What are the responsibilities and job description for the Hot Gas Path Component Engineer position at PROENERGY?
Hot Gas Path Component Engineer
About PROENERGY
PROENERGY is a global and vertically integrated energy transition platform. Focused exclusively on fast-start, dispatchable power, our company supports both energy security and renewable growth with complete turbine services, project development, equipment manufacturing, turnkey generation facilities, operations, and maintenance.
Our Footprint
We are primed for the energy transition with permanent service locations in Missouri, Texas, and Argentina. Our world-class Missouri headquarters is purpose-built to meet dispatchable power needs. It sits on 90 acres in Sedalia and features more than 600,000 sq. ft of service capacity under roof, which includes the only independent Level-IV aeroderivative depot and string-test facility in the world. Our Houston, Texas, office is a strategic satellite positioned near our own dispatchable power installations.
Our Philosophy
We take care of our people and strive to make a positive difference for the world. We offer competitive pay, excellent benefits that include Medical, Dental, Vision, and Life/Disability Insurance at minimal cost to the employee, 10 paid holidays, paid time off, and a 401K plan. If you are looking for a rewarding career and possess specialized knowledge and quality-oriented problem-solving skills, we encourage you to apply today.
Position Summary
We are seeking a talented and driven Hot Gas Path Component Engineer to join our team. In this role, you will be responsible for designing and optimizing critical components within the hot gas path of a gas turbine. These components are subjected to extreme temperatures and stresses, and your work will ensure they meet performance, durability, and reliability requirements. You will work with cross-functional teams to contribute to the development and improvement of advanced gas turbine technology.
Position Responsibilities
- Design and optimize components within the hot gas path of gas turbines, including turbine blades, nozzles, and shrouds.
- Focus on high-performance materials and manufacturing processes to meet the demanding thermal, mechanical, and aerodynamic requirements of hot gas path components.
- Perform analysis (e.g., stress, strain, fatigue, life) to ensure hot gas path components can withstand operational loads, thermal gradients, and mechanical stresses.
- Use advanced engineering tools to conduct thermal, structural, and fluid flow analyses on hot gas path components.
- Optimize component designs based on thermal stresses, fatigue, and aerodynamic performance to enhance efficiency and reliability.
- Work closely with material and process engineers to select appropriate high-temperature alloys (superalloys) and coatings.
- Work alongside cross-functional teams, including manufacturing, repair, material and process engineers, and quality assurance, to develop robust designs that can be efficiently produced and assembled.
- Collaborate with turbine performance engineers to understand performance goals and contribute to design modifications that achieve these targets.
- Participate in or oversee the validation process of hot gas path components through physical testing, simulation, and analysis to ensure the design meets all operational and safety requirements.
- Support the development and implementation of testing protocols for hot gas path components.
- Investigate performance issues or failures related to hot gas path components, analyze root causes, and implement design changes to improve performance and prevent recurrence.
- Apply lessons learned from testing and field data to drive continuous improvements in the design of future gas turbine hot gas path components.
- Prepare detailed design documentation, including CAD models, technical drawings, analysis reports, and material specifications.
- Provide regular progress updates and technical reports to management and project stakeholders.
- Contribute to the innovation of new design solutions and methods that improve turbine efficiency, reduce emissions, and lower operational costs.
Required Qualifications
- Bachelor's degree in Mechanical Engineering, Aerospace Engineering, or a related field. Advanced degrees (Master’s or Ph.D.) are preferred.
- Minimum 3-5 years of experience in gas turbine design, specifically in the hot gas path region (turbine blades, nozzles, shrouds, etc.).
- Experience with high-temperature materials, coatings, and advanced alloys used in gas turbines.
- Strong background in structural, thermal, and fluid flow analysis for turbine components.
- Familiarity with turbine performance, aerodynamic analysis, and design optimization techniques is desirable.
- Proficiency in CAD software (e.g., Creo, SolidWorks) for component design and engineering finite element analysis (FEA) tools (e.g., ANSYS or similar).
- Experience with thermal and mechanical stress analysis tools, and knowledge of computational fluid dynamics (CFD).
- In-depth knowledge with drawing GT&D in alignment with manufacture and repair of hot gas path components.
- Strong understanding of materials science, particularly in high-temperature alloys, composites, and coatings.
- Familiarity with gas turbine performance and aerodynamics principles.
- Excellent problem-solving and critical-thinking skills.
- Strong communication and interpersonal skills to work effectively within multidisciplinary teams.
- Ability to manage multiple tasks and projects while maintaining attention to detail.
- Creative mindset for innovating and improving design solutions.
- Detail-oriented, with the ability to balance the need for performance, manufacturability, repairability and cost.
- Familiarity with ISO standards, ASME, or aerospace-specific regulations (e.g., AMS, ASTM) is highly desirable.
- US work authorization is a precondition of employment. The company will not consider candidates who require sponsorship for a work-authorized visa.
- Successful candidate will need to satisfactorily complete pre-employment drug screen and background check
It is PROENERGY’s policy to provide equal opportunity in employment to all its employees and applicants for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, pregnancy, age, disability, national origin, marital status, ancestry, medical condition, military status, or any other characteristic protected by State or Federal law.
