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Power Generation Engineer Jobs in California (NOW HIRING)

AIG

$115K - $158K/yr

Power Generation and Renewable Energy. The Energy Risk Engineers are integral in allowing AIG to better understand exposures and contribute specialized knowledge to help in identifying and mitigating ...

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Power Generation Engineer information

See California salary details

$103.6K

$123.5K

$142.6K

How much do power generation engineer jobs pay per year?

As of Jul 27, 2026, the average yearly pay for power generation engineer in California is $123,537.00, according to ZipRecruiter salary data. Most workers in this role earn between $115,000.00 and $133,200.00 per year, depending on experience, location, and employer.

How does a Power Generation Engineer typically collaborate with other departments to ensure reliable plant operations?

Power Generation Engineers regularly coordinate with operations, maintenance, and safety teams to optimize plant performance and minimize downtime. They work closely with operations staff to monitor equipment status and troubleshoot issues, and partner with maintenance personnel to schedule preventive or corrective work. Additionally, they often collaborate with environmental compliance and project management teams to ensure regulatory standards are met and upgrades are implemented smoothly. This cross-functional teamwork is essential for maintaining efficiency and safety in power generation facilities.

What are the key skills and qualifications needed to thrive as a Power Generation Engineer, and why are they important?

To thrive as a Power Generation Engineer, you need a solid background in electrical or mechanical engineering, typically supported by a bachelor’s degree and relevant experience in power systems. Familiarity with SCADA systems, power plant control software, and industry certifications such as PE (Professional Engineer) or specific safety training are highly valued. Strong problem-solving, teamwork, and communication skills help engineers effectively manage complex projects and coordinate across departments. These competencies are essential to ensure reliable, efficient, and safe energy production in a critical infrastructure industry.

What is the difference between Power Generation Engineer vs Power Plant Operator?

AspectPower Generation EngineerPower Plant Operator
CredentialsBachelor's in engineering, certifications like PE often preferredHigh school diploma or equivalent, specialized training
Work EnvironmentDesign, develop, and oversee power generation systems, often in offices or labsOperate and monitor power plant equipment on-site
Industry UsageUsed in power plant design, project management, and system optimizationPrimarily in daily plant operations and equipment control

Power Generation Engineers focus on designing and improving power systems, while Power Plant Operators handle the day-to-day operation and monitoring of power plants. Both roles are essential in the energy industry but differ in responsibilities and required qualifications.

What does a Power Generation Engineer do?

A Power Generation Engineer is responsible for the design, operation, and maintenance of systems and equipment that generate electricity. This includes working with power plants that use fossil fuels, nuclear energy, or renewable resources such as wind, solar, and hydroelectric power. They ensure that power generation is efficient, reliable, and meets safety and environmental standards. Their duties often involve troubleshooting equipment issues, optimizing system performance, and staying up to date with regulatory requirements. Power Generation Engineers play a key role in ensuring a consistent and sustainable energy supply.
What are popular job titles related to Power Generation Engineer jobs in California? For Power Generation Engineer jobs in California, the most frequently searched job titles are:
What job categories do people searching Power Generation Engineer jobs in California look for? The top searched job categories for Power Generation Engineer jobs in California are:
Power Generation Engineer jobs near you
Infographic showing various Power Generation Engineer job openings in California as of July 2026, with employment types broken down into 88% Full Time, 4% Part Time, and 8% Contract. Highlights an 100% In-person job distribution, with an average salary of $123,537 per year, or $59.4 per hour.
Sr. Electrical Engineer- Power Generation

