Principal Engineer - Thermal Projects

Are you ready to be part of a company that's not just talking about the future, but actively shaping it? Join The AES Corporation, the largest US-based global power company with a team of 8,300 employees across 12 countries.   AES has been  ranked #1 by BloombergNEF  in renewable energy sales to corporations in the US and Americas for five consecutive years, providing electricity for  millions of people worldwide.    We are proud to foster a strong workplace culture, earning prominent positions in Great Place to Work™ rankings across the markets where we operate. AES was also named one of the World’s Most Ethical Companies for the 13th consecutive year in 2026, highlighting our dedication to integrity, transparency, and responsible business practices.   Our spirit of innovation continues to earn industry recognition. AES is the only seven-time winner of the Edison Electric Institute’s Edison Awards in the twenty-first century, a distinction honoring global leadership in advancing the electric power industry.  If you're ready to be part of a company that's not just adapting to change, but driving it, AES is the place for you. We're not just building a more sustainable future ,  we're powering it. Apply now and energize your career with a true leader in global energy.  The Principal Engineer - Thermal Projects will be responsible for managing third parties in the design and engineering of thermal power generation projects in development, construction, and operation. Responsibilities include engineer management, design reviews, contract document development and negotiation, procurement specification preparation, and other technical support activities. The Principal Project Engineer will join a team of project engineers reporting to the Director of Engineering and will serve as the lead project engineer for assigned projects. Additional responsibilities include mentoring and training other Engineers, directly supporting additional projects as a subject matter expert, driving innovation within the team, and driving institutional change within the wider organization. The successful candidate will have a depth of experience in the development, analysis, and design of thermal generation facilities, including gas turbines, reciprocating internal combustion engine (RICE) power plants, combined-cycle facilities, simple-cycle generation, cogeneration systems, hybrid thermal generation projects, heat recovery steam generators (HRSGs), steam turbines, and associated thermal balance-of-plant systems. Experience with related technologies and infrastructure, including natural gas and LNG systems, electrical interconnections, battery energy storage systems (BESS), microgrids, renewable energy integration, and data center power solutions, is highly desirable. Experience with other generation technologies including renewable energy, nuclear, hydroelectric, or emerging energy technologies is a plus. Excellent communication, task management, and planning skills are needed, in addition to technical depth and breadth. The position is at one of AES US Renewables & Power offices or remote and will include up to 25% travel to project locations and partner offices. Key Responsibilities Project Execution Support EPC engagement by preparing contract exhibits and supporting RFI’s during contract negotiations. Seek and evaluate proposals for engineering services. Manage engineering consultants and Engineer Procure Construct (EPC) contractors through development of project construction drawings and support materials. Perform technical project due diligence and project engineering design reviews to ensure compliance with company and industry standards. Lead external and internal design review meetings. Coordinate feedback from internal stakeholders and subject matter experts (SMEs) on design reviews. Value engineer system designs to maximize reliability and reduce overall project cost. Establish/review technical specifications of owner furnished equipment in coordination with Procurement and Sourcing. Manage Procore RFIs and submittals and ensure complete and timely responses in coordination with other internal teams. Technical support during construction including: Respond to contractor requests for information (RFIs). Support field quality assurance (QA)/quality control (QC). Review test reports for compliance with contract requirements and technical standards. Support the technical resolution of punch list items. Support startup, commissioning, performance testing, and commercial operation activities. Support internal Owner’s Engineering team through financing activities. Support Operations/Asset Management teams to resolve technical issues at operating sites. Assist Development and Project Management teams with development of key financial inputs. Develop and implement technical solutions to market specific requirements in coordination with market manager. Review and evaluate major equipment performance guarantees, reliability guarantees, availability guarantees, operating constraints, heat rate performance, emissions requirements, and project design assumptions. Support fuel supply and infrastructure evaluations, including natural gas and LNG systems, in coordination with internal and external stakeholders. Support permitting, environmental, and interconnection activities by providing technical input related to plant design, equipment selection, operating profiles, and emissions characteristics. Growth and Leadership Contribute to process improvement initiatives for the execution of safe, quality, and high-performance projects. Provide timely feedback on EPC and external engineer performance, and document lessons learned to influence internal process enhancements. Mentor and educate team on changing trends in technology, best practices, code enforcement, and safety. Direct mentorship of other Engineers on job requirements and technical acumen. Support the team as a tec