Director, Flex Gen Engineering

RWE Americas, LLC
To start as soon as possible, full time, permanent

Functional area: Engineering; Business Development
Remuneration: Exempt

The Director, Flex Gen Engineering partners with business leaders to guide operating model through best practices, and aligns technical execution with long-term goals. The  Director, Flex Gen Engineering implements interventions when enhanced designed may deliver greater value through effectiveness, efficiency and performance. 

 Role Responsibilities:  

• Market Knowledge
  • Synthesize and communicate the technical implications of permitting, environmental, utility, and regulatory requirements to support project screening, prioritization, and market-entry decisions
  • Lead Early-stage opportunity risk identification with discipline engineering to identify infrastructure constraints, interconnection requirements, and development risks impacting project viability
  • Apply standardized techno-economic methodologies to evaluate development opportunities and recommend technically and economically optimized solutions
• Development Strategy & Execution 
  • Implement engineering governance, technical review processes, and stage-gate requirements across the development portfolio
  • Lead development and review of conceptual designs, site layouts, and technical development packages supporting early-stage project advancement
  • Coordinate multidisciplinary engineering reviews and ensure compliance with established design governance and development processes
• Analysis & Decision Making 
  
  • Lead technical diligence efforts by integrating engineering, infrastructure, regulatory, and commercial inputs to support development and investment decisions
  • Deliver risk evaluation and mitigation strategy on technical implications to the commercial, regulatory, and execution affecting project development and performance
  • Lead lifecycle cost evaluations, technology benchmarking, and performance assessments to support engineering recommendations and investment decisions
  • Synthesize engineering analyses and technical findings into actionable recommendations for development, commercial, and investment stakeholders
• Portfolio Prioritization & Optimization 
  
  • Apply portfolio screening and prioritization methodologies to evaluate development opportunities and recommend resource allocation priorities
  • Develop comparative assessments supporting project ranking, resource allocation, and development sequencing decisions
  • Lead engineering-driven value optimization initiatives by balancing cost, reliability, maintainability, and execution risk to improve project economics
  • Recommend technology selections and project configurations that maximize risk-adjusted project value
• Internal Leadership & Cross-Functional Collaboration 
  
  • Lead coordination across engineering disciplines, development, commercial, legal, finance, procurement, and EPC teams to advance project objectives
  • Facilitate multidisciplinary engineering reviews and ensure compliance with established governance requirements and development standards
  • Drive alignment on technical assumptions, development priorities, engineering risks, and mitigation strategies across stakeholders
  • Recruit, mentor, and develop engineering SMEs while fostering technical knowledge-sharing and continuous improvement
  • Lead implementation of lessons-learned programs and feedback processes to improve development effectiveness and engineering consistency
• External Representation & Stakeholder Engagement 
  
  • Lead technical engagements with utilities, regulators, consultants, OEMs, EPC contractors, and key project stakeholders
  • Lead technical support for negotiations related to interconnection requirements, technical specifications, equipment performance guarantees, and EPC execution strategies
  • Represent engineering in technical reviews, due diligence activities, vendor evaluations, and permitting discussions
  • Coordinate technical responses to external stakeholder requirements and project approval processes
• Portfolio Ownership & Accountability 
  
  • Lead delivery of engineering work products required to achieve permitting, interconnection, commercial, and investment milestones
  • Manage technical risk mitigation plans, issue resolution, and risk closure activities across active development projects
  • Implement performance metrics, resource planning processes, and engineering execution plans to improve quality, predictability, and delivery outcomes
  • Lead execution of technical strategies that improve project economics, reduce risk exposure, and enhance portfolio value

Job Requirements and Experiences:

• Bachelor's degree in Mechanical, Electrical, Civil, or related Engineering discipline
• Minimum 11 years of engineering experience in power generation, energy infrastructure, data centers, renewable energy, hydrogen, or large industrial projects
• Minimum 5 years of leadership experience managing engineers, consultants, or multidisciplinary project teams
• Minimum 10 years of experience in power generation development, project execution, EPC, owner’sengineering, or infrastructure development. 
• Experience with:  
  
