Senior Consultant - Power Generation Technical Advisor (Denver)

At 1898 & Co., part of Burns & McDonnell, our Power & Fuels Advisory team helps utilities, developers, investors, and asset owners navigate complex decisions associated with thermal power generation assets. We combine deep engineering expertise with financial and economic analysis to support strategic decisions throughout the asset lifecycle.

We are seeking a Senior Consultant focused in technical advisory who possesses a strong understanding of thermal power generation technologies and the ability to translate technical findings into actionable business and investment recommendations. This role supports executive, operational, capital planning, and investment decisions through detailed studies, asset evaluations, economic assessments, and financial modeling.

The successful candidate will help clients evaluate the condition, performance, reliability, risk, and economic value of generation assets while developing strategies related to capital investment, maintenance planning, life extension, repowering, acquisition, divestment, and retirement decisions.

What You’ll Do

Perform and lead a wide range of technical, operational, and financial consulting studies, including:

• Independent engineering and lender's technical reviews.
• Feasibility and due diligence studies.
• Asset valuation assessments.
• Condition assessments and remaining useful life evaluations.
• Benchmarking and unit performance evaluations.
• Equipment reliability and availability studies.
• Asset management planning and maintenance strategy development.
• Life extension, repowering, retirement, and decommissioning studies.
• Generation fleet strategy and portfolio optimization assessments.

Technical & Engineering Analysis

• Evaluate the condition, performance, reliability, and operational risks of thermal generation assets, including coal, natural gas, combined cycle, simple cycle, steam generation, and supporting balance-of-plant systems.
• Analyze equipment health, outage history, maintenance practices, and operating performance to identify operational and investment risks.
• Perform engineering evaluations related to plant performance, asset life, maintainability, and long-term sustainability.
• Assess regulatory, environmental, market, and technical risks impacting generation asset operations and financial viability.

Financial & Economic Advisory

• Develop business cases supporting capital investment, refurbishment, major maintenance, life extension, repowering, replacement, and retirement decisions.
• Perform life-cycle cost analyses incorporating capital expenditures, operating and maintenance costs, fuel costs, outage impacts, and long-term economic forecasts.
• Conduct financial modeling and scenario analysis utilizing metrics such as NPV, IRR, discounted cash flow, payback period, and benefit-cost analysis.
• Quantify financial impacts associated with reliability improvements, equipment degradation, environmental compliance requirements, and operational risk.
• Support utility budgeting, capital planning, and investment prioritization efforts through technical-economic evaluations.
• Evaluate asset value, investment risks, and economic performance for utility owners, investors, and financial stakeholders.

Client Advisory & Project Execution

• Translate complex engineering findings into clear business impacts and investment recommendations for client executives, boards, utility leadership, lenders, and investors.
• Prepare technical reports, executive summaries, and client presentations that communicate risks, findings, and strategic recommendations.
• Support engineering reviews, financial assessments, contract evaluations, and transaction due diligence activities.
• Participate in client meetings and workshops to facilitate asset strategy, budgeting, and investment planning discussions.
• Assist project managers with proposal development, project planning, and business development activities.
• Mentor and develop junior consultants and engineers through technical and professional coaching.
• Provide consulting support across multiple business lines and industry sectors as needed.
• Comply with company quality standards, safety requirements, and professional practices.