Project Engineer III

Willdan is a national leader in energy, engineering, and software consulting services. Since 1964, we have provided all aspects of municipal and infrastructure engineering, including building and safety, public works, public financing, planning, and construction management services. We help engineers, facility owners, municipalities, and utilities meet their long-term goals and transition communities to clean energy and a sustainable future.

Why Willdan?

•  Competitive Salary
•  Comprehensive Medical, Dental, and Vision Insurance
•  401K + employer match
•  Employee Stock Option Program
•  Employee Discount Program
•  Generous Employee Referral Program
•  Opportunities for Career Growth and Development

Willdan is seeking an experienced Project Engineer III to perform a variety of technical functions and serve as a technical project lead for assigned medium- to high-complexity energy engineering projects. This role leads project execution with limited oversight, mentors junior engineers, and supports program implementation and improvement through project-level analysis. The Project Engineer III coordinates with Senior Engineers and subject matter experts on advanced methodologies, policy interpretation, strategic initiatives, or high-risk technical issues.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities 

• Serve as technical project lead for assigned medium to high complexity client and program delivery efforts, including technical planning, scoping, scheduling, task coordination, quality control, implementation support, and results tracking within established program and project parameters.
• Coordinate and lead assigned site visits, energy and equipment audits, data collection, engineering analyses, cost estimates, and interim and final deliverables.
• Perform first-line technical development of calculations, assumptions, cost estimates, reports, and deliverables; identify technical, budget, schedule, or program compliance risks; and escalate non-standard, high-risk, or strategic issues as appropriate.
• Identify energy efficiency, demand reduction, electrification, and decarbonization opportunities; support custom and NMEC project development in coordination with Senior Engineers or subject matter experts when advanced methodology or policy interpretation is required.
• Prepare and review savings calculations, M&V support materials, technical reports, findings, and recommendations using spreadsheets and applicable tools.
• Provide project-level analysis and recommendations to support program strategy, including measure feasibility, savings impact, cost-effectiveness, implementation considerations, and process improvement opportunities.
• Maintain client and stakeholder relationships, participate in client and stakeholder meetings, and communicate technical concepts clearly to internal teams and external stakeholders.
• Train and mentor junior engineering staff and provide technical guidance to improve work product quality, consistency, and professional growth.
• Additional duties and responsibilities may be assigned by supervisor as business needs dictate. 

Job Requirements / Qualifications

• Required: 
  • B.S. in energy, sustainability, or an engineering-related discipline. 
  • 5-7+ years of experience in energy efficiency, distributed energy resources, facilities energy management, sustainability planning, HVAC design/build, HVAC controls, performance contracting, or related energy engineering work.
  • Demonstrated experience leading assigned technical project scopes, schedules, deliverables, quality control, and cross-functional tasks with limited oversight.
  • Strong understanding of energy conservation, electrification, and decarbonization principles and calculation techniques.
  • Experience with commercial building systems, including HVAC, domestic hot water, building automation and control systems, lighting, motors, pumps, variable speed drives, and/or process loads such as commercial refrigeration or data center infrastructure.
  • Working proficiency conducting facility energy assessments, data logging, identifying deemed and custom measure opportunities, and supporting project-appropriate M&V activities.
  • Ability to prepare and review savings calculations, cost estimates, life-cycle performance evaluations, technical assumptions, and customer-facing deliverables.
  • Ability to lead and track junior engineer and project team tasks and coordinate input from Senior Engineers or subject matter experts as needed.
  • Strong written and verbal communication skills; comfortable engaging with diverse stakeholders in a collaborative work environment.
  • Strong proficiency with MS Office programs, with specific emphasis in MS Excel.
• Desired:
  • EIT, CEM, CEA, CMVP Certification or PE License, preferred but not required.
  • Experience working within California utility energy efficiency programs.
  • Exposure to California energy efficiency policy, California eTRM, deemed measure package requirements, Custom & NMEC Rulebooks, CEDARS Cost Effectiveness Tool (CET), or demand-side resources cost-effectiveness analysis.
  • Familiarity with custom, deemed, and NMEC delivery platforms or meter-based analysis.
  • Familiarity with energy modeling software, such as EnergyPlus, eQUEST, EnergyPro, or self-developed spreadsheet-based tools.
  • Familiarity with electrification/decarbonization technologies, ASHRAE Level 1 and 2 energy audits, retro-commissioning, or data logging activities.

EEO Non-Discrimination and ADA Reasonable Accommodation Statement
Willdan is an equal opportunity employer. Applicants are considered for all positions without regard to race, religious creed, color, age marital status, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, citizenship status, national origin, ancestry, religion, military service or veteran status, disability, medical condition, childbirth and related medical conditions, genetic testing, reproductive status or any other classification protected by federal, state or local laws and ordinances. Willdan does not discriminate on the basis of physical or mental disability where the essential functions of the job can be reasonably accommodated. Determinations on requests for reasonable accommodation will be made on a case-by-case basis. If you need reasonable accommodation for any part of the application and hiring process, please notify us.

Willdan Energy Solutions participates in E-Verify.