  • Natural gas generation 
  • Aeroderivative gas turbines 
  • Frame gas turbines 
  • Reciprocating engines 
  • Energy campuses 
  • Data center power infrastructure 
  • Utility-scale generation projects 
  • Experience supporting project development from origination through investment decision
• Technical & Commercial Expertise
  • Power generation technologies (gas turbines, reciprocating engines, energy campuses) 
  • Plant design, balance-of-plant systems, and utility infrastructure 
  • Transmission, interconnection, and grid integration 
  • Site development, constructability, and permitting support 
  • Techno-economic modeling, lifecycle cost analysis, and project valuation 
  • Equipment procurement, OEM/vendor evaluation, and EPC delivery models 
  • Risk assessment, reliability, maintainability, and performance optimization 
• Leadership & Organizational Capability
  • Team building, talent development, and technical mentoring 
  • Engineering governance, stage-gate processes, and quality management 
  • Cross-functional leadership across development, commercial, finance, legal, procurement, and EPC teams 
  • Organizational planning, prioritization, and execution management 
  • Continuous improvement and knowledge-sharing program development 
• Analytical & Business Acumen 
  
  • Structured problem solving and data-driven decision making 
  • Scenario analysis, tradeoff evaluation, and risk mitigation 
  • Strong business and commercial acumen 
  • Ability to manage multiple priorities in a dynamic development environment 
  • Detail-oriented with strong organizational and project management skills 
• Communication & Influence 
  
  • Executive-level presentation and technical communication skills 
  • Stakeholder engagement and relationship management 
  • Regulatory, utility, consultant, and vendor coordination 
  • Contract support, technical negotiations, and performance guarantee discussions 
  • Ability to build trust, influence decisions, and communicate effectively across diverse technical and non-technical audiences 
• Personal Attributes 
  
  • Self-starter with strong ownership and accountability 
  • Collaborative and adaptable leader who is coachable and develops others 
  • Results-oriented with the ability to work independently and through teams 
  • Strong customer focus and relationship-building capability 
  • Proficient with Microsoft Excel, PowerPoint, Word, Outlook, and Teams 
• This position is an office-based role with some travel and visits to other RWEA offices and field locations
• Must be able to sit, walk, or stand for long durations of time

Applicants must be legally authorized to work in the United States. RWE Americas is unable to sponsor or take over sponsorship of employment visas at this time.

Pay range: The annual base salary range for this position in Illinois is $171,000 - $225,000. The listed salary range represents our good faith estimate for this position and represents the range for new hire salaries across all U.S locations. Please note that the salary information is a general guideline only. RWE considers factors such as (but not limited to) scope and responsibilities of the position, candidate’s education & work experience, training & certifications, and key skills as well as market and business considerations at the time of the offer.

Benefits offered: Medical, Dental, Vision, Life Insurance, Short-Term Disability, Long-Term Disability, 401(k) match, Flexible Spending Accounts, EAP, Education Assistance, Parental Leave, Paid time off, and Holidays. Eligible employees also participate in short-term incentives, in addition to salary.

Apply with just a few clicks: ad code 92959.  Any questions? Contact HR:  rwe_americas_recruiting@rwe.com

We look forward to meeting you. Of course, you can find us on LinkedIn, Instagram, Facebook, YouTube and Xing, too.

All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, religion, national origin, disability, veteran status, or other legally protected status.

RWE Americas, a subsidiary of RWE, is a US-based energy company that is helping to meet the growing demand for energy across the United States. Backed by RWE’s 125-year global legacy of managing diverse power assets, RWE Americas operates approximately 13 GW of power projects across 27 states. With a talented workforce of 2,000 employees, RWE Americas develops, constructs and operates wind, solar and battery storage projects, along with natural gas-powered generation, that safely deliver affordable, reliable electricity to our customers. Committed to responsible development, RWE Americas invests in local and rural communities, creating jobs and partnering with stakeholders to support and strengthen the places where we live and work. Learn more about how RWE Americas is generating impact at americas.rwe.com.

At RWE Americas, we foster a culture defined by our Essential Behaviors – Have Courage, Create Impact and Actively Collaborate. We encourage bold thinking and continuous learning, and we value ownership, resilience and inclusion in everything we do. When you join us, you become part of a team that supports your development, respects your contributions and celebrates shared success. This is a place where you can grow your career and make a meaningful difference.