Principal Engineer - Hydroelectric & Pumped Storage Systems

The role and responsibilities essentially includes - - Technical Delivery & Expertise - Lead and deliver mechanical, hydraulic and electromechanical engineering for conventional hydroelectric and pumped storage projects across feasibility, basic and detailed design, procurement, construction, commissioning and operational stages. - Undertake and technically oversee key engineering activities, including: - Project configuration, installed-capacity optimisation, number and rating of units, operating range and powerhouse arrangement - Hydraulic design of intakes, waterways, pressure shafts, penstocks, manifolds, spiral casings, draft tubes, surge systems and tailraces - Calculation of gross head, net head, design discharge, hydraulic losses and equipment design pressures - Hydraulic transient, water-hammer and surge-control assessments for start-up, shutdown, load rejection, pump trip and emergency conditions - Selection and sizing of Francis, Kaplan, Pelton and other applicable turbines for conventional hydro projects - Selection and sizing of reversible pump-turbines and evaluation of fixed-speed, variable-speed and ternary pumped storage arrangements - Review of hill charts, four-quadrant characteristics, efficiency, cavitation, vibration, pressure pulsation, runaway speed and operating restrictions - Selection and specification of generators and motor-generators, including rating, speed, inertia, cooling, excitation, braking and starting arrangements - Design and specification of main inlet valves, gates, stoplogs, trash racks, hoists and other hydro-mechanical equipment - Design of cooling water, lubrication, drainage, dewatering, compressed air, service water, fire protection and mechanical auxiliary systems - Powerhouse layouts, erection and maintenance clearances, lifting requirements, access and major equipment replacement arrangements - Plant operating philosophy covering generation, pumping, start-up, shutdown, mode change, synchronous condenser operation and emergency sequences - Prepare and review design basis reports, calculations, equipment selection studies, specifications, data sheets, P&IDs, layouts, bills of quantities and tender drawings. - Coordinate turbine-generator and mechanical-system interfaces with civil, structural, geotechnical, electrical, grid and control-system teams. - Provide mechanical and hydraulic inputs to energy modelling, feasibility assessment, project cost estimates, schedules, operating strategies and lifecycle evaluations. - Identify risks relating to hydraulic transients, cavitation, erosion, vibration, fatigue, reliability, constructability and maintainability, and recommend mitigation measures. - Assess existing hydro assets for refurbishment, uprating, efficiency improvement, residual life, equipment obsolescence and operational optimisation. - Advisory, Procurement & Project Support - Support pre-feasibility studies, feasibility studies, owner’s engineering, lender’s engineering, technical due diligence and independent engineering assignments for hydro and pumped storage projects. - Prepare technical tender documents and evaluate OEM and contractor proposals for turbines, pump-turbines, generators, motor-generators, valves, gates and mechanical balance-of-plant packages. - Review OEM calculations, drawings, performance curves, model-test results, guarantees, manufacturing documents and proposed technical deviations. - Support manufacturing inspections, factory tests, construction, installation, commissioning, performance testing, equipment acceptance and site issue resolution. -Technical Governance, Codes & Standards - Establish SgurrEnergy’s hydro and pumped storage design philosophies, engineering procedures, calculation templates, specifications, checklists and technical review protocols. - Ensure designs comply with applicable IEC, IEEE, ISO, ASME, IS and other relevant national and international hydropower codes, standards and statutory requirements. - Act as the internal technical authority for critical mechanical and hydraulic deliverables and ensure assumptions, interfaces, design decisions and departures from standards are properly reviewed and documented. - Quality Assurance & Reporting - Prepare clear, technically robust and client-ready reports, design notes, specifications, bid evaluations, review comments, inspection reports, commissioning procedures and presentations. - Support QA/QC reviews, supplier qualification, inspection and test plans, non-conformity resolution and acceptance criteria for major hydroelectric and pumped storage equipment. - Collaboration & Capability Development - Work across SgurrEnergy’s Business Verticals covering energy advisory, design and engineering, project management consultancy, power and grid dynamics, environmental and technical investigations, and quality assurance and inspections. - Mentor engineers and develop internal capability in hydraulic machinery, hydro-mechanical systems, mechanical balance-of-plant, equipment selection and multidisciplinary hydroelectric power plant design. - Develop training material, technical libraries, standard tools and lessons learned, and contribute to recruitment, knowledge-sharing sessions, technical papers and thought leadership. - Operational Responsibilities - Manage assigned technical scopes, resources, budgets, schedules, deliverables and multidisciplinary interfaces effectively. - Travel domestically and internationally (approximately 15–25% of time) for site visits, investigations, client meetings, factory inspections and commissioning support. - Support proposals, technical methodologies, effort estimates, client presentations and business development for hydroelectric and pumped storage opportunities. Requirements - In-depth expertise in complete hydroelectric power plant design, including turbines or pump-turbines, waterways, generators or motor-generators and mechanical balance-of-plant. - Strong understanding of hydraulic transients, cavitation, sediment erosion, vibration, fatigue, equipment performance and plant operating requirements. - Experience in feasibility, engineering design, specifications, OEM evaluation, manufacturing review, installation and commissioning. - Strong analytical, problem-solving, multidisciplinary coordination and engineering judgement. - Excellent written and verbal communication skills in English, with the ability to produce high-quality technical documentation and client presentations. - Ability to lead complex assignments, mentor engineers and deliver quality work within agreed budgets and timelines.