Description

Applications will only be accepted through the Duke Energy Careers website (www.duke-energy.com/careers). This job posting is scheduled to close 12/15/25.

The Lead Engineer falls within the specialist level of the Engineering classification hierarchy. Employees at this level solve complex problems, manage work, and provide leadership to others in engineering areas of specialization, with minimal supervision and increased latitude for un-reviewed work.  The Lead Engineer serves in leadership roles providing guidance to others. They are also expected to have advanced skills and the ability to work independently.

This Lead Engineer position is accountable for all water resource planning and management activities on the Water Strategy, Hydro Licensing and Lake Services (WSHLLS) team. Work typically focuses on the Carolinas Region but occasionally involves water-related issues outside the Carolinas. Duke Energy’s reservoirs in the Carolinas Region are some of the company’s oldest and most important assets, as they provide essential water supplies for power plants, municipal water systems, commercial and industrial facilities, irrigation, recreation and environmental ecosystems. In short, this position provides leadership for the protection and conservation of those shared water supplies.

Specific roles include:

1.      Lead responsibility for determining, tracking changes in and making strategic recommendations to protect and enhance the Total Usable Water Storage in each Duke Energy reservoir in the Carolinas Region.

2.      Coordinating drought response for multi-use reservoir systems, including implementing various low inflow protocols and providing oversight and direction for other water users (internal and external).

3.      Representing the company on external stakeholder teams, committees, etc. involved in either long range water supply planning or management of shared water resources.

4.      Acquisition, management, interpretation and dissemination of water supply and water use-related data from various water users, resource agencies, etc.

5.      Subject matter expert for water quantity modeling and associated digital tool and technology applications, including interpreting modeling results and other technical data and determining and managing water yield for Duke Energy's reservoirs.

6.      Working with the Regulated Renewables Operating Center as requested to support compliance objectives.

7.      Reviewing and commenting on proposed legislation and regulations affecting water supplies in Duke Energy's reservoirs.

8.      Providing the lake owner's engineering review of all proposed new or expanded large water intakes and effluent discharges in Duke Energy's reservoirs, whether those facilities belong to Duke Energy or others.

9.      Reviewing proposed new or expanding power plant sites and economic development proposals to identify and assess any water supply vulnerabilities.

10. Coordinating the technical review of all proposed new or expanding line crossings (i.e., any wires or pipelines carrying electricity, petroleum, natural gas, water, sewer, etc.) and bridge crossings on Duke Energy reservoirs in the Carolinas Region to ensure compliance with the National Electrical Safety Code, navigation requirements and other applicable technical requirements in support of Lake Services’ Lake Use Permitting programs.

11.  Additional collateral duties as assigned to support the WSHLLS team’s success.

Requirements

Required/Basic Qualifications

        Bachelor’s Degree or higher in Engineering from an ABET accredited program

        8 years’ related work experience

        Professional Engineer’s License

Desired Qualifications

        Master’s degree or higher in a related field (e.g., Water Resources Engineering, Management or Administration; Hydrology; Civil Engineering; Environmental Engineering; etc.)

        In addition to desired degree, 10 years’ related work experience.