Senior Electrical Engineer - Solar PV & Battery Energy Storage Systems

About the role

Timmons Group is seeking an experienced Senior Electrical Engineer to join our Energy team supporting utility-scale solar photovoltaic (PV) and Battery Energy Storage System (BESS) projects.

The successful candidate will serve as a senior technical resource responsible for the electrical engineering and design of utility-scale PV and BESS facilities from conceptual and preliminary design through issued-for-construction (IFC) documents and construction support. This position will focus on electrical system design, engineering calculations, equipment application, technical review, and multidisciplinary design coordination.

The ideal candidate will have strong experience with medium-voltage power systems and be capable of independently developing and reviewing complex electrical designs while providing technical guidance to other engineers and designers.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities include, but are not limited to

• Perform and lead the electrical engineering and design of utility-scale PV and BESS projects from conceptual design through IFC and construction support.
• Develop and review electrical one-line diagrams, three-line diagrams, wiring diagrams, equipment layouts, grounding plans, cable schedules, details, specifications, and construction documents.
• Design PV electrical systems including:
• DC collection systems
• Module stringing and DC conductor sizing
• Inverter systems
• Inverter loading and DC/AC configuration
• Low-voltage AC systems
• Medium-voltage collection systems
• Grounding and bonding
• Auxiliary power systems
• Electrical balance-of-system equipment
• Design BESS electrical systems including:
• Battery and power conversion system (PCS) interfaces
• PCS and inverter configurations
• Medium-voltage transformers
• Switchgear and switchboards
• Medium-voltage collection systems
• Station and auxiliary power
• Grounding and bonding
• Electrical balance-of-system equipment
• Develop underground and overhead medium-voltage collection systems, including system configuration, routing, conductor and cable sizing, equipment locations, pole layouts, risers, and overhead-to-underground transitions.
• Perform and review electrical engineering calculations, including:
• Cable and conductor sizing
• Cable ampacity and thermal analysis
• Voltage drop
• Load flow
• Short-circuit calculations
• Grounding calculations and studies
• Equipment ratings and application
• Transformer sizing
• Auxiliary load calculations
• AC and DC system losses
• Develop electrical equipment requirements and technical specifications for inverters, PCS equipment, transformers, switchgear, reclosers, breakers, disconnects, cables, conductors, and other major electrical equipment.
• Review manufacturer drawings, equipment data sheets, technical submittals, and vendor documentation for compliance with project requirements.
• Evaluate equipment configurations and electrical design alternatives and provide recommendations based on system performance, constructability, reliability, and cost.
• Coordinate electrical interfaces with project substations, gen-tie systems, utility interconnections, protection and controls, SCADA/communications systems, and other project infrastructure.
• Coordinate electrical designs with civil, structural, geotechnical, substation, transmission, and other engineering disciplines.
• Apply applicable electrical codes, standards, utility requirements, and project-specific technical requirements to the design.
• Perform senior-level technical reviews of electrical calculations, drawings, specifications, equipment schedules, studies, and other engineering deliverables.
• Participate in design reviews and ensure electrical designs are complete, coordinated, constructable, and technically sound.
• Identify and resolve complex electrical design issues during engineering and construction.
• Respond to RFIs, review electrical submittals, and provide technical support during project construction and commissioning.
• Provide technical guidance and mentorship to electrical engineers and designers.
• Assist with the development and continuous improvement of electrical design standards, calculation templates, design tools, details, specifications, and QA/QC procedures.

Skills/Requirements of a successful candidate include but are not limited to:

• Bachelor of Science degree in Electrical Engineering (BSEE) from an accredited engineering program.
• Minimum of 7 years of electrical engineering experience, with progressively increasing technical responsibility.
• Demonstrated electrical engineering experience with utility-scale solar PV, BESS, power generation, substations, industrial power systems, or other medium- and high-voltage power systems.
• Strong working knowledge of medium-voltage power distribution and collection systems.
• Experience developing and reviewing electrical calculations, one-line diagrams, equipment layouts, collection systems, grounding systems, cable schedules, wiring diagrams, specifications, and construction documents.
• Working knowledge of electrical equipment including transformers, switchgear, breakers, reclosers, disconnect switches, inverters, PCS equipment, cables, conductors, and grounding systems.
• Strong understanding of electrical engineering principles and applicable industry codes and standards.
• Ability to independently develop technical solutions and exercise sound engineering judgment.
• Ability to review the work of engineers and designers and provide clear technical direction.
• Strong technical communication skills and the ability to coordinate effectively with other engineering disciplines, equipment vendors, contractors, and clients.

Preferred Qualifications

• Professional Engineer (PE) licensure.
• Direct electrical engineering experience with utility-scale solar PV and/or BESS projects.
• Experience designing projects from conceptual engineering through IFC design and construction support.
• Experience with 34.5 kV or similar medium-voltage collector systems.
• Experience with both underground and overhead medium-voltage collection systems.
• Detailed knowledge of PV inverters, BESS PCS equipment, battery systems, medium-voltage transformers, switchgear, reclosers, and associated electrical balance-of-system equipment.
• Experience performing or reviewing:
• Load flow studies
• Short-circuit studies
• Cable ampacity studies
• Grounding studies
• Voltage-drop calculations
• Equipment-duty evaluations
• Experience with industry-standard electrical analysis tools such as ETAP, CYMCAP, or equivalent power-system modeling software.
• Experience applying the National Electrical Code (NEC), National Electrical Safety Code (NESC), IEEE standards, and applicable utility requirements to renewable-energy projects.
• Experience coordinating electrical designs with substation, utility interconnection, protection and controls, SCADA, civil, structural, and transmission engineering disciplines.
• Experience providing technical mentorship and reviewing the work of junior electrical engineers and designers.

Additional Information

We are looking for high energy, creative, flexible, patient, self-starters who are willing to work at a dynamic pace. Candidates must share a commitment to our company's Vision, Mission and Shared Values.

Timmons Group is a full-service engineering and technology firm recognized nationally as a "Best Firm to Work For" by CE News. With 22 offices throughout the Mid-Atlantic, Southeast, and South Central United States, we provide civil engineering, environmental, economic development, GIS/geospatial technology, landscape architecture, and surveying services to a diverse client base.

As one of Engineering News Record's (ENR) Top 500 Design Firms for over 30 years, we are dedicated to being an employer of choice and providing our people with the best resources, technology, and culture to help them thrive in an engaging career development setting.

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