Lead Electrical Engineer - Octopus Australia

Octopus1; Sydney; On-site; AUD 180,000 - 240,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Annual bonus

Private health insurance contribution

Job summary

Octopus1 is seeking an experienced Electrical Engineering Lead to own the electrical scope across generation, storage and grid connection for a portfolio of renewable projects in Australia. You will lead design reviews, manage contractors and coordinate across interfaces with grid, environmental and commercial teams.

The role requires 7–10 years of electrical engineering in renewables, with experience in EPC/consultancy settings and strong knowledge of HV/MV systems and PowerFactory tools.

Qualifications

• 7–10 years of electrical engineering experience on utility-scale renewables in Australia.
• Experience with EPC contractors or engineering consultancies in renewable energy projects.
• Hands-on design, review and construction delivery across HV/MV systems.

Responsibilities

• Own, define and manage electrical scope across the project lifecycle.
• Provide technical leadership and governance for HV/MV systems.
• Coordinate with grid, civil, environmental and commercial teams.
• Review design submissions, RFIs and variations with proactive issue resolution.
• Manage OEM/contractor performance from design to operations.

Skills

Electrical engineering

Renewable energy

Project management

Vendor/contract management

Education

Tertiary qualification in Electrical Engineering

Tools

DIgSILENT PowerFactory

Job description

Job Responsibilities

Own, define, structure and manage the scope, budget, schedule, HSE, risks and quality of the electrical scope - from generation/storage equipment (solar PV, wind turbines, BESS) through to grid connection, on a portfolio of projects, through pre-acquisition due diligence processes, design, procurement, financial close, NTP, construction, commissioning and operations phases.

Demonstrate technical leadership and provide mentoring/support to colleagues, with a focus on continuous improvement of electrical engineering standards, lessons learnt, and development of templates and governance processes covering HV/MV systems including:

• MV collector and reticulation systems
• Main power transformers
• AIS/GIS and switchgear
• HV cables and overhead/underground transmission lines
• Substations and electrical balance of plant
• Protection, control, earthing and power-quality studies
• Construction and installation methods/techniques of all of the above

Own electrical interfaces with civil, grid, SCADA, environmental, planning, land, commercial, construction and asset management teams, and educate key internal stakeholders with regards to electrical workstream objectives, risks and opportunities.

Contribute to project contracting strategies, scope definition, tender documentation, technical evaluation, contract negotiation and post-award engineering management.

Manage OEM and contractor performance from design through construction.

Prepare/review concept designs, single line diagrams (SLDs), cable layouts, protection philosophies, bills of materials, technical specifications, employer's requirements/principal's project requirements, design reports, design certificates and construction documentation.

Review, challenge and evaluate EPC / Owner's Engineer's / contractor's design submissions, RFIs, variations and non-conformances with a focus on proactive practical issue resolution, technoeconomic optimization and risk management.

Manage resolution of electrical-related punch list issues on operating assets post-COD.

Coordinate and manage design reviews, site inspections and technical workshops as required.

Qualifications

Ideally, you will have some or all of the following qualifications, skills and experience:

• Demonstrated electrical engineering experience (7-10 yrs) on Australian utility-scale renewable energy projects, ideally across wind, solar PV, and / or battery energy storage systems - experience on hybrid solar/BESS projects and projects involving complex generation performance standards requirements in particular highly regarded.
• Experience working for an EPC contractor, engineering consultant, utility, independent power producer or renewable energy project developer.
• Proven involvement in both pre- and post-financial close/construction project phases, acting as the owner's representative for the electrical package, and managing package delivery from design through to handover to operations.
• Practical site-based construction exposure, including contractor management, ITP/ITR processes, design change management and punch list issue resolution.
• Strong MV/HV power systems knowledge and understanding.
• Experience preparing, reviewing or managing technical documentation for tendering, contract negotiation, contractor design review and construction delivery.
• Familiarity with Australian approvals, engineering standards, construction practices and grid-connected infrastructure delivery environments.
• Previous experience as a user of power systems software packages such as DIgSILENT PowerFactory.
• Tertiary qualification in Electrical Engineering or a related discipline. Chartered status, RPEQ / NER / state registration or progress towards registration is not a pre-requisite for the role however will be highly regarded.
• Eligibility to work in Australia.

What we are looking for

Success in this role will be demonstrated through:

• A practical mindset, sound judgement and a commitment to ensuring safe, bankable and constructible renewable energy projects.
• Strong electrical workstream management skills, and willingness/desire to take ownership of budget, scope, programme, risks and quality.
• Ability to work well in teams with diverse professional/personal backgrounds - focusing as much on what needs to be done as well as how to work together best as a team.
• Commercial awareness, technical depth and comfort operating at the interface between engineering, development, procurement, finance and construction.
• Proactiveness, self-motivation, and conscious prioritization of workload in alignment with Engineering Manager.
• Clear communication with technical and non-technical stakeholders and ability to translate engineering issues into actionable recommendations.
• An appreciation of the value of quality, genuine relationships with colleagues - we spend most of our week with our colleagues so we might as well enjoy it!

What we offer

• A competitive salary package including annual bonus
• A generous contribution to your private health insurance, when you join the Octo