Innovation Engineer - Solar

Mortenson Construction; Minneapolis (MN); On-site; USD 77,000 - 116,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Medical and prescription drug plans (+

Dental plan

401k retirement plan with match

Paid time off and holidays

Life, AD&D, and disability insurance

Mental health resources

Tuition reimbursement

Adoption Assistance

Gym Membership Discount Program

Job summary

Mortenson Construction seeks an Innovation Engineer to join our Solar Team in Minnesota, advancing novel solutions through market research, prototyping, and scaling. You will evaluate technologies, build business cases, and collaborate across teams to translate concepts into implementable tools and processes.

The role emphasizes rapid prototyping, vendor coordination, and navigating complex regulatory environments while promoting a culture of learning from failures.

Qualifications

• Two-year technical degree or bachelor’s degree in relevant fields such as mechanical/industrial engineering or construction management.
• 2–5 years in Innovation, rapid prototyping, product development, tool design & fabrication, robotics, electrical integration, or similar fields.
• Construction experience or adjacent field preferred.
• Current driver’s license.

Responsibilities

• Review objectives, business case, market viability, and development feasibility for each concept.
• Create comparative estimates to predict development costs and financial outcomes of proposed solutions.
• Identify and partner with internal/external agents to design, manufacture, and test innovations.
• Navigate vendor, OEM, customer relationships, contracts, and regulatory environment.
• Apply legal procedures and confidentiality measures to protect IP.
• Ensure innovations are functional and accepted by operations; be transparent about shortcomings.
• Communicate and celebrate learning from failures to improve outcomes.
• Quantify positive results and highlight team contributions.
• Build relationships across backgrounds and organizational levels.
• Perform other duties as assigned.

Skills

Problem solving

Travel readiness

Microsoft 365

Web applications

Estimating

Scheduling

Change management

Education

Technical or Bachelor's degree

Mechanical/Industrial Engineering

Construction Management

Job description

Innovation Engineer - Solar

SUMMARY

Mortenson is currently seeking an Innovation Engineer to join our Solar Team to support and promote innovative solutions for business improvement. Responsibilities include evaluating new technologies, products, and processes, and communicating successes and lessons learned. The role involves advancing solutions through market research, prototyping, and scaling.

RESPONSIBILITIES

• Review and refine objectives, business case, market viability, and development feasibility for each concept
• Create comparative estimates to predict development costs and contrast potential financial outcomes of proposed solutions
• Identify and partner with internal and external agents to design, manufacture, and test innovative products, processes, or systems
• Navigate vendor, OEM, customer relationships, contracts, and regulatory environment
• Apply legal procedures and confidentiality measures to protect intellectual property
• Ensure innovations are functional and accepted by the operational team, being transparent about those that do not meet requirements
• Communicate and celebrate failures as learning mechanisms
• Quantify and communicate positive results, promoting team contributions
• Build relationships with individuals of diverse backgrounds and organizational levels
• Perform other duties as assigned

QUALIFICATIONS

• Minimum two-year technical degree or bachelor's degree in relevant fields (e.g., Mechanical Engineering, Industrial Engineering, Construction Management)
• 2-5 years' experience in Innovation, Rapid Prototyping, Product Development, Tool Design & Fabrication, Robotics, Electrical Integration, or similar fields
• Construction experience or adjacent field preferred
• Current driver's license
• Excellent problem-identification and creative problem-solving skills
• Ability to manage multiple, complex initiatives and act as an agent of change
• Strong comprehension of the built environment, tools, processes, and construction management challenges
• Advanced Microsoft 365 Suite and web application skills
• Fundamental estimating and scheduling capabilities
• Ability to travel up to 25%

A few benefits offered include:

(for Non-Craft & Non-Union Craft working 25+ hours / week)

• Medical and prescription drug plans that includes no additional cost vision coverage
• Dental plan
• 401k retirement plan with a generous Mortenson match
• Paid time off, holidays, and other paid leaves
• Employer paid Life, AD&D, and disability insurance
• No-Cost mental health tool and conciergewith extensive work-life resources
• Tuition reimbursement
• Adoption Assistance
• Gym Membership Discount Program

The base pay range for this role is $77,000 - $115,600. (Actual range is higher for the following office locations: Denver, CO and Chicago, IL - 5%, Seattle, WA, and Portland, OR - 10%, Washington, D.C. - 12.5%).

Base pay is positioned within the range based on several factors including an individual's knowledge, skills, and experience, with consideration given to internal equity. This position is eligible for Mortenson's incentive plan.

#LI-GC1 #LI-onsite

Please make note:

• Visa sponsorship is not offered for this position.
• Our postings are typically open a minimum of 5 days and an average of 44 days.

ABOUT MORTENSON

As a top builder, developer, and EPC (Engineering, Procurement, and Construction), our expertise spans markets like sports, renewable energy, data centers, healthcare, and more. We are builders at heart, working to ensure the built environment has a lasting positive impact.

Let's Redefine Possible

Equal Employment Opportunity

Your uniqueness brings new and creative perspectives to the team. Mortenson is committed to providing equal opportunities of employment (EOE) to all individuals, regardless of your race, religion, gender, national origin, age, veteran status, disability, marital status or any other legally protected category.

Other Items to Note

• Mortenson reserves the right to hire any individual without legal or financial obligation on unwanted solicitations. No agency emails, calls, or solicitations are accepted without a valid agreement.
• Must be currently legally authorized to work in the U.S. without sponsorship for employment visa status (e.g., H1B status, 0-1, TN, CPT, OPT, etc.). We are unable to sponsor or take over sponsorship of an employment Visa at this time.