Design Engineer II, High Voltage (Remote)

SOLV Energy is hiring a Design Engineer II to own preliminary substation design and engineering for utility-scale solar, battery energy storage, and interconnection projects. The role coordinates technical scope, estimates, client and consultant engagement, design reviews, and handoffs to preconstruction engineering.

Responsibilities:

• Own the first-pass preliminary substation design approach for assigned pursuits and projects by reviewing all applicable requirements and project-specific inputs to define the design basis, key assumptions, equipment requirements, layouts, quantities, risks, and open items needed to support the 10% design deliverable
• Review client provided documents, technical exhibits, PPAs, interconnection agreements, utility and ISO handbooks, owner standards, and related project information to identify requirements, assumptions, risks, opportunities, and scope outside of SOLV standards
• Serve as the primary substation design subject matter expert for assigned projects and coordinate technical inputs from engineering consultants, procurement, estimating, scheduling, NERC support, revenue metering, security, and other specialty subcontractors
• Lead development of the 10% substation design, including single-line diagrams, general arrangement drawings, equipment sizing, and related refinements, to support estimating with pricing
• Coordinate with estimating and scheduling to ensure the preliminary design, quantities, scope narrative, schedule, and commercial assumptions are aligned
• Review estimates for technical completeness and identify gaps, exclusions, owner-furnished equipment, allowances, contingencies, and scope items that require clarification or escalation
• Deliver the owner reviewed preliminary substation design to estimating and BD in accordance with the project stage-gate schedule
• Participate in routine client meetings to review technical exhibits, explain preliminary design assumptions, identify risks, and clarify requirements outside of SOLV standards
• Support contractual exhibit reviews, markups, and technical responses needed to facilitate LNTP, while escalating material commitments, non-standard requirements, and significant risk
• Communicate design decisions, open items, risks, and required owner or utility inputs clearly to internal and external stakeholders
• Prepare and issue proposal requests to EORs and engineering subcontractors, including, NERC support, revenue metering, and other specialty disciplines as required
• Review received proposals for technical scope, deliverables, exclusions, assumptions, and commercial alignment
• Align EOR and subcontractor proposals with the project scope, estimate, schedule, and LNTP requirements, and submit the final proposal information to BD, scheduling, estimating, engineering controls, and other required stakeholders
• Prepare the engineering scope, proposal information, schedule inputs, EOR or consultant coordination details, assumptions, risks, and open items needed for handoff to the Preconstruction Engineering team
• Support the handoff process by clearly transferring RFIs, client comments, design risks, procurement constraints, required decisions, and unresolved technical items to the HV engineering team
• Review and approve preliminary substation design deliverables for assigned projects and verify alignment with PPA, IA, utility, ISO, owner, SOLV, AHJ, and vendor requirements
• Propose cost-effective, reliable, and constructible alternatives and resolve design challenges in collaboration with internal teams, EORs, consultants, vendors, and clients
• Maintain accurate documentation of design iterations, technical decisions, client comments, proposal revisions, assumptions, and handoff materials
• Use established checklists and standards, identify recurring issues, and recommend improvements for incorporation into department processes and standards
• Assign and coordinate work for substation designers, engineers, interns, and technical support staff on assigned projects; review work for quality, completeness, and schedule compliance
• Mentor junior team members and identify training or development needs related to substation design, protection and controls, metering, utility requirements, RFP review, estimating support, and project handoff

Requirements:

• Bachelor's degree in electrical engineering from an accredited institution
• Minimum of 3+ years of experience in electrical substation engineering
• Demonstrated proficiency in electrical design software (AutoCAD, ETAP, or similar)
• Strong understanding of substation design principles, protection schemes, and industry standards (IEEE, NEC, NESC, etc)
• Thorough understanding of local, state, and federal regulations related to electrical engineering and solar development
• Familiarity with utility interconnection requirements and contract language
• In-depth knowledge of applicable building codes, engineering principles, and industry best practices
• Effective communication, leadership, and interpersonal skills, with the ability to collaborate effectively with cross-functional teams and stakeholders
• Ability to adapt to changing priorities, manage multiple projects simultaneously, and deliver results under tight deadlines
• Applicants must be legally authorized to work in the U.S. without requiring employer sponsorship now or in the future
• Professional Engineer (PE) licensure or equivalent certification