Solar Technologies Jobs in Kansas (NOW HIRING)

JOB TITLE: Combustion Turbine / Renewables Engineer (Emporia)
REQUISITON: FOS00KW
DEPARTMENT: Gas and Oil Management - Emporia Energy Center
LOCATION: Emporia, KS
PAY RANGE:
Engineer I: $68,500 - $85,600 - $102,700
Engineer II: $83,600 - $104,500 - $125,400
Staff Engineer: $93,400 - $116,800 - $140,200
Sr Engineer: $94,600 - $126,100 - $157,600
Lead Engineer: $111,400 - $148,500 - $185,600
Principal Engineer: $116,200 - $154,900 - $193,600

Scheduled Work Hours: Monday - Friday, 7:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m.  (Other hours as required)

Summary of Primary Duties and Responsibilities:  

The candidate will serve as a strategic leader with full accountability for delivering safe, timely, cost-effective, and environmentally responsible projects across Evergy's combustion turbine and renewable power generation portfolio. This role encompasses oversight of major initiatives such as new solar developments, simple-cycle combustion turbine installations, capital replacement projects, new technology implementation, and critical O&M programs. Many of these projects are highly complex, multi-million-dollar capital investments with multi-year timelines, requiring coordination across diverse technical and operational disciplines.

The candidate will direct and inspire a multidisciplinary team of internal and external professionals-including site management, engineering, procurement, project controls, regulatory affairs, real estate, vegetation management, legal, and administrative support-ensuring alignment from initial concept and strategic analysis through energization and final completion. They will champion the development and implementation of robust project control systems, outage scheduling, and risk management frameworks to guarantee adherence to scope, schedule, budget, and safety standards.

Beyond execution, this candidate will act as the primary advocate for project interests, fostering collaboration and transparency through consistent, high-quality communication with a broad range of stakeholders, including executive leadership, regulatory bodies, community representatives, and industry partners. The candidate will demonstrate vision, influence, and operational excellence, positioning Evergy's generation portfolio for long-term success in a rapidly evolving energy landscape.

Responsibilities include but not limited to: 
    Drive a culture of safety by modeling best practices and ensuring compliance for employees, contractors, and the organization. 
    Lead end-to-end project management for solar, combustion turbine, and new technology initiatives, delivering results on time and within budget. 
    Control and optimize capital and O&M budgets, ensuring efficient allocation of resources and cost accountability. 
    Guarantee project success by meeting scope, schedule, and financial targets through proactive planning and execution. 
    Communicate project performance and financial status to senior leadership with clear, data-driven reporting. 
    Identify and evaluate future projects and strategic opportunities, aligning them with Evergy's long-term goals. 
    Direct contractor performance during implementation, ensuring quality, safety, and adherence to contractual obligations. 
    Advance innovation by supporting development teams in assessing and integrating emerging technologies into Evergy's portfolio.
 

Education and Experience Requirements:
A bachelor's degree from an ABET accredited university in one of the following: Mechanical Engineering, Electrical Engineering, Civil Engineering, Renewables Engineering, or Industrial Engineering.  Candidates must have 2-5 years of experience in Project or Construction management on projects ranging from $1-15M.

The ideal candidate will have at least 2-5 years of Project Management experience working on utility scale energy projects. Understanding power plant operations, utility operations, and the electric grid is not required but highly preferred.  

Skills, Knowledge, and Abilities Required:
    Dependable, self-motivated, detail-oriented with strong organizational and proofreading skills. 
    Strong organizational skills.
    Effective communicator with internal teams and external stakeholders. 
    Knowledge of project controls, including scheduling, cost tracking, and progress monitoring for small projects. 
    Ability to meet physical job requirements and promote a strong safety culture. 
    Proficient in Microsoft Office and related technology tools. 
    Comfortable working in field environments and active construction sites. 
    Skilled in technical writing, project scheduling (Microsoft Project or Primavera), and interpreting technical documentation. 
    Strong time management, able to prioritize multiple tasks in high-pressure environments.

Licenses, Certifications, Bonding, and/or Testing Required:
None required.  Project management certification is a bonus.  CMRP or CRL certification is encouraged.

Working Conditions:
Normal working conditions will vary by location and project but typically include 70% or work in an industrial environment at an operational site and 30% in an office environment.  Work can occur across all weather extremes within Kansas.  During project outages or critical events, work weeks could extend to 7 days a week on 12 hour shifts until site restoration is complete.

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.