Sr. Engineering Commissioning Manager (Power Plant)

SpaceX was founded under the belief that a future where humanity is out exploring the stars is fundamentally more exciting than one where we are not. Today SpaceX is actively developing the technologies to make this possible, with the ultimate goal of enabling human life on Mars.

SR. COMMISSIONING MANAGER (POWER PLANT)

SpaceX is building and operating large-scale power generation for launch and compute. This role leads commissioning of the power plant: gas and steam turbines, heat recovery steam generator (HRSG), balance of plant, electrical, and controls, from mechanical completion to reliable operation. This is not a desk job. You will be in the control room during startup and in the field troubleshooting. 

RESPONSIBILITIES:  

• Build and run the commissioning plan: system turnover, pre-commissioning, first fire, synchronization, performance test, and reliability run
• Own the commissioning schedule, budget, and staffing plan
• Lead the commissioning team and the OEM field crews
• Accept a system from construction only with a complete mechanical completion package
• Start up aeroderivative and simple-cycle units; where an HRSG is in scope, run chemical cleaning and steam or air blows before the steam turbine takes steam
• Own procedures, punchlists, deficiency tracking, and the decision that a system is ready
• Close punch by category, commercial deficiencies included, before commercial operation
• Own LOTO, permit-to-work, and energization authority from first backfeed through commercial operation
• Commission controls and protection with the electrical and automation team
• Run guarantee and performance tests against the contract and carry the reliability run through commercial operation
• Hand operations a plant that starts, trips, and recovers as designed 

BASIC QUALIFICATIONS:  

• Bachelor’s degree in Mechanical Engineering, Electrical Engineering, or a related engineering discipline
• 5+ years of experience commissioning utility-scale power plants, including gas turbines, in the field
• Experience leading commissioning on a utility-scale or multi-unit plant, not only single-skid support
• Experience writing or owning startup procedures 

PREFERRED SKILLS AND EXPERIENCE:  

• 10+ years of experience commissioning utility-scale power plants, including gas turbines, in the field
• Experience as an OEM commissioning lead (GE Vernova, Siemens Energy, Mitsubishi Power, Solar Turbines, Baker Hughes, or equivalent)
• Direct startup experience with H- or F-class and/or aeroderivative gas turbines (LM2500 / LM6000 class or equivalent)
• Experience with DCS/turbine control platforms (Mark VIe, SPPA-T3000, or equivalent)
• Experience with Mitsubishi DIASYS Netmation or Emerson Ovation DCS
• Experience with HRSG and steam turbine integration and performance testing
• Familiarity with ASME PTC 22 (gas turbine) or PTC 46 (overall plant) performance test codes 

ADDITIONAL REQUIREMENTS:  

• Must be available to work on site during startups, including nights and weekends
• Willingness to travel between generation sites
• Ability to work around energized equipment and live construction
• Ability to work 10-12 hour shifts outdoors in heat and high noise during startup 

ITAR REQUIREMENTS:

• To conform to U.S. Government export regulations, applicant must be a (i) U.S. citizen or national, (ii) U.S. lawful, permanent resident (aka green card holder), (iii) Refugee under 8 U.S.C. § 1157, or (iv) Asylee under 8 U.S.C. § 1158, or be eligible to obtain the required authorizations from the U.S. Department of State. Learn more about the ITAR here.  

SpaceX is an Equal Opportunity Employer; employment with SpaceX is governed on the basis of merit, competence and qualifications and will not be influenced in any manner by race, color, religion, gender, national origin/ethnicity, veteran status, disability status, age, sexual orientation, gender identity, marital status, mental or physical disability or any other legally protected status.

Applicants wishing to view a copy of SpaceX’s Affirmative Action Plan for veterans and individuals with disabilities, or applicants requiring reasonable accommodation to the application/interview process should reach out to  [email protected].