Project Design Engineer

Canadian Solar • Walnut Creek, CA

19h • $105,000 - $125,000 • Hybrid

About The Position

The Project Design Engineer will support early-stage development and engineering for Commercial & Industrial (C&I) energy storage and solar PV projects. Responsibilities include preliminary system design, site assessment, grid and interconnection review, and technical documentation to support proposals and permitting.

Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree in Electrical Engineering, Renewable Energy Engineering, Power Systems, or related field (or equivalent industry experience).
• Minimum 1–3 years of experience in distributed energy, solar, or energy storage design is preferred.
• Understanding of electrical design principles (480V/277V, 208V/120V systems, transformers, DER interconnection).
• Knowledge of battery energy storage system design, safety, and project workflows.
• Strong analytical and problem-solving abilities.
• Excellent documentation and communication skills.
• Ability to multitask and work cross-functionally in a fast-moving environment.
• Willing to travel occasionally for site visits.

Nice To Haves

• Experience with California C&I energy systems is strongly preferred.
• Familiarity with California incentive & interconnection programs (SGIP, Rule 21, NEM/NBT/A).
• Experience with microgrid or hybrid BESS-PV systems is preferred.
• Knowledge of NFPA 855, UL 9540, UL 1741, NEC Article 690 & 706 is preferred.
• Experience with ESS enclosure vendors and inverter/EPC requirements is preferred.
• PV & Energy Modeling: PVsyst, Helioscope (or Aurora Solar), SAM preferred.
• CAD Tools: AutoCAD (2D), SketchUp or similar for layout.
• Electrical Calculations: ETAP or equivalent preferred; NEC knowledge.
• Data Analysis: Excel (advanced), VBA or Python a plus.
• Utility Data & Tariff Tools: Utility API, Energy Toolbase or equivalent preferred.

Responsibilities

• Perform technical feasibility assessments, load and utility data analysis, and conceptual system design for C&I battery energy storage (BESS) and solar PV systems.
• Develop preliminary system layouts, one-line diagrams, electrical calculations, and capacity modeling.
• Conduct solar irradiance studies, shading analysis, and energy performance modeling.
• Analyze interval utility data (15-min / hourly) to evaluate load profiles, peak shaving potential, and system sizing.
• Review interconnection requirements, tariff structures, and utility programs (CPUC, IOUs, NEM, SGIP).
• Prepare preliminary bill of materials (BOM), equipment selection support, and cost assumptions for proposals.
• Perform occasional site assessments and prepare technical site reports.
• Coordinate with project development, sales, and construction teams to ensure technical alignment.
• Maintain organized project documentation and support permitting & utility submissions as needed.
• Assist in identifying BESS opportunities and portfolio design optimization.

Benefits

• Canadian Solar Inc. is an Equal Opportunity Employer (EOE). Qualified applicants are considered for employment without regard to age, race, color, religion, sex, national origin, sexual orientation, disability, or veteran status.
• The pay range for this position is $105,000.00 - $125,000.00 USD. This range represents annual base salary only, without regard to location, and does not include bonus or other incentives or benefits that may apply. The pay range for this role is subject to change.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Entry Level