Senior Associate DER Engineer

The Opportunity

We are seeking a skilled Senior Associate Electrical Engineer to join our expanding Engineering and Design division in Richmond, VA.

Key Responsibilities

• Team Leadership & Development

  • Mentor and train project engineers on DER-specific design principles and technical skills.
  • Identify and allocate engineering resources to optimize project timelines and meet critical deadlines.
  • Conduct regular performance and goal reviews with direct reports, aligning them with project objectives.

• Project & Design Management

  • Lead the design and implementation of various DER projects, including solar, battery storage, microgrids, and other renewable energy solutions for key clients and industry sectors.
  • Collaborate with internal teams and external partners to establish and uphold best practices in DER project design and delivery.
  • Oversee engineering analyses that support both pre-design efforts and sales proposals, ensuring alignment with DER objectives.

• Technical Excellence & Standards Development

  • Develop and maintain technical standards for DER projects, contributing to the continuous improvement of design methodologies.
  • Provide clear direction on DER design requirements and deadlines to team members, coordinating work to maintain project scope, schedule, and budget.
  • Support the professional growth of junior engineers through training in DER design standards and project-specific technologies.

• Client & Stakeholder Engagement

  • Foster strong relationships with clients by understanding their unique DER needs and aligning project scopes and solutions accordingly.
  • Coordinate with utility providers to ensure seamless interconnection and compliance for DER installations, proactively addressing any technical or regulatory challenges.
  • Engage in strategic initiatives within the Engineering & Design group to drive DER innovation and enhance service delivery.

• Project Oversight & Financial Accountability

  • Collaborate with estimating and construction teams to optimize project budgets and reduce costs, particularly on design-build DER projects.
  • Participate in all phases of project planning and execution, from proposal preparation and scope alignment to monitoring financial health and achieving project milestones.

What You Need To Succeed

• Bachelor’s degree in engineering or equivalent work experience required.
• Professional Engineer registration and ability to acquire licensure in additional states required.
• Experience in the design and construction of Commercial & Industrial (C&I) Solar Photovoltaic (PV) systems design, PV + Storage systems designs, Battery Energy Storage System (BESS) design, and Microgrid designs.
• Utility Scale PV system design experience preferred.
• Ability to evaluate power systems and perform studies for arc flash, short circuit current, coordination, underground cable thermals, grounding, and load flow analysis.
• Medium-Voltage (15 kV and below) design experience required, protective relaying experience preferred.
• Advanced knowledge of Microsoft Office Suite and Microsoft Teams.
• Working Knowledge of Bluebeam.
• Working Knowledge of Procore.
• Working Knowledge of AutoCAD and Revit required.
• Skilled in electrical analysis software (SKM, EasyPower, ETAP, etc.).
• Strong written and verbal communications skills.
• Efficient time management, ability to handle multiple projects simultaneously while delegating to Junior engineers.
• Development of Engineering fee proposals, resource plans, and provide financial analysis of projects.