Civil Engineering Technical Lead (Standards & Innovation)

Intersect; United States; Hybrid; USD 185,000 - 200,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Health coverage

Equity grant

Unlimited PTO

Parental leave

Job summary

Intersect is seeking a Development Engineer to lead civil and structural standards across its portfolio of utility-scale solar, wind, and energy storage projects. You will shape governance, specifications, and processes to ensure technical rigor and long-term value.

As a technical leader, you will collaborate with Engineering, Procurement, Construction, Asset Management, and Commercial teams to drive best practices, risk management, and continuous improvement across Intersect's growing projects

Qualifications

• 7+ years of technical civil and/or structural design experience, including 2+ years leading multidisciplinary design processes for utility-scale power projects.
• Experience developing engineering standards, specifications, governance frameworks, and continuous improvement programs.
• Strong understanding of design development, construction methods, codes and standards, and EPC contracting structures.
• Excellent written, verbal, and presentation communication skills.
• Experience collaborating across engineering, procurement, construction, operations, and commercial functions.

Responsibilities

• Lead the development and evolution of civil and structural engineering standards, specifications, design criteria, and best practices.
• Drive standardization initiatives to improve quality, constructability, efficiency, and long-term performance.
• Integrate lessons learned from project execution into scalable engineering processes and governance frameworks.
• Champion continuous improvement efforts that strengthen technical consistency and organizational effectiveness.
• Provide technical expertise to support EPC contracting, procurement, and project execution activities.

Skills

Civil/Structural design

Project management

Engineering standards & governance

Cross-functional collaboration

Leadership/mentoring

Communication

Education

Bachelor’s degree in Civil or Structural Engineering

Job description

We’re a team of friends bound together by a mission to preserve our planet for future generations through innovative energy solutions and modern infrastructure. Intersect develops, constructs, and operates the most ambitious power and data center infrastructure in the country by co-locating industrial demand with dedicated gas and renewable power generation. Intersect was acquired by Google in March 2026 and operates as an independent subsidiary. We are developing and constructing multiple gigawatts of energy and data center projects in the U.S., enabling more data center and generation capacity to come online faster. We’re on an aggressive growth trajectory and looking for people hungry to tackle the largest energy challenges on the planet.

Location & Team Gatherings

Intersect has been a fully flexible workplace since its founding in 2016. We’ve been very intentional about the way we do things. We are not work‑from‑home, hybrid, or in‑office - we are any and all of those options! Deepening social connections and offering shared experiences is a cornerstone of the way we work. We connect as a team at our Team Week experiences four times a year and at our recently established Hub locations - SF Bay Area, NYC Metro Area, NY; Denver, CO; Austin, TX; Calgary, AB; and Toronto, ON. We are currently looking for candidates located within 60 miles of any of the listed hubs to foster more in‑person connections while maintaining our flexible remote culture.

About This Role

As part of Intersect’s Development Engineering team, you’ll help shape the engineering standards, technical governance, and innovation strategies that support some of the industry’s largest utility‑scale solar, wind, and energy storage projects. This role serves as a technical leader responsible for developing and continuously improving engineering standards, specifications, processes, and contract exhibits that drive consistency, quality, and long‑term value across Intersect’s portfolio. You’ll collaborate closely with Development Engineering, Procurement, Construction, Asset Management, Legal, Finance, EPC partners, consultants, and equipment suppliers to strengthen technical rigor, improve project delivery, and advance innovative engineering solutions. Through technical leadership and cross‑functional partnership, you’ll influence how projects are designed, contracted, built, and operated while helping Intersect scale efficiently and responsibly.

Team Overview

The Development Engineering Team is a team of driven professionals who serve as the civil engineering subject matter experts (SMEs) for all projects, as well as the project engineers for solar projects. The team plays a pivotal role in managing site design from early‑stage due diligence through Issued for Construction design while supporting procurement, construction, and operational activities across the portfolio. Development Engineering partners closely with consultants, EPC contractors, and internal stakeholders to ensure projects are technically sound, economically optimized, and positioned for long‑term success. Joining this team provides the opportunity to influence some of the most impactful clean energy infrastructure projects in North America while helping establish the standards and best practices that support Intersect’s continued growth.

