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Gas Turbine Engineer

💰 $95,000 - $180,000

EngineeringEnergyPower GenerationAerospaceMechanical Engineering

🎯 Role Definition

A Gas Turbine Engineer is a specialized mechanical or aerospace professional responsible for the entire lifecycle of gas turbine engines. This pivotal role encompasses design, development, manufacturing, performance analysis, maintenance, and operational support for turbines used in power generation, aviation, and industrial applications. They are the technical authority ensuring these complex machines operate safely, reliably, and at peak efficiency. As subject matter experts, they diagnose and resolve complex mechanical and operational issues, lead major maintenance and upgrade projects, and interface directly with clients and field teams to provide expert guidance. This position is crucial for maintaining the backbone of our energy infrastructure and advancing aerospace technology.

📈 Career Progression

Typical Career Path

Entry Point From:

  • Junior Mechanical Engineer / Rotational Engineer
  • Field Service Technician / Engineer
  • Plant or Operations Engineer

Advancement To:

  • Lead Gas Turbine Engineer / Senior Principal Engineer
  • Engineering Manager / Technical Director
  • Project Manager / Outage Manager

Lateral Moves:

  • Reliability Engineer
  • Sales Engineer / Commercial Manager
  • Controls Engineer

Core Responsibilities

Primary Functions

  • Develop and execute complex gas turbine maintenance strategies, including major inspections (HGPI, MI), overhauls, and component replacements to ensure optimal fleet reliability and availability.
  • Conduct in-depth root cause analysis (RCA) for gas turbine failures, operational upsets, and performance degradation, authoring comprehensive technical reports with actionable corrective and preventive measures.
  • Lead the technical evaluation, justification, and implementation of gas turbine upgrades, retrofits, and life extension projects, from initial feasibility studies through to final commissioning and validation.
  • Provide high-level, on-site or remote technical support and troubleshooting for gas turbine operations, responding urgently to forced outages and emergency situations to minimize costly downtime.
  • Continuously analyze gas turbine operational data, including performance monitoring, combustion dynamics (DLN/DLE), and emissions, to identify trends, diagnose emerging problems, and recommend optimization measures.
  • Create, review, and approve detailed engineering documentation, such as technical work instructions, non-standard repair procedures, technical specifications, and standard operating procedures (SOPs).
  • Collaborate effectively with cross-functional teams, including project management, field services, supply chain, and EHS, to ensure the seamless and safe execution of projects and service agreements.
  • Manage the technical deliverables of Long-Term Service Agreements (LTSA) or Contractual Service Agreements (CSA), ensuring strict compliance with contractual obligations and performance guarantees.
  • Perform thermodynamic performance modeling and analysis of gas turbines and combined cycle power plants to assess efficiency, degradation, and the potential impact of proposed modifications.
  • Serve as the primary technical point of contact for customers, providing expert guidance, presenting findings from complex analyses, and managing technical expectations for projects and service contracts.
  • Develop highly detailed outage scopes and work packages, coordinating with outage planners, schedulers, and execution teams to ensure safe, on-budget, and efficient project delivery.
  • Evaluate and qualify new repair technologies, specialized vendors, and alternative component suppliers to enhance in-house repair capabilities and drive down operational costs.
  • Utilize and interpret data from OEM control systems (e.g., GE Mark V/VI/VIe, Siemens T3000, Mitsubishi DIASYS) to diagnose control logic issues and optimize turbine operational parameters.
  • Lead or actively participate in formal design reviews for new gas turbine components or modifications, applying deep knowledge of mechanical design, materials science, heat transfer, and fluid dynamics.
  • Ensure all engineering activities and technical recommendations rigorously comply with relevant industry codes, standards (e.g., API, ASME, ISO), and local environmental regulations.
  • Mentor and develop junior engineers, field technicians, and operations personnel on gas turbine technology, advanced maintenance best practices, and systematic troubleshooting techniques.
  • Prepare and deliver compelling technical presentations to internal leadership, external clients, and industry conferences on project status, innovative technical findings, and strategic recommendations.
  • Conduct or interpret results from finite element analysis (FEA) and computational fluid dynamics (CFD) simulations to assess component stress, fatigue life, thermal behavior, and aerodynamic performance.
  • Oversee and define best practices for the preservation and long-term storage of critical gas turbine spare parts and capital components to ensure their integrity and immediate readiness.
  • Support the commercial and sales teams by providing expert technical input, accurate cost estimates, and thorough risk assessments for new equipment proposals, upgrades, and service contracts.
  • Perform and direct on-site hardware inspections, including advanced borescope inspections and detailed visual examinations of hot gas path, combustion, and compressor components.

