Energy Transformation Lead

Mott MacDonald; Los Angeles (CA); Hybrid; USD 160,000 - 197,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

401k

Medical, dental, and vision insurance

Paid holidays and PTO

Parental leave

Company-paid life insurance

Job summary

A global engineering consultancy in Los Angeles is looking for a Principal Specialist to lead energy advisory services. This role requires a professional with a strong engineering background and 15+ years of experience in consulting, specifically in energy master planning and decarbonization strategies. The successful candidate will drive business growth in California and provide technical expertise across the United States. Competitive salary and comprehensive benefits package included, supporting a hybrid work culture.

Qualifications

• Minimum 15 years of professional experience in energy providing consulting services.
• Experience advising large energy users on electrification and energy transition strategies.
• PE in California is required.

Responsibilities

• Lead the growth of the energy transition business within California.
• Develop and analyze decarbonization pathways.
• Manage delivery of project work and supervise project teams.

Skills

Energy master planning

Decarbonization strategies

Feasibility studies

Client management

Team management

Education

Undergraduate and advanced degree in relevant field

Job description

At Mott MacDonald, we trust our brilliant people to do brilliant things in engineering, management, and development services, supporting multisector project work in over 150 countries. As one of the largest employee‑owned companies in the world, we pride ourselves on our ability to deliver exceptional outcomes through our network of 20,000+ talented consultants. With sustainability and innovation at the heart of all our sectors in North America, including Buildings, Energy, Transportation, and Water.

We believe in empowering our people to excel, learn, and grow, offering diverse opportunities to contribute to career‑defining work. Join us and be part of a collaborative environment where your ambitions are united with ours, and you can truly shape your story.

If you share that vision, even if you don’t meet every requirement listed, we’d still love to hear from you. We value potential and diverse perspectives as much as experience. Let’s explore how we can support your growth and help you take the next step in your career, while contributing to an exciting new chapter for Mott MacDonald in North America.

The Energy market is at a critical stage, undergoing rapid and dramatic changes with a renewed focus on resilience, reliability, transformation, and supply and demand. Mott MacDonald’s Strategy & Transformation Group has developed market‑leading recognition in their ability to advise, structure and support clients to navigate such challenges. To continue to deliver to our clients, we have set ourselves the challenging growth ambitions to further increase our market share and diversify our service offerings.

We are seeking a Principal Specialist to take a leading role in developing and leading our energy advisory services. This role is ideal for a consulting professional with an engineering / technical background and a passion for shaping teams, delivering world class projects that drive sustainable development for our communities.

The Successful Candidate Will Have a Minimum Of 15 Years Of Professional Experience In The Sector Providing Consulting Services In The Following:

• Energy master planning
• Decarbonization strategies
• Feasibility studies (techno‑economic)
• Technology pathways
• Energy procurement
• Distributed energy resources
• Energy efficiency and management

As the Energy Transition leader, you are responsible for the growth of the service and the eventual business function of that discipline in Mott MacDonald California, as well as providing technical expertise to support energy advisory growth in our wider United States business. You will be responsible for working alongside leadership to develop opportunities, lead pursuits, grow the team and oversee the delivery of the technical work.

As a project technical lead you will manage delivery of project work, supervising and directing the work of others within the project team to deliver high quality technical work.

Key Responsibilities

• Leading the growth of the energy transition business within California and contributing technical expertise to support growth across our United States market.
• Developing a pipeline of opportunities within USA
• Leading multi‑disciplinary proposals
• Developing and analyzing decarbonization pathways, and evaluating and recommending low‑carbon technologies and solutions for public and private sector clients.
• Lead assessments such as feasibility studies, techno‑economic analysis, scenario modelling, and risk evaluations.
• Manage the regional discipline business function, growing the team and managing projects within the discipline, and driving integration and collaboration across geographical and organizational boundaries
• Implement the energy transition business growth plan, monitor performance and meet the annual budget, strategic recruitment, resourcing, salary and promotion decisions for staff within the discipline
• Be a champion and technical leader for energy masterplanning and transition services regionally and globally
• Maintain strong engagement with Units and Divisions
• Plan for succession and appoint deputies and technical leaders as required
• Appoint individuals from the Early Career Professional community to support the energy transition discipline
• Manage targeted client relationships to grow the business and identify the technical resources needed to pursue, win and deliver projects.

Candidates who can demonstrate the following skills and experience will be considered for the role:

• Undergraduate and advanced degree in relevant field
• Experience advising large energy users to develop electrification, energy transition, and/or decarbonization strategies.
• 15+ years of relevant experience with both public and private sector clients
• PE in California is required
• Experience of delivering Net‑Zero strategies required
• Will have exemplary client management skills and will be able to easily maintain relationships while simultaneously growing the business and winning new work and clients.
• Extremely commercially aware.
• Have an existing network of contacts for potential projects.
• Proven record of bidding and winning work.
• Experience of managing teams of M&E Engineers and acting as project director for major projects.
• Work with other directors to shape the future of the business and develop effective strategies to further grow the business unit.

Preferred

• Sector experience: ports, aviation, buildings, transportation
• Demonstrated capability in financial modelling (IRR/NPV) and scenario planning
• Experience structuring PPAs/VPPAs
• ILFI, LEED, WELL, or Envision accreditation preferred

Benefits & Reward

At Mott MacDonald, our employees have a stake and a voice in our business, providing them with a direct connection to our success through our personal and group performance bonuses. We provide a comprehensive benefit package that includes 401k, medical, dental and vision insurance, short-term/long-term disability, paid holidays, PTO, parental leave, and company paid life insurance.

Individual pay is determined based on several factors such as work location, education, experience, and unique skills.

The expected salary for this position is $160,000- $197,000

Collaboration at Our Core

At Mott MacDonald, we believe great ideas happen when we’re together. Our hybrid approach centers on an in‑office culture, with most of your time spent collaborating face‑to‑face and a minimum of three days per week in the office. We balance flexibility with connection, so you and your manager can choose how to meet client, team, and personal commitments.

Equal opportunity is the law.

We seek to promote fair employment procedures and practices to ensure equal opportunities for all. We encourage individual expression in our workplace and are committed to creating an inclusive environment where everyone feels they have the opportunity to contribute.

• English version
• Spanish version
• Chinese version

All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, protected veteran status, creed, marital status, sexual orientation, gender identity, citizenship status or disability status.

Location(s): Los Angeles, CA, US

Contract Type: Regular (US only)

Work Pattern: Full Time

Market: Various

Discipline: Consultancy

Job Ref: 13649

Recruiter Contact: Heather Yawger