Civil Lead Engineer, Renewables

Westwood Professional Services Inc•Minnetonka, MN

About The Position

Westwood Professional Services, Inc. is seeking an experienced and detail-oriented Civil Engineering Project Lead to join their renewable energy team. The Civil Engineering Project Lead will be responsible for the overall direction, coordination, implementation, execution, quality assurance/quality control, and completion of civil engineering design on renewable projects, with a specific focus on Battery Energy Storage Systems (BESS). This role requires a strong leader who is dedicated to delivering high-level professional services to clients. Westwood's purpose is to create a better world for people through their work, transforming the energy grid, designing resilient infrastructure, and developing communities that will flourish today and for future generations. With over 50 years of experience and a legacy of innovation, Westwood stands at the forefront of its industry, dedicated to understanding the unique needs of the markets they serve. Their approach revolves around people, committed to building a culture that attracts, retains, and develops high performers, valuing relationships, innovation, dedication, initiative, and growth. They foster a collaborative “One Team” mentality and customize their technical capabilities and geographic reach to meet clients' needs. Safety, sustainability, and operational excellence are intrinsic to their identity. Westwood is deeply invested in the communities they serve, aiming to enrich lives and create a lasting impact. In 2025, Westwood was recognized as #77 on the ENR Top 500 Design Firms and ranked #5 for ENR's Top Design Firm for Solar, #6 for Battery Storage, and #3 for Wind.

Requirements

4+ years of experience
Bachelor’s degree in engineering from an ABET/EAC-accredited program
Professional Engineer (PE) licensure
Advanced knowledge of engineering principles, communication (formal and informal), teamwork, and leadership
Strong attention to detail and commitment to quality
Effective time and workload management skills, including planning, organizing, and prioritizing tasks
Working knowledge of project management principles
Experience preparing progress reports, managing project data, and communicating project requirements
Advanced knowledge of construction drawing and specification packages
Basic knowledge of construction practices and constructability
Experience with proposal writing and project estimating
Proficiency in AutoCAD
Proficiency in 3D modeling (AutoCAD Civil 3D)
Working knowledge of Microsoft Office applications (Word, Excel, Outlook, etc.)
Commitment to lifelong learning and staying informed on contemporary issues
Ability to maintain a high standard of professionalism in all workplace interactions
Ability to lead a design team, including resource management and task delegation
Strong oral and written communication skills, including the ability to communicate effectively with technical and non-technical audiences
Ability to provide technical direction to a team
Ability to demonstrate empathy and strong listening skills
Ability to show assertiveness and a collaborative approach when resolving conflicts
Strong mentoring skills
Ability to foster a team culture aligned with organizational values
Ability to work both independently and collaboratively across multiple offices
Ability to follow firm policies, practices, and procedures diligently

Nice To Haves

Advanced knowledge of construction practices and constructability
Advanced knowledge of project management activities
Working knowledge of scheduling and project control processes
Experience with renewable energy projects

Responsibilities

Provide leadership, management, and mentorship for the design team
Plan, coordinate, and execute the engineering design for a specific service
Define project tasks, schedules, and resource requirements
Assign tasks to and direct other technical and non-technical staff
Establish goals for project deliverables and maintain QA/QC standards
Prepare budgets for assigned projects and review invoicing promptly
Communicate contractual requirements to the design team, verifying their incorporation into the design, and coordinating change orders with the Project Manager
Conduct team meetings and collaborate with other disciplines to ensure project success
Provide ongoing communication with the Project Manager regarding the project
Serve as a liaison between other engineers and the assigned design team
Remove obstacles preventing the design team from achieving their goals
Plan and schedule necessary resources needed to support projects
Collaborate with Lead Engineers and Engineering Managers to optimize workload sharing between projects and offices
Support the Project Manager with planning, monitoring, and controlling the project scope, schedule, budget, reporting, and invoicing
Support the Project Manager with project close-out activities (e.g., lessons learned)
Lead and provide quality assurance/quality control for assigned projects
Provide Engineer of Record (EOR) oversight of design tasks and final EOR review
Review plans and specifications for constructability and risk management
Review work by other members of the design team
Maintain awareness of and comply with Westwood design/CAD standards
Perform quality review of all work products for accuracy
Lead coordination with internal and external stakeholders to produce a well-coordinated and constructable design
Coordinate with clients, utilities, and code enforcement agencies
Attend internal and external coordination meetings
Lead internal design team meetings
Collaborate closely with internal teams across multiple service groups
Keep the Project Manager informed of work status, workload, problems, and progress related to your service
Support service leadership to maintain firm standards and consistency
Assist with client management and business development tasks
Maintain strong relationships with existing clients and seek opportunities with potential future clients
Build solid client contacts and foster trusting relationships to encourage repeat business
Assist with proposal preparation
Identify additional scope and revenue opportunities related to the project and participate in business development activities
Assist Market Directors as needed with marketing efforts and the creation of marketing materials
Provide clients with accurate design deliverables that closely meet contract requirements
Respond to client requests promptly
Treat all stakeholders with professionalism and respect
Assist with mentoring Project Engineers, Staff Engineers, and Technicians by providing guidance, explaining professional responsibilities, and reviewing work products
Advise service leadership on optimizing design team satisfaction and performance
Act as a technical advisor while effectively delegating design tasks
Lead and perform the design of a complete project, system, component, or process
Research, evaluate, and apply data
Prepare detailed engineering calculations
Prepare specifications and details
Prepare detailed construction drawings
Design and produce deliverables using AutoCAD Civil 3D software
Conduct research and field assessments
Prepare permit applications
Write technical reports
Create technical presentations and exhibits
Prepare quantity take-offs and cost estimates
Provide construction support (e.g., responding to RFIs, performing field inspections)
Independently lead the design team with support from service leadership and the project management team
Manage personal and design team task management and adherence to deadlines, scope, and budget