Senior High Voltage Engineer

The Senior HV Engineer is a critical team member on the utility scale engineering team. They will be responsible for HV engineering support during development, pre-construction, construction, and commissioning for high voltage facilities (substations, transmission lines, and interconnection switchyards) that are part of PV and BESS power plants. They will work with the PV Project Engineer to guide consultants and EPC’s towards the design and construction of the high voltage facilities. The Senior HV Engineer will also lead the late-stage interconnection process for utility scale PV and BESS projects from the facilities study phase to GIA negotiations, including leading negotiations with the transmission owner towards interconnection facilities, and will lead long-term construction coordination during development and preconstruction.

The Senior HV Engineer is a multi-faceted role that offers a lot of growth opportunity within a growing team and pipeline. This opportunity requires a critical thinker and strong communicator as they will be collaborating across multiple project teams and audiences of varying technical backgrounds. This role also requires someone who possesses and/or can build relationships with electric utilities, consultants, and HV equipment suppliers. The Sr. HV Engineer reports to the Sr. Director of Engineering.

Sol Systems is a leading solar energy firm based in Washington, DC, dedicated to building a more sustainable future. Founded in 2008, the company deploys renewable energy infrastructure across the United States, with a specific focus on ensuring that these projects have a positive economic impact on the communities in which they operate. The company has financed or developed over $2 billion of solar energy assets to date. We work with some of the largest corporations in the world to achieve a carbon-free and sustainable future.

Key Responsibilities:

• Support Development, Preconstruction, and Construction project teams in HV scope alignment to the interconnection requirements and assist with coordinating with the RTO/utility until the projects are handed over to Asset Management
• Coordinate with Sol Project Engineers to help facilitate Owner’s Engineer reviews of HV designs by the EPC or consultants
• Review power system studies such as load flows, short circuits, harmonics, TOV, insulation coordination, etc.
• Procurement support to develop or obtain from consultants specifications for HV equipment such as a GSU and HV breaker and FAT witness coordination.
• Review vendor drawings and designs for HV equipment including breakers, transformers, SCADA, and Protection equipment to ensure design meets GIA, RTO, and TO requirements.
• Manage interconnection from the Facilities Study stage through GIA negotiation and thereafter including direct interface with the transmission owner during design and construction of interconnection facilities.
• Provide interconnection upgrade scope, cost and schedule estimating. Advise on self-build cost saving potential.
• Review proposed interconnection facilities scopes and fees and negotiate with the transmission owner to optimize towards least cost or project optimal interconnection facilities.
• Support M&A and origination teams by reviewing interconnection studies and Generator Interconnection Agreements, and identify possible red flags or fatal flaws
• Travel up to 10% may be required for site visits during development, and construction. Most projects are located in the Midwest.

A successful candidate will possess the following competencies, skills and attributes:

• B.S. Electrical Engineering with emphasis on Power Systems, or similar concentration required
• 3+ years of any combination of HV substation design experience, transmission design, or protection and control design experience required
• Strong communication skills and ability to lead technical discussions among transmission owners, consultants, EPC’s, and internal stakeholders
• Working knowledge of HV electrical principles, including HV & MV equipment, protection system coordination and relaying principles required
• Ability to read and interpret general arrangement, one-line, control schematics and other drawings for HV design and equipment.
• Experience with transmission level Generation interconnection processes in at least one of the following: MISO, PJM, SPP, ERCOT preferred
• EIT certification preferred
• PE license preferred
• Working knowledge of industry standard design codes such as National Electric Safety Code (NESC), National Electric Code (NEC), IEEE 1547, IEEE 2800
• PSSE, PSCAD, ETAP, AmpCalc, CDEGS, SKM, or Aspen modeling experience preferred
• AutoCAD software design proficiency preferred

Location: This is a full-time hybrid role and will be based in our Washington, DC office.

Commitment & Compensation: Compensation and title will be commensurate with experience. In addition, Sol Systems provides health insurance, retirement benefits, partial gym reimbursement, transportation benefits, education benefits, paid vacation and federal holidays, plus the opportunity to work in an entrepreneurial environment.

To Apply: Please submit a resume, cover letter and salary requirements. Applicants that are missing items from this list will not be considered.

Deadline: We hope to hire for this position immediately and will review applicants on a rolling basis.

Sol Systems is an equal-opportunity employer, and does not discriminate based on gender, race, ethnicity, orientation, creed, or other trait. Sol Systems supports and encourages candidates of all backgrounds to apply.