Lead Commissioning Professional Engineer

Mission Control Energy; Portland (ME); On-site; USD 110,000 - 160,000; Full time

Job summary

Mission Control Energy in Portland, ME, seeks a Lead Commissioning Engineer to spearhead end-to-end commissioning for utility-scale solar PV projects. You will develop test plans from IFC drawings, lead junior engineers and technicians, and ensure electrical/mechanical systems meet project specs before energization and operation.

This role requires 50–75% field work across ME/NH/MA/NY/PA/DE/VA/IL/TX, strong safety discipline, and the ability to coordinate with EPCs, OEMs, and Owners Engineers.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Electrical Engineering or related field.
• 3–7 years of commissioning experience on utility-scale solar projects.
• Knowledge of NEC, IEEE 1547, IEC, and NERC interconnection standards.
• NETA ETT Certification preferred.

Responsibilities

• Lead and coordinate all commissioning activities for utility-scale solar PV projects, including inverters, trackers, SCADA/DAS, met stations, and interconnection equipment.
• Develop testing and commissioning proposals by interpreting drawings and translating design intent into test plans and checklists.
• Perform and oversee functional testing of AC/DC electrical systems and protection relays.
• Coordinate with EPCs, OEMs, the utility, and Owner's Engineer to resolve issues.
• Ensure compliance with NFPA 70E and OSHA during all commissioning activities.

Skills

Team leadership

Field engineering

Technical mentoring

Electrical testing

Project coordination

Education

Bachelor's in Electrical Engineering or related field

NETA ETT Certification (Level 3 or 4 Preferred)

PE License in ME (preferred)

Tools

Doble

Omicron

Power quality analyzers

Job description

This is more than a job — it's a chance to get in on the ground floor in an ever expanding and growing service based industry. Based out of our headquarters in South Portland Maine, we're a startup operating at the intersection of clean energy and technical excellence. The utility-scale solar industry is expanding at a pace few sectors can match, and our commissioning team is at the tip of the spear: the people who flip the switch, bring projects online, and make clean energy real. We're building a team of sharp, driven engineers and Junior Engineers who want to grow alongside a company — not just fill a seat. If you're energized by complex technical challenges, thrive in the field, and want your work to matter, we want to hear from you.

POSITION OVERVIEW

The Lead Commissioning Engineer serves as the senior technical authority on-site, responsible for the end-to-end execution of commissioning programs at community to utility-scale solar PV projects. This role develops detailed testing and commissioning proposals derived directly from engineered IFC drawings and project design documents, builds out detailed internal test plans that exceed the expectations of our clients, leads and develops a team of junior engineers and field technicians, and ensures all electrical and mechanical systems are installed, tested, and verified in accordance with project specifications, applicable utility electrical codes, and manufacturer requirements prior to energization and commercial operation.

In addition to testing & commissioning services, the Lead Engineer will also support our expanding O&M services — including building O&M proposals based on IFC sets and system design, troubleshooting and assisting in maintenance recommendations & solutions when systems are down, and overseeing yearly inspections and add-on services for our clients.

KEY RESPONSIBILITIES

• Lead and coordinate all commissioning activities for utility-scale solar PV projects, including inverters, trackers, SCADA/DAS, met stations, and interconnection equipment.
• Develop testing and commissioning proposals by interpreting engineered drawings (single-line diagrams, protection coordination studies, equipment schedules, site plans, and interconnection drawings), translating design intent into detailed test plans, procedures, and acceptance checklists.
• Perform and oversee functional testing of AC/DC electrical systems, protection relays, inverters, step-up transformers, and medium-voltage switchgear.
• Coordinate with EPC contractors, OEM representatives, the utility, and the Owner's Engineer to resolve punch list items and technical issues.
• Ensure compliance with NFPA 70E electrical safety requirements, site safety plans, and OSHA regulations during all commissioning activities.
• Document test results, prepare commissioning reports, and maintain accurate records of as-built conditions and equipment settings.
• Support energization procedures and utility witness testing, serving as the technical point of contact during grid interconnection.
• Identify and communicate project risks, schedule impacts, and technical deficiencies to the Project Manager.
• Provide technical oversight and mentorship to field commissioning technicians.
• This role is approximately 50–75% field-based with regular travel across our operating markets: ME, NH, MA, NY, PA, DE, VA, IL, TX.

