Senior Electrical Engineer (Renewables)

WSP • Houston, TX

7d • $86,100 - $150,590 • Onsite

About The Position

WSP is seeking a Senior Renewable Energy Electrical Engineer for its Houston, Texas office; Boulder, Colorado, Buffalo, New York, and Austin, Texas are also considered. The role is part of WSP’s U.S. Renewable Energy team and provides technical expertise in the design, engineering, and guidance of utility-, industrial-, and commercial-scale renewable energy projects, including wind, solar, and battery energy storage systems (BESS). Work spans project due diligence, investigation, impact assessment, permitting, design, development, and construction in public and private sectors.

The engineer develops concepts, plans, models, reports, calculations, drawings, and specifications for renewable energy generating facilities and associated power distribution, regulation, protection, and control systems. Projects may involve utilities, transportation, buildings, and government clients. The role reviews electrical design calculations and substantiates documentation related to materials, installations, equipment, and construction. Work must meet applicable industry standards for quality, safety, and functionality.

The position involves coordination with clients, owners, regulators, subcontractors, and multidisciplinary project teams from project inception through completion. It also includes project delivery and construction support, technical reporting, quality assurance, and guidance and training for entry-level engineers. Schedules may extend beyond the typical workweek, and occasional project-related travel may be required.

Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree in Electrical Engineering.
• At least 5 years of relevant post-education experience as an electrical engineer delivering designs for capital projects in power generation, transmission, and distribution at utility, industrial, or commercial scale.
• Ability and willingness to obtain a U.S. Professional Engineer (PE) license within a reasonable time period.
• Proficiency in electrical engineering principles, practices, processes, design/build, and their application to permitting and project work.
• Familiarity with renewable energy systems and distributed energy resource design principles.
• Extensive knowledge of infrastructure design.
• Comprehensive knowledge of adjacent disciplines, including electrical engineering, protection and control (P&C), SCADA, and telecommunications.
• Experience with electrical infrastructure planning, design, and construction management, including rehabilitation, new-design, and construction projects.
• Knowledge of relevant engineering and electrical construction laws, codes, regulations, compliance practices, and record-keeping requirements.
• Ability to perform technical computations and calculations, interpret plans and specifications, and compare project details with applicable regulations.
• Ability to plan and conduct inspections and investigations concerning facility or structure design and construction, applying relevant regulations and policies.
• Strong interpersonal and communication skills, including the ability to express ideas professionally to engineering and non-engineering audiences.
• Self-leadership, attention to detail, multitasking, and prioritization skills in a dynamic work environment.
• Ability to work independently with minimal oversight, provide guidance and leadership to junior team or project members, and adhere strictly to QA/QC.
• Proficiency in technical writing, office automation, technical design software, technology, mathematics, predictive models, spreadsheets, and tools. Examples of design software include BlueBeam, Cymcap, CDEGS, WinIGS, PSSE, PSCAD, Aspen, SKM, and ETAP.
• Strong critical-thinking and problem-solving skills to draw conclusions from testing, data collation, computations, and statistical analysis and identify effective, economical, and logical solutions.
• Ability to coordinate and direct subcontractors and others to complete tasks safely and efficiently.
• Track record of upholding workplace safety and ability to comply with WSP health, safety, drug/alcohol, and harassment policies.
• Ability to work schedules that meet project requirements and may extend beyond the typical workweek.
• Ability to travel occasionally as project requirements dictate.

Nice To Haves

• Master’s degree in Electrical Engineering or equivalent.
• Experience managing large projects involving multiple engineers working in concert.

Responsibilities

• Collect, compile, and analyze data on renewable energy balance-of-plant components and equipment specifications for procurement packages, pricing, detailed design, and review.
• Apply NEC, IEEE, NESC, and NERC requirements and other applicable standards and regulations in design work.
• Coordinate, review, and approve electrical infrastructure design plans for smaller and less-complex projects, ensuring data integrity and compliance with applicable codes, ordinances, and regulations.
• Apply electrical engineering methods to improve project phases, including concept development, preliminary and final design, procurement, construction, and operation.
• Design electrical systems and prepare single-line and three-line diagrams, wiring diagrams, general arrangements, schematics, cable schedules, cable ampacity studies, arc-flash studies, grounding grids, and lightning protection designs.
• Develop equipment sizing, cabling, AC/DC panel, conduit, and trenching strategies that address safety and functionality.
• Review calculations for loads, equipment sizing, grounding touch and step potentials, short circuits, protective-device coordination, one-line diagrams, protective relaying, and substation switchyard layouts.
• Develop and review plans, specifications, cost estimates, construction safety and phasing plans, and electrical infrastructure layouts in coordination with owners, other disciplines, subconsultants, and clients.
• Support the management of electrical infrastructure design and construction projects from inception to completion, including rehabilitation and reconstruction, site development, grading, drainage, equipment layouts, elevations, materials, phasing, and construction safety.
• Coordinate multidisciplinary project work, including budgets, hours and expenses, task completion, material, equipment and labor quantities, calculations, permit applications, construction, compliance documentation, and regulatory and technical analyses.
• Prepare data visualizations and technical materials, including tables, charts, reports, sketches, calculations, cross-sections, and other illustrations.
• Prepare technical reports and presentations explaining research, findings, concepts, and recommendations related to design and construction issues or opportunities.
• Maintain quality and responsiveness to client requirements in alignment with Pickett’s standards, and respond to RFIs in a timely manner.
• Guide and train entry-level engineers in electrical modeling and simulations.
• Analyze and interpret field investigation data and contribute to action plans for moderate- to high-level risk mitigation.
• Interact professionally with regulatory agencies, subcontractors, and clients.
• Collaborate with engineers, planners, and infrastructure authorities on public improvement and development projects, proposals, and business development opportunities.
• Keep current with electrical engineering techniques, standards, and practices.
• Follow WSP’s Code of Conduct and related policies, and make responsible and ethical decisions concerning company resources and conduct.
• Perform additional responsibilities as required by business needs.

Benefits

• Medical, dental, vision, disability, and life coverage.
• Retirement savings.
• Paid sick leave.
• Paid vacation or other personal time.
• Paid parental leave.
• Paid time off for bereavement, voting, and/or attendance at naturalization proceedings.

What This Job Offers

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