Job Title:
DIRECTOR, MECHANICAL ENGINEERING
Posting Start Date:
5/28/26
Job Description:
POSITION PURPOSE
- This position is located at our headquarters building in Bismarck, ND and is not a remote position.
- Responsible for leading centralized Mechanical Engineering and Performance Engineering for facilities, equipment, and systems to meet the needs of the Cooperative, including electricity generation facilities, fuel supply, and subsidiary systems.
Provides strategic direction, technical governance, and engineering oversight to ensure safe, reliable, and affordable operations across the Cooperative. Directs or coordinates assigned tasks and projects, including those that are well beyond the mechanical engineering discipline. Develops and leads BEPC's generation technology assessments and advises on large capital projects. Through supervision, provides project coordination services as assigned for various BEPC projects and initiatives to ensure alignment with organizational objectives.
ESSENTIAL DUTIES
- + Direct mechanical engineering and performance engineering programs, ensuring consistency in planning, development, design and processes across the Cooperative.
+ Advise on large capital projects, providing strategic recommendations and technical support to leadership and project teams. + Conduct economic reviews of capital projects to ensure cost-effective spending and resource allocation. + Support the technical needs of operating facilities through the initiation, review, and approval of recommended design, performance, and reliability changes throughout new projects or existing Cooperative facilities. + Recommend the purchasing of equipment and contracting for construction of assigned new or retrofit equipment, systems, and facilities. This includes selection of bidders, establishment of design criteria, preparation of detailed specifications and drawings, evaluation of bids for each contract, and negotiations with bidders as required. + Develop and monitor drawings and specifications to ensure safety, timely completion, alignment with construction schedules, and adherence to BEPC design philosophy. + Select and provide guidance to technical consultants on appropriate projects where sufficient in-house expertise and/or resources are not available. + Conduct economic and technical feasibility studies for new and retrofit projects. Develop recommendations as required. + Monitor and evaluate emerging generation industry technologies and trends to guide strategic decision making and advise leadership on technology adoption, risk, and long-term fleet competiveness. + Conduct generation technology assessments to support resource planning activities. + Support development of Regional Transmission Organization (RTO) workbooks used to define generating facility market offer parameters. + Support performance testing needs of existing facilities and coordination facility capability testing. + Maintain and develop required licenses and agreements related to mechanical engineering functions for the Cooperative and its subsidiaries. + Provide project management oversight including planning, assignment distribution, resource allocation, progress and cost monitoring, and results evaluation. Recommend staffing adjustments or consultant engagement as needed. Conduct personnel performance evaluations. + Develop standards and guidelines. + Coordinate programs, personnel, and/or software required for successful management of mechanical engineering functions, life assessment, maintainability, predictive maintenance, reliability, and performance efforts at Basin Electric's existing facilities. Collaborate with counterparts in other areas of the Cooperative to ensure efficient program development and maintenance. + Lead or coordinate major projects, including evaluating alternatives, overseeing budgeting and scheduling, managing project teams, securing approvals, and engaging stakeholders. + Maintain industry relationships with consultants, contractors, peer organizations, and professional groups to support the mechanical engineering function and benchmarking activities. + Perform other duties as assigned.
MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS
- + Bachelor's degree from an Engineering Accreditation Commission/Accreditation Board for Engineering and Technology (EAC/ABET) accredited mechanical engineering program + 10 years of related experience. + A Professional Engineering (PE) registration. + Prior experience acting as a lead or previous supervisor experience. + Travel required.
PHYSICAL AND ENVIRONMENTAL DEMANDS
- This position requires the ability to remain in a stationary position and to move about the office building, occasional reaching below and above shoulder level, constant use of keyboard/computer and other office productivity machinery, bending, kneeling, lifting/carrying up to 10 pounds, and pushing/pulling up to 20 pounds. It also requires finger dexterity and hand coordination.
KEY SKILLS
- + Working knowledge in all areas of engineering and comprehensive experience in all aspects of mechanical and performance engineering.
+ Experience in power generation design, cost analysis, specification writing, contracting procedures, reliability and performance is essential to good performance. + Proficient with personal computers and Microsoft Word, Excel, Outlook, and PowerPoint; leadership skills; and have excellent verbal and written communication skills. + Ability to develop plans, procedures and goals; present information to others; and work under stress to complete projects within deadlines. + Ability to communicate and clearly exchange accurate information.
Basin Electric wants all interested and qualified candidates to apply for employment opportunities. If you are an applicant with a disability who is unable to use our online tools to search and apply for jobs, or who needs other assistance or accommodations, please contact us at 701-223-0441. Please indicate the specifics of the assistance needed or provide your contact information, and a Basin Electric Human Resources representative will contact you. Basin Electric is an Equal Employment Opportunity Employer regarding race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, and veterans status.
