Senior Solar Project Engineer II

Nexamp•Chicago, IL

15d•$130,000 - $140,000•Hybrid

About The Position

Nexamp is seeking to hire a Senior Solar Project Engineer II to join it's Project Engineering team. In this role, you will lead technical execution of solar power and energy storage projects, from initial development to the completion of construction. You'll manage and optimize design and engineering packages, ensuring projects meet schedules and minimize costs effectively. Your leadership will extend to developing expertise in technical areas, spearheading new product and technology initiatives, and managing relationships with vendors and engineering consultants. With a focus on leading asset performance modeling, risk mitigation, and generally supporting project teams, your role is critical in driving Nexamp's mission forward. Join us to shape the future of sustainable energy with your project management skills and technical acumen. We are accepting candidates across our hub offices of Boston, MA and Chicago, IL, where you will be hybrid. You will report to the Manager, Project Engineering.

Requirements

Degree in Engineering or equivalent education/certification background.
NABCEP certification and/or Engineer-in-Training (EIT) credential required.
5+ years of experience in solar project engineering and/or design, including at least 2 years supporting the design, optimization, and construction of grid-tied energy projects—preferably solar, battery energy storage systems (BESS), or wind.
Experience working with third-party engineering firms to deliver construction-ready engineering drawings, calculations, and specifications.
Familiarity with the Distributed Generation (DG) or Community Solar landscape, with an understanding of how it differs from C&I and Utility Scale PV.
Knowledge of utility, state, or regional differences that affect PV project execution.
Demonstrated leadership or decision-making responsibilities across the permitting, interconnection, construction, and/or closeout phases of PV or BESS projects.
Strong knowledge of relevant design codes, including the National Electric Code (NEC), International Building Code (IBC), International Fire Code (IFC), and related standards.
High proficiency in PVSYST software, with the ability to explain key inputs and outputs for DG, C&I, and/or Utility Scale PV systems.
Strong understanding of power engineering principles related to PV and BESS projects.
Working knowledge of structural loads in PV and BESS design and common structural mitigation strategies.
Moderate understanding of civil engineering and construction practices for PV and BESS.
Basic understanding of overcurrent protective device (OCPD) coordination.
Familiarity with the design and operation of major PV and BESS components and the ability to review and approve equipment prior to procurement.
Experience applying value engineering and project optimization techniques to enhance system performance and cost-efficiency.
Ability to anticipate and address construction challenges during early project phases.
Working knowledge of AutoCAD software.
Moderate proficiency in Microsoft Word, Excel, and PowerPoint.
Commitment to Nexamp's mission and have a passion for solving tomorrow's climate crisis today.
Demonstrated experience in effectively communicating information, ideas, and perspectives with people inside and beyond your organization.
Experience in showcasing initiative to make improvements to current work, processes, products, and services across the organization.
We value accountability and an ownership mentality.
Ability to ask appropriate questions, analyze data, identify the root causes of problems, and present creative solutions.
Expertise in building strong internal and external relationships with customers and stakeholders, instilling trust and loyalty across the industry.
Eagerness to develop a fundamental understanding of how Nexamp operates and then apply that knowledge effectively to inform business decisions.

Responsibilities

Manage engineering and design to support development, permitting, interconnection, construction, and closeout phases for solar power plants and energy storage systems.
Create drawings as needed to maintain project timelines.
Support construction of engineering designs.
Lead the activities of the project team to deliver optimized design and engineering packages to meet the requirements of the project schedule.
Make decisions on project- and portfolio-level tradeoffs to minimize LCOE and achieve project objectives.
Provide technical support to Nexamp development from lead generation to NTP.
Communicate with code-enforcement personne l, provide technical context for development conversations with AHJs, complete auxiliary engineering analyses as needed to advance projects (subsurface engineering investigations, glare studies, FAA reports, noise studies, etc.).
Independently develop and defend engineering opinions on any aspect of the PV design process (Energy modelling, Civil/Electrical/Structural design, PV+BESS, etc.).
Lead technical due diligence on grid-tied generation asset designs.
Provide technical support to Nexamp construction from NTP to Substantial Completion.
Drive resolutions for RFIs and technical challenges, review submittals, attend weekly construction calls as needed, and support project closeout tasks.
Coordinate project-level engineering activities between teams (Electrical, Civil, SCADA, & Design Engineering).
Provide guidance and support to external engineering teams, by resolving technical issues and reducing ambiguity while weighing the impact to project risks, performance, and cost.
Identify, track, and mitigate project risks by maintaining a project risk register and communicating risks to stakeholders.
Own energy production modelling for Nexamp assets utilizing a range of modelling software (PVSYST, Helioscope, SIFT, PVCase Yield, etc.).
Review and approve equipment drawings and specifications for procurement.
Review project drawings for constructability and code-compliance.
Develop and maintain design/construction code expertise.
Track anticipated code updates and analyze their impact on Nexamp’s Engineering standards and Procurement strategies.
Develop subject matter expertise in a technical focus area to support objectives of the engineering department.
Lead new product and technology research initiatives; present findings and conclusions to senior leaders.
Lead process improvement initiatives and own change management.
Develop and manage relationships with a network of vendors and engineering consultants for the entire project life cycle.
Support training of engineering department personnel and development of design drawing libraries.
Perform site visits during construction for project assessment.