Principal Electrical Engineer - Solar

Nova Solutions Group; Houston (TX); On-site; USD 150,000 - 210,000; Full time

Job summary

Nova Solutions Group seeks a Principal Electrical Engineer to lead electrical design for utility-scale solar and storage. You will act as Engineer of Record where needed, creating complete design packages and ensuring safe, constructible, and reliable deliverables across concurrent projects.

Ideal candidates will hold a PE license and 7+ years in utility-scale solar, with strong NEC/IEEE knowledge and a proven ability to mentor engineers and shape engineering standards within the EPC context.

Qualifications

• 7+ years of electrical engineering experience, including utility-scale solar projects.
• Experience serving as Engineer of Record (EOR) or equivalent design responsibility.
• Strong knowledge of NEC, IEEE, ANSI, NEMA and related standards.

Responsibilities

• Review, approve, and seal engineering deliverables as Engineer of Record where applicable.
• Develop complete electrical design packages including single-line/three-line diagrams, layouts, cable routing and schedules, grounding plans, calculations, specs, and BOMs.
• Ensure designs support safe installation, efficient construction, reliability, and performance.
• Provide technical oversight across multiple projects while maintaining schedule, quality, and budget.

Skills

Electrical design

Leadership

Engineering standards

Mentoring

Education

Bachelor’s degree in Electrical Engineering

Professional Engineer (PE) license

Tools

AutoCAD

ETAP

Job description

Principal Electrical Engineer – Utility Scale Solar

Travel: This role may require travel and involves primarily standard office-based work with limited field exposure in construction environments.

Position Summary: Our client is an industry-leading engineering, procurement, and construction (EPC) organization looking for a Principal Electrical Engineer who will play a foundational role in building and leading a high-performing engineering organization focused on utility-scale solar and energy storage projects. This is an opportunity to help establish engineering standards, influence organizational direction, mentor future technical leaders, and shape how engineering is delivered across the business.

This role will serve as senior technical authority responsible for leading electrical design of complex utility-scale renewable energy projects while ensuring excellence, constructability, quality, and execution. The ideal candidate combines deep technical expertise with a builder's mindset, creating processes, developing people, improving systems, and solving complex engineering challenges.

Essential Responsibilities Technical Leadership & Engineering Delivery

• Review, approve, and seal engineering deliverables as Engineer of Record (where applicable).
• Develop complete electrical design packages including one-line diagrams, three-line diagrams, equipment layouts, cable routing and schedules, grounding plans, electrical calculations, specifications, and bills of material
• Ensure designs support safe installation, efficient construction, long-term reliability, and operational performance.
• Provide technical oversight across multiple concurrent projects while maintaining schedule, quality, and budget expectations.

Engineering Standards & Continuous Improvement

• Establish and continuously improve electrical engineering standards, specifications, templates, design guides, and best practices.
• Standardize engineering processes to improve quality, efficiency, and scalability across projects.
• Evaluate emerging technologies, software, and methodologies to enhance project delivery.
• Maintain expertise in applicable electrical codes, industry standards, and regulatory requirements, incorporating updates into engineering practices.

Leadership & Team Development

• Mentor, coach, and provide technical leadership to engineers, designers, and junior team members.
• Foster a collaborative culture focused on accountability, excellence, innovation, and learning.
• Support recruiting, interviewing, onboarding, and development of future engineering talent.
• Help establish long-term structure, processes, and capabilities of the engineering organization.

Cross-Functional Collaboration

• Partner closely with Civil, Structural, SCADA / Controls, High Voltage, Procurement, Construction, and Project Management teams to ensure fully integrated engineering deliverables.
• Collaborate with Preconstruction and Estimating teams during project pursuit activities by supporting conceptual designs, constructability reviews, engineering estimates, and value engineering initiatives.
• Support construction teams by resolving Requests for Information (RFIs), evaluating field changes, reviewing substitutions, and providing engineering guidance throughout construction.

Project Execution

• Lead engineering activities across multiple utility-scale renewable energy projects simultaneously.
• Ensure engineering deliverables support project schedules, procurement timelines, and construction sequencing.
• Balance technical excellence with practical, field-driven solutions that improve constructability and reduce project risk.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in electrical engineering or electrical Power Engineering.
• Professional Engineer (PE) license in at least one U.S. state.
• 7+ years of electrical engineering experience, including significant experience supporting utility-scale solar energy projects.
• Demonstrated experience serving as Engineer of Record (EOR) or holding equivalent technical design responsibility.
• Proven experience developing complete engineering packages through all major design phases, including 30%, 60%, 90%, and Issued for Construction (IFC).
• Strong knowledge of NEC, IEEE, ANSI, NEMA, and other applicable electrical codes and standards.
• Experience leading, mentoring, and developing engineers and technical design teams.
• Proficiency with AutoCAD and electrical engineering software used in renewable energy project design.
• Strong understanding of EPC project execution and multidisciplinary engineering coordination.