Principal / Sr. Civil Engineer - Solar
Position Summary
Our client is an industry-leading engineering, procurement, and construction (EPC) organization looking for a Principal Civil Engineer who will serve as the technical leader for civil engineering across utility-scale solar photovoltaic (PV) and Battery Energy Storage System (BESS) projects. This is a critical leadership opportunity for an experienced civil engineer passionate about building, establishing standards, mentoring, and delivering high-quality, construction-ready engineering solutions. This role will provide technical oversight from project pursuit through Issued for Construction (IFC), ensuring civil designs meet the highest standards for safety, constructability, quality, schedule, and cost.
Essential Responsibilities
Oversee the preparation and review of complete civil engineering deliverables, including site grading plans, drainage and stormwater management, erosion and sediment control plans, access roads and haul roads, equipment pads and site layouts, civil details and specifications, earthwork calculations, and civil design reports
Integrate geotechnical findings, survey information, environmental constraints, and site-specific conditions into practical engineering solutions
Ensure engineering packages are coordinated, accurate, and optimized for construction execution
Develop and maintain engineering standards, templates, specifications, and best practices
Standardize processes to improve quality, efficiency, consistency, and scalability across projects
Maintain current knowledge of applicable engineering codes, permitting requirements, environmental regulations, and industry best practices
Provide technical leadership, mentorship, and guidance to engineers, designers, and junior staff
Foster a collaborative engineering culture focused on accountability, technical excellence, innovation, and continuous improvement
Establish the long-term structure, processes, and capabilities of the engineering organization
Cross-functional collaboration with Electrical, Structural, High Voltage, SCADA / Controls, Environmental, Survey, Geotechnical, Procurement, Construction, and Project Management teams to develop integrated engineering solutions
Partner closely with Preconstruction and Estimating teams by providing conceptual engineering, constructability reviews, site evaluations, and value engineering recommendations
Collaborate with construction teams to resolve Requests for Information (RFIs), evaluate field changes, review engineering deviations, and provide technical support during project execution
Lead multiple utility-scale renewable energy projects simultaneously while maintaining engineering quality, project schedules, and budget expectations
Perform quality assurance and quality control (QA / QC) reviews of engineering calculations, drawings, specifications, and supporting documentation
Drive value engineering initiatives that improve constructability, optimize earthwork, reduce costs, and enhance long-term project performance
Support permitting efforts by coordinating technical submittals, responding to agency comments, and assisting with regulatory approvals
Qualifications
Bachelor’s degree in civil engineering from an accredited university
Professional Engineer (PE) license in at least one U.S. state
8+ years of civil engineering experience supporting utility-scale solar, renewable energy, heavy civil, or large infrastructure projects
Demonstrated experience leading civil engineering efforts from conceptual design through Issued for Construction (IFC)
Strong expertise in site grading, stormwater management, drainage design, erosion and sediment control, earthwork optimization, access road design, and civil site development
Experience reviewing and applying geotechnical reports to engineering design
Experience coordinating multidisciplinary engineering teams within an EPC or design-build environment
Proficiency with AutoCAD Civil 3D and Microsoft Office applications
If you are seeking a technical leadership opportunity and thrive on providing innovative engineering solutions, connect with Stephanie Tiller at stiller@novasolutions.ai to learn more.