TESTING RESPONSIBILITIES — PHASE 1: PRE-ENERGIZATION

• Grid Emulation Testing — Simulate utility-grid conditions to confirm inverters, switchgear, and protection equipment respond correctly before grid connection.
• DAS Pre-Qualification — Verify all Data Acquisition System devices, sensors, and communication pathways meet configuration and performance requirements.
• DAS Remote Commissioning — Complete final setup, configuration, and functionality checks of the DAS system, ensuring live site data is accessible and reporting correctly.
• Insulation Resistance Testing — Measure insulation quality on conductors, equipment, and circuits to ensure no unwanted leakage current or degradation.
• IV Curve Testing — Capture current-voltage characteristics of PV strings and modules to verify performance, identify hidden defects, and confirm expected production values.
• Open Circuit Voltage Testing — Measure string/module voltage with no load applied to confirm correct wiring, polarity, and module count.
• Inverter Cold Commissioning — Perform all inverter checks, programming, and verifications before energization, including firmware, settings, communication, and safety interlocks.
• Transformer Cold Commissioning — Inspect and verify transformer wiring, tap settings, grounding, oil levels (if applicable), and relay protections prior to energized testing.
• Main Circuit Breaker Programming — Configure protection settings, time-current curves, trip levels, and communication parameters for the site main circuit breaker.
• Switchboard Breaker Settings — Set and confirm individual breaker protection parameters (instantaneous, long-time, short-time, ground-fault) within switchboards and gear lineups.
• Ground Grid Resistance Testing — Measure resistance of the site grounding system to confirm the ground grid is continuous, low-resistance, and code-compliant.
• VLF Cable Testing — Conduct Very Low Frequency high-voltage testing to verify insulation integrity of medium-voltage cables after installation and before energization.
• Surge Arrester Testing — Evaluate surge arresters for proper installation, grounding, and functionality to ensure safe diversion of transient overvoltages.
• Air Switches Testing — Inspect and verify manual or motor-operated air disconnect switches for proper operation, alignment, contact engagement, and mechanical functionality.
• CT & PT Testing — Test current and potential transformers for correct ratios, polarity, wiring, burden, and accuracy prior to energizing protection systems.
• Recloser Relay Programming/Testing — Configure and validate recloser control settings including trip curves, reclosing sequences, and communications for proper fault isolation.
• Meter Programming/Testing — Configure utility meters with correct parameters and verify accuracy, functionality, and data transmission.
• Fiber Drop/Loss Testing — Measure signal loss and continuity in fiber-optic lines to confirm low attenuation and reliable communication between systems.

TESTING RESPONSIBILITIES — PHASE 2: POST-ENERGIZATION

• Thermography Testing — Use infrared imaging to identify hotspots, loose terminations, overloaded conductors, or failing components in electrical equipment and PV strings.
• Operating Current Testing — Measure actual running current of circuits, strings, and equipment under normal operating conditions to confirm expected performance and detect abnormal loads.
• Capacity & Performance Testing — Verify that electrical and mechanical equipment can deliver rated load/output safely and consistently under controlled conditions.
• Hot Commissioning — Perform energized tests including functional checks, protection testing, communication validation, and full operational verification after cold commissioning is complete.
• Racking Commissioning — Inspect the mechanical racking system for compliance with engineering specifications including pile alignment, torque values, module mounting tolerances, and grounding continuity.
• Also Energy Advanced Site Configuration — Complete and submit the site configuration form (combiner, inverter, weather station, expected losses, etc.) to the designated data configuration contact for upload into the project's PowerTrack profile.

QUALIFICATIONS

• Bachelor's degree in Electrical Engineering, Power Systems, or related field (or equivalent technical experience).
• 3–7 years of proven experience in commissioning, testing, or startup of utility-scale solar PV or power generation projects.
• Strong working knowledge of AC/DC electrical systems, inverter technology (central and string), SCADA systems, DAS and protection relaying.
• Familiarity with NEC, IEEE 1547, IEC, and NERC interconnection standards applicable to utility-scale solar.
• NETA ETT Certification (Level 3 or 4 Preferred) and leading company to accreditation.
• Experience with relay testing equipment (Doble, Omicron, or equivalent) and power quality analyzers.
• NFPA 70E or equivalent electrical safety certification required; NABCEP certification a plus.
• Ability to travel to project sites for extended periods (domestic).
• PE License in ME, with Mission Control support to acquire in NH, MA, NY, DE, PA, VA, IL, TX.
• Strong communication and documentation skills; proficiency with MS Office, Google Drive, Procore.
• Team player with a positive attitude and strong work ethic.