance Engineer
+ This position will be focused on the performance of LaCygne Generating Station & Lawrence Energy Center (expected effort split between plants approximately 75/25%, respectively), while also assisting other units in Evergy’s fleet on an as-needed basis.

A consistent on-site presence is expected at each facility to perform the role of Performance Engineer.
+ Drive continuous improvement in unit efficiency and heat rate through collaboration with plant operations, maintenance, engineering, and other internal stakeholders
+ Monitor unit and equipment operation utilizing software such as EtaPro, Ovation EDS, and PIVision to provide actionable input to plant personnel
+ Collaborate with Monitoring & Diagnostic team to develop or enhance modeling and anomaly detection strategies for performance-related systems
+ Manage performance-related data and calculations used in the EtaPro software to ensure accurate measurements
+ Provide support in analyzing and resolving issues related to unit efficiency, generating capability, and reliability
+ Monitor air emissions, including NOx and CO, and work with plant operations, maintenance, and Environmental to ensure compliance
+ Inspect flame and burner components and provide guidance on adjustments as needed
+ Coordinate and conduct combustion tune-ups and other combustion-related testing
+ Collaborate with other system owners (boiler engineer, pulverizer/coal handling engineer, air quality control engineer) to develop mitigation strategies and resolve issues
+ Implement and manage intelligent sootblowing and combustion optimization software
+ Manage projects related to improving unit performance
+ Perform cost/benefit analysis for projects related to performance
+ Develop project budgets and schedules
+ Execute projects within budget and schedule constraints
+ Evaluate project results to determine ROI
+ Coordinate and conduct performance-related testing and/or inspections on major equipment, including pumps, condensers, cooling towers, air heaters, heat exchangers, and fans.
+ Prepare monthly reports for plant management summarizing overall plant performance, major issues affecting reliability or capacity, and mitigation/resolution plans
+ Coordinate and conduct compliance-based testing.

Testing to include:
+ Multi-Load Heat Rate Tests (supplemental to heat input curve analysis)
+ SPP Capability/Operational Tests
+ EPA MATS inspections and tune-ups
**Qualifications**
Education and Experience Requirements:

* Bachelor’s Degree in Engineering from an accredited university (ABET) required.

* Fundamentals of Engineering (FE) or Engineer in Training (EIT) with advanced technical degree preferred.

* Registered Professional Engineer or willingness to pursue licensure preferred.
**Skills, Knowledge, and Abilities Required:**

* Ability to analyze and interpret complex mechanical systems and processes.

* Ability to inform and influence decisions based on objective analysis.

* Ability to apply problem solving approaches and engineering theory.

* Ability to communicate complex issues to internal stakeholders.

* Application of engineering principles to a broad range of requirements.

* Knowledge of engineering design principles and practices.
**Licenses, Certifications, Bonding, and/or Testing Required:** None
**Working Conditions:** Power Generation Facility.

Duties will include both office time and field time with variable temperature extremes.

This position is located on site an operating power plant with little opportunity for remote work.

Travel to other locations within the company is required on occasion.

Position may require work beyond normal working hours depending on workload, project deadlines, and service restoration efforts.
Evergy has a clear mission – To empower a better future.

Evergy chooses to live this mission by valuing People First.

We know that to lead the responsible energy transition and provide affordable, reliable, and sustainable service to our customers and communities, we need a team with a variety of backgrounds, perspectives and skills.

We are committed to building a team where everyone – regardless of race, color, religion, gender, gender identity or expression, sexual orientation, national origin, genetics, disability, age, or veteran status – has a voice and can bring their best every day.

Evergy is proud to be an equal opportunity workplace and is an affirmative action employer.
Disclaimer: The above information has been designed to indicate the general nature and level of work performed by employees within this classification.

It is not designed to contain or be interpreted as a comprehensive inventory of all duties, responsibilities, and qualifications required of employees assigned to this job.
**Shift** Standard
**Job Field:** Engineering
**Req ID:** FOS00H3

Required Skill Profession

Other General