Senior Hydro Performance Engineer

Job Description

TransAlta owns, operates, and develops a diverse fleet of electrical generation assets in Canada, the United States, and Australia, providing municipalities, industries, and businesses with safe, low-cost, and reliable clean electricity. For over 111 years, TransAlta has been a responsible operator and proud community member where its employees work and live. We are committed to fostering a dynamic, productive, and safe work environment. Our employees contribute to a diverse, open, and transparent culture with clear accountabilities, strong leadership, and challenging opportunities for personal career growth.

For more information about TransAlta, visit our website at, www.transalta.com.

About the Role

TransAlta is currently recruiting for a Senior Hydro Performance Engineer to join our corporate Performance and Reliability team. In this role, you will lead performance optimization efforts across our hydro assets with a focus on long-term value creation. You’ll blend your experience, operational insights, and a strategic mindset to drive innovation, improve asset performance, and support moving our operations to a data driven decision making approach. You will analyze and engage the appropriate teams to resolve long standing reliability/performance issues and deliver strategic opportunities to improve hydro asset performance.

Relocation assistance will be considered for the right candidate.

Working Conditions

This is a full-time salaried role based out of our Head Office in Downtown Calgary, with the flexibility for a hybrid work schedule.

Domestic and international travel to plant and vendor sites as needed.

What You Will Do

As the Senior Hydro Performance Engineer in Performance and Reliability Engineering, you will use your experience to:

• Drive Asset Strategy: Lead initiatives to enhance hydro plant performance and align operations with business goals.
• Address Bad Actors: Work with operations teams to identify, evaluate, and resolve long standing reliability issues at a unit or system level
• Conversion Efficiency Optimization: Analyze and assess areas to improve conversion efficiency through operational strategies, repair, or replacement.
• Assess Risk: Identify, communicate, and recommend mitigation of enterprise risks which are related to engineering practices, standards, procurement, maintenance, testing and operations.
• Leverage Analytics: Partner with TransAlta’s Monitoring and Diagnostics function to improve asset performance and reliability monitoring.
• Collaborate Cross-Functionally: Partner with engineering, market optimization, operations, and regulatory teams to integrate performance insights into corporate planning.
• Lead and Influence: Present strategic recommendations, develop business cases for capital projects, and contribute to long-term planning and investment decisions.

What We Need From You

To be successful in this role, we are looking for applicants with the following skills, mindset, and qualifications/experience:

• Bachelor’s or Master’s degree in Mechanical or Electrical Engineering
• Registered or eligible to register as a Professional Engineer in Canadian jurisdictions
• 7+ hydropower or relevant experience
• Deep understanding of hydropower plant operation and major mechanical components/systems
• Expertise with major component condition assessments, impact of runner operating profile on maintenance, and damage mechanisms
• Experience with hydro performance testing
• Experience with runner design and replacements
• Experience with runner repair procedures and stress modeling is considered an asset
• Familiarity with predictive maintenance techniques, condition monitoring systems, and asset performance monitoring tools
• Knowledge of asset management concepts, business risk assessment processes, equipment condition assessment and due diligence methods
• Knowledge of water management constraints, dam safety constraints, and regulatory drivers for hydro assets is considered beneficial
• Experience with business case development and delivery
• Excellent communication skills, both written and verbal, to effectively convey complex topics collaborate with cross-functional teams, and present findings/recommendations to both technical and non-technical stakeholders
• Ability to work independently, prioritize tasks, and manage/drive multiple projects simultaneously
• Proficient in core office programs (i.e.: MS office) and capable of learning key position specific applications.
• Demonstrated ability to build trust in relationships with internal and external counterparts including customers, vendors, and other project stakeholders
• Leadership of diverse teams
• Ability to effectively represent the company at public events

Other Requirements

• This is considered a safety-sensitive position, therefore successful completion of pre-employment testing is a condition of employment
• Strong team player who is dedicated and committed to team success
• Motivated and committed to success
• Available and able to travel within North America as required
• Available to attend customer, corporate and stakeholder events
• Available to work extended hours to meet tight deadlines and commitments, when required

What We Offer

We offer our employees comprehensive and flexible benefits, competitive compensation, annual incentives, and a rewards program. Here are some highlights of our total rewards package:

• Competitive compensation
• Annual incentive program
• Pension plan with company-matching options
• Comprehensive and flexible benefits for you and your family
• Vacation and personal days
• Employee Rewards Programs
• Annual Wellness Payment

To learn more about how we can energize your future, check out our new Employee Experience Booklet.

Become part of our TransAlta team today! We look forward to reviewing your application. All applications will be reviewed in a timely manner to the best of our abilities. We appreciate your patience and understanding during the recruitment process. Our commitment is to attract and retain the best talent. Some positions may require the successful completion of one or more background checks such as criminal, medical, or compliance. If these verifications are needed, they will be indicated on the job offer.

Don’t meet every single requirement? Studies have shown that women and people of color are less likely to apply for a job unless they meet every single qualification. At TransAlta, we are dedicated to building an inclusive, diverse workforce where you can show up every day as your true, authentic self. So, if you’re excited about this role but your qualifications and experience don’t quite tick every box, we encourage you to apply anyways. You might just be the candidate we are looking for.

Our Commitment to Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion

It is our collective mission to ensure that every single employee feels a sense of inclusion and belonging and can show up to work as their true authentic self. TransAlta is committed to hiring a diverse workforce including women, Indigenous Peoples, persons with disabilities, members of visible minorities, and members of the LGBTQ2+ community. TransAlta believes that diversity enhances the quality of its performance.