What You’ll Do

Engineering Standards, Best Practices & Continuous Improvement

• Lead the development and evolution of civil and structural engineering standards, specifications, design criteria, and best practices across Intersect’s project portfolio.
• Drive standardization initiatives that improve quality, constructability, efficiency, and long‑term project performance.
• Integrate lessons learned from project execution into scalable engineering processes and governance frameworks.
• Champion continuous improvement efforts that strengthen technical consistency and organizational effectiveness.

EPC, Procurement & Technical Strategy

• Improve engineering‑related EPC contract exhibits, technical requirements, and supporting documentation to align with project objectives and portfolio learnings.
• Partner with Engineering, Procurement, Construction, and Operations teams to strengthen technical risk management practices.
• Support contracting strategies that improve project execution, consistency, and long‑term value creation.
• Provide technical expertise to help resolve complex engineering and commercial challenges.

Innovation, Technology Evaluation & Portfolio Advancement

• Identify, evaluate, and advance emerging technologies, equipment solutions, and design approaches that improve project outcomes.
• Lead technical due diligence efforts, pilot programs, and implementation strategies for new technologies and methodologies.
• Monitor industry trends and assess opportunities to improve reliability, reduce costs, and accelerate project delivery.
• Foster a culture of innovation by encouraging thoughtful evaluation and adoption of new engineering solutions.

Technical Leadership

• Serve as a technical leader for civil and structural engineering standards, innovation initiatives, and continuous improvement programs across the organization.
• Promote knowledge sharing and develop scalable engineering tools, templates, and processes.
• Influence the adoption of best practices across development, design, construction, and operational teams.
• Support portfolio growth through technical excellence, collaboration, and disciplined decision‑making.

What You’ll Bring

• Bachelor’s degree in Civil Engineering, Structural Engineering, or a related discipline; equivalent practical experience will also be considered.
• 7+ years of technical civil and/or structural design experience, including 2+ years leading multidisciplinary design processes for utility‑scale power projects.
• Demonstrated success developing engineering standards, specifications, design criteria, governance frameworks, and continuous improvement programs across multiple projects or portfolios.
• Strong understanding of design development, construction methods, applicable codes and standards, permitting considerations, technical risk management, and EPC contracting structures.
• Strong project management, organizational, and stakeholder management skills.
• Excellent written, verbal, and presentation communication skills.
• Experience collaborating across engineering, procurement, construction, operations, and commercial functions.
• Strategic thinking combined with strong attention to detail and a commitment to practical execution.
• A collaborative leadership style that balances technical excellence, innovation, standardization, and business objectives.
• Curiosity, adaptability, and a continuous improvement mindset that supports organizational growth and engineering excellence.

Total Rewards

• Compensation: $185,000 - $200,000 (total compensation includes base salary + bonus in USD)
• Equity: Beyond your salary, you’ll receive an Equity Grant, giving you a meaningful stake in our parent company.
• Health & wellness: 100% premium coverage for you and your dependents on medical, dental, and vision
• Time to recharge: Unlimited PTO, plus two company-wide breaks (Fourth of July & end of year)
• Family support: Up to 12 weeks of fully paid parental leave, plus 6 additional weeks for birth parents; access to family planning and family care support through Carrot and Maven
• Mental health: Free access to Spring Health, including 5 free therapy and psychiatry sessions, plus a Headspace account for mindfulness and meditation through our physical health vendor, Wellhub+
• Perks & extras: $150 monthly food stipend, $150 monthly reimbursement for cell phone and internet, pet insurance allowance, full home office setup, free access to UrbanSitter with $625 in quarterly company‑paid credits, ActiveHero, and One Medical

Intersect maintains a work environment free from discrimination, one where all employees are treated with dignity and respect. All employees share in the responsibility for fulfilling Intersect's commitment to equal employment opportunity. Intersect does not discriminate against any employee or applicant on the basis of age, ancestry, citizenship, color, family or medical care leave, gender identity or expression, genetic information, immigration status, marital status, medical condition, national origin, physical or mental disability, political affiliation, protected veteran or military status, race, ethnicity, religion, sex (including pregnancy), sexual orientation, or any other characteristic protected by and consistent with applicable local laws, regulations and ordinances. We adhere to these principles in all aspects of employment, including recruitment, hiring, training, compensation, promotion, benefits, social and recreational programs, and discipline.

We sometimes use AI‑powered note taking tools during interviews to support our team. They're used only for documentation and don't replace human judgment.