Early-Stage Development Engineer

JOB TITLE: Early-Stage Development Engineer – Generation Development
REQUISITION: DEV000C
DEPARTMENT: Generation Development
LOCATION: Topeka, KS / Kansas City, MO / Wichita, KS
PAY RANGE: Engineer I: $68,500 - $85,600
Engineer II: $83,600 - $104,500
Staff Engineer: $93,400 - $116,800
Sr Engineer: $94,600 - $126,100

Summary
Evergy is committed to leading the Responsible Portfolio Transition. Evergy’s Integrated Resource Plan (IRP) calls for over 4 GW of new conventional and renewable generating assets over the next ten years.
Seeking a technically strong and collaborative Early-Stage Development Engineer to support the early-stage development of generation projects, including coordinating preliminary designs, environmental diligence, and local permitting efforts.
Reporting to the Manager – Early-Stage Development and Renewables Engineering, the candidate has technical responsibility to support the development of projects.
The engineer will be on the front lines of developing complex, multi-million-dollar capital projects with multi-year timeframes that span diverse disciplines. The type of projects will include both conventional and renewables generation, including combustion turbines, utility scale solar, and battery energy storage systems (BESS).

Key Responsibilities:

• Support identification and advancement of early-stage generation projects (combustion turbines, solar, and battery energy storage systems) within Evergy’s service territory in the SPP region, consistent with long-term resource and reliability objectives.
• Conduct technical feasibility evaluations for prospective sites, including site screening, conceptual layouts, technology configuration, preliminary equipment sizing, and assessment of development risks and constraints.
• Provide technical support for interconnection activities, including development of technical inputs for interconnection requests, coordination with internal transmission and system planning teams, and review of utility and SPP interconnection study results.
• Assist in development of high-level environmental and permitting strategies, including early environmental screening, identification of permitting pathways, evaluation of land use and siting constraints, and coordination with environmental and permitting consultants.
• Engage directly with landowners, local officials, and community stakeholders to support local permitting, siting efforts, and project outreach, including participation in public meetings and clear communication of project scope, schedule, and impacts.
• Coordinate and manage third-party consultants supporting early-stage development activities (engineering, environmental, geotechnical, permitting), ensuring technical quality, schedule alignment, and adherence to approved scopes and budgets.
• Provide technical input to early-stage project cost estimates and economic evaluations, including constructability considerations, capital cost drivers, and development risk factors; more experienced candidates may support or review financial and sensitivity analyses.
• Collaborate with internal cross-functional teams (real estate, legal, public affairs, regulatory, commercial, transmission, and engineering) to ensure alignment between technical development activities, stakeholder engagement, and regulatory requirements.
• Present information summaries and conclusions, technical data, risks and mitigations, and other relevant information to the appropriate internal and external stakeholders.
• Prepare technical summaries and decision-support materials for internal reviews, including documentation of feasibility findings, permitting strategy, stakeholder considerations, and recommendations for project advancement or termination.
• Support smooth transition of projects to later development or execution phases, ensuring continuity of technical assumptions, environmental strategy, permitting status, and community engagement history.

Education and Experience Requirements:
Bachelor’s degree in Engineering (Mechanical, Electrical, Civil, Environmental, or related discipline) with relevant experience in power generation, energy infrastructure, or utility scale project development preferred.

Skills, Knowledge, and Abilities:

1. Must be dependable, self-motivated, detail-oriented and have excellent organizational and proofreading skills.
2. Must possess the ability to work and communicate effectively with other company personnel and external stakeholders.
3. Must be a self-starter and be able to drive a task from concept to completion, while engaging and implementing input from the necessary stakeholders
4. Proficiency in technical writing, project scheduling (Microsoft Project or Primavera), and reading and writing technical documentation.
5. Must be able to prioritize time and multiple priorities efficiently in a high stress environment.
6. Computer skills and use of technology, including Microsoft Office.

Licenses or Certificates Required:
Must have valid driver's license.
Must have satisfactory work record including good attendance.
EIT or PE is preferred

Working Conditions:
This position is primarily office based with regular engagement outside the office to support site evaluations, consultant coordination, and community meetings within Evergy’s service territory and surrounding areas. Occasional fieldwork and local travel are required, with flexibility to support permitting activities, public outreach, and stakeholder engagement.

Evergy has a clear mission – Evergy has a clear mission – To empower a better future. Evergy chooses to live this mission by valuing People First. We know that to lead the responsible energy transition and provide affordable, reliable, and sustainable service to our customers and communities, we need a team with a variety of backgrounds, perspectives and skills. We are committed to building a team where everyone – regardless of race, color, religion, gender, gender identity or expression, sexual orientation, national origin, genetics, disability, age, or veteran status – has a voice and can bring their best every day. Evergy is proud to be an equal opportunity workplace and is an affirmative action employer.

Disclaimer: The above information has been designed to indicate the general nature and level of work performed by employees within this classification. It is not designed to contain or be interpreted as a comprehensive inventory of all duties, responsibilities, and qualifications required of employees assigned to this job.