Job Description

About the Opportunity

BC Hydro is seeking an experienced Senior Mechanical Engineer to join its Power Unit team within the Generation Stations Mechanical Engineering division. This is an exciting opportunity to contribute to BC Hydro’s ambitious capital plan and work alongside an experienced engineering team on a growing portfolio of large, complex, and technically challenging hydroelectric projects.

The successful candidate will provide senior-level mechanical engineering expertise focused primarily on hydroelectric turbine, generator, and governor systems. This role offers the opportunity to lead major capital projects, resolve complex technical challenges, support equipment procurement and commissioning, and contribute to the development of engineering standards and best practices.

The position requires periodic in-person attendance at BC Hydro’s Edmonds office at least once every two months for team collaboration and meetings, as well as periodic travel to BC Hydro generating stations.

Key Responsibilities

• Provide senior-level mechanical engineering expertise in rotating machinery for the hydroelectric power industry, with a focus on turbine, generator, and governor systems.
• Provide technical leadership on complex, high-profile, and high-value capital projects, engineering studies, and investigations.
• Serve as a technical lead or work package manager for major turbine, generator, and governor capital projects.
• Establish key hydroelectric turbine and generator parameters and develop mechanical design requirements for new and upgraded generating units.
• Develop governor system design requirements to support reliable generating-unit operation and optimized performance during grid-frequency disturbances and transient events.
• Prepare technical specifications for new and upgraded turbine, generator, and governor equipment, evaluate manufacturer proposals, support procurement, and lead technical reviews.
• Provide engineering guidance and technical support during construction, installation, testing, and commissioning activities, including site visits as required.
• Represent BC Hydro as the Owner’s Engineer, collaborating with equipment manufacturers, consultants, contractors, and internal stakeholders to ensure compliance with engineering standards and industry best practices.
• Identify technical challenges, assess project risks, and develop practical engineering solutions that balance safety, reliability, performance, cost, and lifecycle value.
• Provide clear, evidence-based engineering recommendations to project teams and management on complex technical and project matters.
• Exercise sound professional judgment and take responsibility for engineering work, including work performed by delegated personnel.
• Lead and contribute to the development of engineering standards, design practices, technical guidelines, and quality management processes.
• Coach and mentor engineers, promote knowledge sharing, and support the development of engineering capabilities across the organization.
• Champion safety by design and promote safe work practices throughout all engineering activities.
• Support engineering planning, estimating, scheduling, cost management, quality assurance, and project execution.

Required Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Mechanical Engineering from a program recognized by Canadian universities.
• Active registration as a Professional Engineer (P.Eng.) with Engineers and Geoscientists BC (EGBC).
• Minimum eight (8) years of relevant engineering experience, with in-depth knowledge of hydroelectric generating units.
• Demonstrated experience in at least one of the following areas:
  • Hydraulic turbine design and operation.
  • Generator mechanical design and operation.
  • Governor mechanical systems and hydraulics.
• Knowledge of applicable ASME, ASTM, IEEE, IEC, and CCH codes and standards related to the design, procurement, installation, testing, and operation of hydroelectric turbines, generators, and governors.
• Strong written and verbal English communication skills, including the ability to prepare technical reports, develop recommendations, and present complex information to technical and non-technical audiences.
• Excellent interpersonal, organizational, technical writing, and problem-solving skills.
• Proven ability to build and maintain effective working relationships with internal and external clients, consultants, contractors, and equipment manufacturers.
• Strong commitment to professional engineering practice, including compliance with EGBC Quality Management Guidelines.
• Demonstrated leadership, collaboration, and mentoring capabilities.

Preferred Qualifications and Assets

• Experience planning, estimating, coordinating, and executing engineering work for hydroelectric turbine, generator, and governor projects.
• Experience leading multidisciplinary engineering work packages and managing complex capital project deliverables.
• Experience reviewing manufacturer designs, technical submissions, consultant deliverables, and contractor work.
• Demonstrated ability to balance technical requirements, project risks, economic considerations, and long-term asset performance.
• Experience developing engineering standards, design guidelines, and technical specifications.
• Proven ability to coach, mentor, and develop engineering professionals.

Professional Practice Requirements

The selected candidate must have access to their own sole-practitioner Permit to Practice or their firm’s Permit to Practice through Engineers and Geoscientists BC (EGBC) before commencing the assignment.

EGBC registrants engaged through this assignment will work under BC Hydro’s Professional Practice Management Plan, including its Quality Management Pillar. Registrants must apply their own or their firm’s Permit to Practice number to work they seal.

Project documentation produced by the registrant during the assignment will be retained by BC Hydro in accordance with applicable EGBC bylaws and documentation-retention requirements.

BC Hydro uses digital sign-and-seal technology. The successful candidate may be required to subscribe to a digital seal technology service offered by Notarius.

Work Location and Travel

• Primary Location: BC Hydro’s Edmonds Office, British Columbia.
• Work Arrangement: Hybrid, with in-person attendance at least once every two months for team collaboration and meetings.
• Travel: Periodic travel to BC Hydro generating stations may be required to support project execution, construction, testing, and commissioning activities.

Additional Skills

• Familiarity with CAD systems and engineering drawing standards.
• Ability to use standard industry engineering design and analysis software.
• Intermediate proficiency with Microsoft Office applications, including Word, Excel, and PowerPoint.
• Professional-level English communication skills suitable for an engineering environment.

Ideal Candidate Profile

The ideal candidate is a technically strong, senior-level mechanical engineer with substantial hydroelectric generating-unit experience and the ability to lead complex engineering assignments independently. They bring sound engineering judgment, a strong safety and quality mindset, excellent stakeholder-management skills, and a commitment to developing people and improving engineering practices.

This individual will play a key role in delivering reliable, safe, and cost-effective hydroelectric generation equipment solutions while supporting BC Hydro’s major capital projects and long-term asset performance.