Secondary Functions

  • Support sales and proposal teams with technical expertise during the bidding process.
  • Actively participate in plant safety committees and contribute to EHS program improvements.
  • Mentor and coach interns and early-career engineers within the organization.
  • Contribute to the development and refinement of internal engineering standards and best practices.

Required Skills & Competencies

Hard Skills (Technical)

  • Gas Turbine Thermodynamics & Aerodynamics: Deep understanding of Brayton cycle, compressor/turbine performance, and airflow characteristics.
  • Root Cause Analysis (RCA): Proficiency with formal methodologies like Apollo, FMEA, and fishbone diagrams to solve complex technical problems.
  • Gas Turbine Control Systems: Familiarity with major OEM control platforms like GE Mark Series (V, VI, VIe), Siemens T3000/SPPA-T3000, or Mitsubishi Netmation/DIASYS.
  • Performance Monitoring & Diagnostics: Experience with software and techniques for analyzing operational data to predict failures and optimize efficiency.
  • Mechanical Design & Integrity: Knowledge of component design, materials science, metallurgy, heat transfer, and stress analysis related to turbine hardware.
  • Outage & Project Management: Ability to plan, scope, and execute large-scale maintenance projects, from tooling and parts to labor coordination.
  • Industry Standards & Codes: Working knowledge of relevant standards from API, ASME, ISO, and other governing bodies.
  • CAD/FEA/CFD Software: Familiarity with engineering design and analysis tools (e.g., SolidWorks, ANSYS, NX) is highly beneficial.
  • Borescope Inspection: Hands-on experience or the ability to interpret detailed borescope inspection findings for critical component assessment.
  • Vibration Analysis: Understanding of rotating equipment dynamics and the ability to interpret vibration data to diagnose machinery health.

Soft Skills

  • Analytical Problem-Solving: A structured and tenacious approach to diagnosing and resolving complex, high-stakes technical issues.
  • Effective Technical Communication: Ability to convey complex technical concepts clearly and concisely to both technical and non-technical audiences.
  • Cross-Functional Collaboration: A natural ability to work effectively with diverse teams, including field staff, project managers, and clients.
  • Customer Focus: Dedication to understanding and meeting client needs, managing expectations, and building strong technical relationships.
  • Decision Making Under Pressure: The capacity to make sound, data-driven decisions in time-sensitive and high-pressure situations, such as a forced outage.
  • Project Leadership: A proactive and organized mindset with the ability to lead technical initiatives and drive them to completion.
  • Mentorship & Coaching: A willingness to share knowledge and develop the skills of junior team members.
  • Strong Sense of Ownership: Taking personal responsibility for the technical integrity and performance of assigned assets or projects.

Education & Experience

Educational Background

Minimum Education:

  • Bachelor of Science (B.S.) in an engineering discipline from an accredited university.

Preferred Education:

  • Master of Science (M.S.) in a relevant engineering field.
  • Professional Engineer (P.E.) license or other relevant certifications.

Relevant Fields of Study:

  • Mechanical Engineering
  • Aerospace Engineering
  • Energy Engineering

Experience Requirements

Typical Experience Range:

  • 5-15 years of direct, hands-on experience with industrial or aeroderivative gas turbines.

Preferred:

  • Experience working directly for a major gas turbine OEM (e.g., GE, Siemens, Mitsubishi, Rolls-Royce) or a large asset owner/operator in the power generation, oil & gas, or aviation industry.
  • Significant field experience, including direct involvement in multiple major gas turbine overhauls and inspections.
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