ABOUT THE ROLE
TransAlta is recruiting a Thermal Performance Engineer to support and advance the effectiveness of our corporate Performance and Reliability function. This role is a senior technical contributor responsible for improving asset performance across our generation portfolio, with primary focus on thermal assets.
As a centralized performance specialist, you will work closely with plant teams, engineering, and analytics functions to identify, analyze, and resolve performance limitations. Your work will directly inform asset strategy, outage planning, capital investment decisions, and regulatory compliance, helping maximize reliability and long term value across the fleet.
The Thermal Performance Engineer reports to the Manager of Advanced Monitoring & Diagnostics and operates as a trusted technical authority, influencing decisions through data, analysis, and engineering judgment rather than formal people leadership.
This is a full-time, salaried, safety sensitive position with flexibility to be based out of our Head Office in Downtown Calgary, Alberta, our Keephills Thermal Plant (just west of Edmonton), or any of our Ontario Thermal sites, offering a hybrid work schedule aligned with TransAlta's hybrid work policies.
Domestic and international travel to plant and vendor sites as needed.
A DAY IN THE LIFE
- Lead a High-Impact Function: Act as a fleet level thermal performance specialist, working directly with site teams to diagnose performance issues, standardize methodologies, and support consistent performance outcomes.
- Drive Asset Strategy: Align performance analysis and improvement initiatives with business objectives, informing long term asset strategy and prioritization of investment opportunities.
- Resolve Performance Challenges: Lead and support root cause analysis for persistent or systemic performance degradation, ensuring technically sound, sustainable solutions are implemented.
- Regulatory Testing: Maintain accountability for understanding and supporting regulatory requirements related to unit performance testing, including planning, execution, and documentation (e.g., RATA testing).
- Performance Testing: Partner with the Monitoring & Diagnostics function to enhance asset performance monitoring and predictive maintenance, including the transition of controllable losses and key thermal performance metrics to near real time online monitoring as AM&D capabilities mature.
- Leverage Analytics: Partner with Monitoring and Diagnostics to enhance asset performance monitoring and predictive maintenance. Specifically moving controllable losses and other thermal performance monitoring to real-time online as TransAlta matures it's Monitoring & Diagnostics function. Influence the strategy on thermal performance monitoring at TransAlta.
- Integrate Cross-Functionally: Work with engineering, operations, market optimization, and regulatory teams to embed performance insights into corporate planning.
- Influence Strategic Decisions: Develop and present performance based recommendations, support business case development, and contribute technical due diligence for capital investment and M&A activities.
- Industry Collaboration: Engage with peers in industry to stay current on performance monitoring trends and improvement initiatives.
ABOUT YOU
To be successful in this role, we are looking for applicants with the following skills, mindset, and qualifications/experience:
Qualifications:
- Bachelor's or Master's degree in Mechanical Engineering.
- Registered or eligible to register as a Professional Engineer in Canadian jurisdictions.
- 7+ years of experience in power generation, with expertise in thermal systems.
- Deep understanding of asset performance, condition assessment, and performance testing and codes.
- Familiarity with predictive maintenance, condition monitoring, and thermal performance testing software, and advanced analysis software. Specifically, etaPro, Aspen Process Explorer, and Aspen Inmation.
- Familiarity with Environmental and related testing requirements in Alberta and Ontario
- Experience with business case development and capital planning.
- Strong communication skills to engage technical and non-technical stakeholders.
- Ability to manage multiple priorities and drive cross-functional collaboration.
- Proficiency in MS Office and engineering-specific applications.
- Commitment to creating an inclusive and supportive work environment that aligns with TransAlta's values and EDI principles.
Performance Attributes:
- Demonstrated ability to work independently and provide strategic input to work plans.
- A keen interest in advancing routine monitoring to an automated function
- Commitment to digital transformation
- Adept at building trust and credibility across diverse teams and stakeholder groups.
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
- Hold a Driver's License
- Available to attend customer, corporate and stakeholder events
- Available to work extended hours to meet tight deadlines and commitments, when required
