The Principal Engineer, Projects is a senior technical leader supporting the development, construction and delivery of large-scale renewable energy projects across Australia, including solar, wind and battery storage. This role provides expert technical guidance across the full project lifecycle, ensuring high-quality, compliant and fit‑for‑purpose engineering outcomes. Acting as a trusted advisor to project teams, you will contribute to complex technical decision‑making, manage engineering risks and support the continuous improvement of technical capability across the business.
Key Responsibilities:
Technical Review & Assurance
Lead and undertake independent technical reviews of project designs, layouts, specifications and engineering deliverables across development and construction phases.
Provide technical assurance that designs meet VEA standards, contractual requirements, regulatory approvals and industry best practice.
Review and challenge assumptions, performance modelling, layouts, equipment selection and design decisions to optimise outcomes and minimise risk.
Support technical sign‑off processes and recommendations to senior management as required.
Project Engineering (Development & Construction)
Provide senior technical input across project development and delivery, including preliminary design, detailed design review, construction and commissioning support.
Contribute to and review technical and contract specifications (RFQs, EPC, equipment supply, O&M, grid connection).
Support project teams with complex engineering issues, trade‑off assessments and problem resolution.
Undertake site inspections, audits and technical reviews during construction and commissioning as required.
Provide technical input to acquisition due diligence and new site identification activities.
Technical Risk Management
Identify, assess and advise on key technical risks throughout the project lifecycle.
Support Safety in Design processes and review technical risk registers.
Ensure appropriate allocation of technical risk within contracts and specifications.
Provide clear advice on engineering trade‑offs (cost, performance, schedule, environment, safety, long‑term O&M).
Permitting, Compliance & Standards
Provide technical input to development applications, approval modifications and regulatory submissions.
Monitor compliance of engineering designs and delivery against approvals, standards and contractual obligations.
Keep abreast of relevant legislative, grid, construction and technical standard changes impacting projects.
Mentoring & Technical Capability Development (Non‑People Leadership)
Provide coaching, mentoring and technical guidance to project engineers and junior engineers.
Act as a technical reference point across the team, sharing knowledge, lessons learned and best practice.
Contribute to continuous improvement of engineering processes, templates and standards.
Support development of technical capability without formal line management or performance accountability.
Stakeholder & Consultant Engagement
Work collaboratively with internal stakeholders including development, construction, operations, grid and commercial teams.
Provide technical interface with EPC contractors, OEMs, consultants and network service providers as required.
Review and manage outputs from external consultants from a technical quality and scope perspective (without contractual management accountability).
Prerequisites:
Bachelor of Science or Engineering, preferably with a major in Electrical Engineering
Minimum 10 years’ experience in project engineering within renewable energy or large infrastructure projects.
Demonstrated experience providing senior technical review and assurance across project lifecycles.
Advanced project engineering and design review capability
Electrical design, SLDs, protection, SCADA and communications
Renewable power plant design and performance assessment
Construction and commissioning technical support
Technical risk analysis and mitigation
Strong analytical and problem solving skills
Clear written and verbal technical communication
Ability to mentor and guide others without formal authority
Stakeholder engagement and influence at senior technical levels
Are you ready to engineer a greener future?
Skills Required
- Bachelor of Science or Engineering (preferably Electrical Engineering)
- Minimum 10 years' experience in project engineering within renewable energy or large infrastructure projects
- Demonstrated experience providing senior technical review and assurance across project lifecycles
- Advanced project engineering and design review capability
- Electrical design expertise including SLDs, protection, SCADA and communications
- Renewable power plant design and performance assessment experience (solar, wind, battery)
- Construction and commissioning technical support experience
- Technical risk analysis and mitigation capability
- Strong analytical and problem solving skills
- Clear written and verbal technical communication
- Ability to mentor and guide others without formal authority
- Stakeholder engagement and influence at senior technical levels
What We Do
Vena Group is a leading green solutions provider driving the energy and digital infrastructure transition across the Asia-Pacific region. Through its renewable energy and digital infrastructure arms, Vena Energy and Vena Nexus, Vena Group delivers integrated, sustainable, and cost-effective solutions that enable the region’s transition to a low-carbon, AI-driven future. With a local presence of over 1,000 employees across 80 corporate and site offices, Vena Group is committed to advancing sustainable innovation at scale—supporting climate action and enabling a greener, AI-driven future.