Sr. Electrical Engineer- Power Generation

SB Energy

San Diego, CA • On-site

$114K - $148K/yr

Full-time

Medical, Dental, Vision, Life, Retirement, PTO

Posted 6 days ago

Job description

Do you want to work with high caliber professionals in a dynamic and growing company? Are you entrepreneurial, hard-working, and collegial? Join us at SB Energy, a leading company backed by SoftBank and Ares pairing cutting-edge innovation with best-in-class execution. Our Mission is to provide reliable, affordable energy at scale to support America's growing energy demands.
Headquartered in Redwood City, CA, SB Energy develops, builds, owns & operates some of the largest and most technically advanced energy and data center infrastructure projects in the United States. Since launching in 2019, the company has rapidly grown into a top-tier integrated platform with over 3 gigawatts (GW) in operation and a multi-GW pipeline of energy and data center infrastructure nationwide. SB Energy also utilizes its strong culture of innovation to identify and incorporate new technology into our projects, including our AI-based digital platform, to deliver energy infrastructure that is local, reliable, and matched to load. We are building the energy and technology future-today.
Come join us in accelerating the energy transition to cleaner, more sustainable sources of power!
Title : Sr. Electrical Engineer- Power Generation
Basic Function:
As part of the Engineering team, the Sr. Electrical Engineer - Data Center Power Generation will provide technical leadership for the design, integration, and delivery of electrical infrastructure supporting hyperscale data centers, with a primary focus on onsite power generation utilizing gas turbines and gas engines. The role will support all phases of project development, including concept design, engineering, permitting, construction, commissioning, and operations, ensuring electrical systems achieve the highest standards of reliability, scalability, efficiency, and performance for mission-critical data center applications.
Responsibilities:
  • Design and deliver electrical systems for hyperscale data centers, including medium- and low-voltage power distribution, onsite power generation systems, backup power, emergency systems, and utility interconnections.
  • Lead the electrical design and integration of onsite generation solutions for data centers, including gas turbine, gas engine, microgrid, and hybrid energy systems.
  • Provide electrical design oversight throughout the full data center lifecycle, from early concept through commissioning, ensuring generation, distribution, and backup power systems meet performance, reliability, availability, and energy-efficiency goals.
  • Review and optimize onsite power generation system designs, including generator step-up transformers, medium-voltage distribution, protection and controls, synchronization systems, load sharing, black start capabilities, and utility interconnections.
  • Work with data center clients to develop power strategies that balance reliability, scalability, construction schedules, sustainability goals, capex, and opex, with a particular focus on onsite generation and energy resilience.
  • Support the evaluation and selection of gas turbines, gas engines, generators, switchgear, transformers, protection systems, and associated balance-of-plant equipment.
  • Provide technical leadership for power generation studies including load flow, short circuit, protection coordination, transient stability, reactive power, and grid interconnection studies.
  • Support field engineering, startup, commissioning, performance testing, and operational readiness of onsite generation facilities and associated electrical infrastructure.
  • Lead technical due diligence, evaluation, and selection of gas turbines, gas engines, and associated balance-of-plant equipment, including assessment of performance, reliability, availability, emissions compliance, maintainability, vendor capabilities, lifecycle costs, and suitability for hyperscale data center applications.

Qualifications/Requirements:
  • Minimum of 8 years of professional experience in Electrical Engineering for data centers, power generation facilities, utility-scale energy projects, or other mission-critical infrastructure.
  • Experience in industrial or commercial engineering in mission-critical facilities, including data centers, gas turbine power plants, gas engine power plants, microgrids, and distributed energy systems.
  • Strong understanding of power generation systems including gas turbines, gas engines, generators, generator protection, synchronization, medium-voltage distribution, and utility interconnection requirements.
  • Experience designing and integrating onsite power generation solutions for data centers, including backup power systems, microgrids, renewable generation, and energy storage.
  • Knowledge of electrical systems associated with power generation facilities, including generator step-up transformers, switchyards, substations, protection and control systems, SCADA, and telecommunications.
  • Experience with data center electrical infrastructure and power architectures, including utility-connected and islanded generation configurations designed to support high-availability operations.
  • Experienced in designing data center electrical buildings, onsite generation facilities, renewable energy systems, microgrids, Power Purchase Agreements (PPAs), Renewable Energy Credits (RECs), and energy storage systems.
  • Strong understanding of reliability and redundancy strategies for data centers utilizing onsite generation, including N+1, 2N, and distributed generation architectures

Travel Requirements
The position requires up to 20% domestic and international travels.
Location-Denver, Texas, or Remote
Base Pay -$140000- $165000
The pay range mentioned above is a guideline. We tailor each offer based on your unique skills, experience, location, and market benchmarks-while ensuring internal parity across our teams. In addition to competitive base pay, total compensation may include a discretionary annual bonus and a market leading comprehensive health and wellness benefits package. Final details will be discussed during the later stages of the hiring process.
Our Health & Wellness Benefits
At SB Energy, we invest in our people and their families with benefits designed for flexibility, support, and peace of mind. Full-time employees enjoy:
  • 100% Company-Paid Medical, Dental & Vision (for employees and dependents)
  • 401(k) with Company Match
  • Generous Paid Time Off + 11 Paid Holidays
  • 12 Weeks Paid Parental Leave
  • Life, AD&D & Long-Term Disability Coverage
  • Flexible Spending Accounts (FSA) for Medical, Dependent Care, Transit & Parking (with company contributions)
  • Mental, Physical & Social Wellness Support (with company contributions)
  • Flexible Work Arrangements & Hybrid Office Setup Benefits
  • Monthly Reimbursement for Phone, Internet & Data
  • Optional Legal & Pet Insurance Plans
  • Device Purchase Support

At SB Energy, the success of our projects is driven by a desire to see our projects benefit as many people as possible. We work to serve local communities through volunteering, fundraising, and much more. For example, we're proud to support access and opportunity in engineering and clean energy through impactful mentorship programs and workforce training. When you join SB Energy, you can become a part of these efforts, collaborating with team members who share a vision of building a better future now!
SB Energy is built on a foundation of collaboration and inclusion. We are proud to be an equal opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, creed, gender, national origin, age, disability, veteran status, marital status, pregnancy, sex, gender expression or identity, sexual orientation, citizenship, or any other legally protected class.
To learn more about us, visit www.sbenergy.com.
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