Project Engineer - IPT

The Solar PV Project Engineer provides management & oversight to the engineering processes required to advance commercial scale projects from the Preliminary Design phase through the construction process. They manage and coordinate all internal & external engineering design efforts, manage the design process, interact with AHJ & utility needed to support both permitting and interconnection efforts. The Project Engineer is also the primary party responsible for coordination with the Independent Engineer at the end of the project to obtain necessary documentation to close project financing.  

Essential Duties and Responsibilities: 

• Coordinate with structural, electrical, geotechnical, environmental, and civil Professional Engineers during design process to assure the design meets technical and code requirements. Manage professional engineer review process to obtain engineering deliverables. 

• Work closely with and manage 3rd party professional surveyors to document existing site conditions, local and federal codes, underground utility locations and requirements for construction. 

• Participate in meetings and technical presentations to customers, investors, and PV technical community. 

• Provide engineering/technical input and direction to site evaluation and characterization, permitting, power purchase agreements, interconnect agreements, financial modeling, and other project development aspects. 

• provide technical support and management of the interconnection process to place the system in service (receiving PTO) 

• Review specifications for purchases of materials or equipment. Manage and work closely with equipment vendors to identify technical challenges and create innovative solutions. 

• Identify appropriate equipment for use in PV systems and perform technical qualification of vendors. 

• Inspect completed installations and observe operations to ensure conformance to design and equipment specifications and compliance with NEC, operational, and safety standards. 

• Provide on-going technical support to project construction team during construction of PV systems. 

• Maintain constant communication with key members of Sales and other departments as needed to ensure optimal system design, including design workload reporting for forecasting and scheduling. 

• Provide engineering and/or technical input and direction relevant to site evaluation and characterization, permitting, Power Purchase Agreements, Interconnection Agreements, financial modeling, and related project development tasks.  

• Perform electricity tariff analysis, electricity bill analysis, and load versus energy generation analysis. 

• Perform site visits and inspect solar PV systems under construction to confirm they are being built according to the plans and in compliance with all codes, standards, and SSI specifications. 

• Inspect completed installations and observe operations to ensure conformance to design and equipment specifications and compliance with NEC, operational, and safety standards. 

• Review and respond to submittals and RFIs from subcontractors and EPC partners. 

• Provide support to other engineering roles (Development, Design, or Project) and other departments within SSI as directed. 

QUALIFICATIONS: 

• BS or MS degree in an engineering discipline from an ABET Accredited institution, (i.e., BSEE, BSME, BSCE, BSChE) – Electrical Engineering, Energy Engineering, or Renewable Energy Engineering degrees are preferred. 

• 2-5 years minimum engineering experience; minimum of one year of large-scale solar PV engineering experience.  

• NABCEP PV Installation Professional (PVIP) or PV Design Specialist (PVDS) Certification (PVIP is preferred) 

• Excellent analytical and problem-solving skills. 

• Excellent verbal and written communication and interpersonal skills are required. 

• Organized with the ability to simultaneously manage multiple design projects. 

• Expert level of proficiency working with current AutoCAD, PVsyst, HelioScope, Google Sketch-up, PVcase and Microsoft Excel software versions, as well as MS Office suite. 

POSITION ROUTINELY INTERFACES WITH: 

• Customers and the general public 

• Engineering team 

• Sales and Business development team 

• Construction and estimating department 

• All employees, including Senior and Executive Management 

PHYSICAL DEMANDS: 

 
Conducts work in both a field-type environment and in a professional office setting with local travel to jobsites to conduct inspections. 
Physical working conditions may involve the following: 

• Lifting up-to 50 pounds. 

• Extended periods of sitting, walking, standing, reaching, and/or bending. 

• Extended periods of reading fine print on a computer or in paper-based format. 

NON-PHYSICAL DEMANDS: 

 
Routine aspects of this position may require the following non-physical demands: 

• Analytical and logical reasoning. 

• Problem solving and researching skills. 

• Time management and organizational skills. Self-driven and able to work independently with guidance.  

• Communication skill within office and remote co-workers  

• Full time in-office  

• Professional decorum in a diverse, inclusive environment working environment. 

POTENTIAL HAZARDS: 

. 
Routine aspects of this position may place the incumbent in situations where they may be susceptible to potential hazards from the following: 

• Trips, slips and/or falls while on customer property. 

• Chemical abrasives used in office and kitchen cleaning. 

• Lifting items up to 50 pounds in weight. 

• Other hazardous conditions on customer premises, not otherwise defined here. 

Please note this job description is not designed to cover or contain a comprehensive listing of activities, duties or responsibilities that are required of the employee for this job. Duties, responsibilities, and activities may change at any time with or without notice.