Principal Engineer, Utility

AES Corporation; Indianapolis (IN); Remote; USD 145,000 - 181,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Medical insurance

Dental insurance

Vision coverage

Life insurance

401(k)

Job summary

AES Corporation, the largest US-based power company, seeks a Principal Engineer - Utility Projects to lead design and engineering for large utility-scale PV and battery storage projects in late-stage development, construction, and operation.

You will manage third-party engineers and EPCs, review contracts, coordinate with procurement, and mentor a team of engineers while driving technical solutions across projects. Up to 25% travel; offices or remote work available.

Qualifications

• Undergraduate engineering degree (electrical, mechanical, or civil preferred).
• 10+ years in energy system design, project/land development, or construction.
• 5+ years in project management or as a project engineer.
• Electrical design experience for utility-scale PV and BESS projects.
• Stormwater and grading expertise with permitting processes.
• Strong communication and interpersonal skills; cross-functional work.
• Remote/distributed team capability; manage third-party vendors.

Responsibilities

• Support EPC engagement with contract exhibits and RFIs.
• Evaluate engineering service proposals and manage consultants.
• Lead design review meetings and coordinate SME feedback.
• Value engineer system designs to maximize reliability and reduce cost.
• Support commissioning, QA/QC, and field operations.
• Mentor engineers and share best practices across projects.

Job description

Are you ready to be part of a companythat'snot just talking about the future, but actively shaping it? Join The AES Corporation, the largest US-based global power company witha teamof 8,300employees across 12 countries.

AES has beenranked #1 byBloombergNEFin renewable energy sales to corporations in the US and Americas for five consecutive years, providing electricityformillions of peopleworldwide.

We are proud to foster a strong workplace culture, earning prominent positions in Great Place to Work rankings across the markets where weoperate. AES was also named one of the World's Most Ethical Companies for the 13th consecutive year in 2026, highlighting our dedication to integrity, transparency, and responsible business practices.

Our spirit of innovation continues to earn industry recognition. AES is the only seven-time winner of the Edison Electric Institute's Edison Awards in the twenty-first century, a distinction honoringglobal leadership in advancing the electric power industry.

The Principal Engineer - Utility Projects will be responsible for managing third parties in the design and engineering of large, utility-scale solar photovoltaic (PV) and battery energy storage (BESS) projects in late-stage development, construction, and operation within the [Market] market. Responsibilities include engineer management, design reviews, contract document development and negotiation, procurement specification preparation, and other technical support activities.

The Principal Project Engineer will join a team of utility-scale project execution engineers reporting to the [MARKET] market engineering manager and will serve as the lead project engineer for assigned projects. Additional responsibilities include mentoring and training other Engineers, directly supporting additional projects as a subject matter expert, driving innovation within the team, and driving institutional change within the wider organization.

The successful candidate will have a depth of experience in the development, analysis, and design of utility scale, transmission interconnected PV systems and battery storage systems. Experience with other renewable technologies including wind, green hydrogen, nuclear, hydroelectric, or data center design is a plus. Excellent communication, task management, and planning skills are needed, in addition to technical depth and breadth.

The position is at one of AES US Renewables & Power offices or remote and will include up to 25% travel to project locations and partner offices.

Key Responsibilities

Project Execution

• Support EPC engagement by preparing contract exhibits and supporting RFI's during contract negotiations.
• Seek and evaluate proposals for engineering services.
• Manage engineering consultants and Engineer Procure Construct (EPC) contractors throughout development of project construction drawings and support material s.
• Perform technical project due diligence and project engineering design reviews to ensure compliance with company and industry standards.
• Lead external and internal design review meetings.
• Coordinate feedback from internal stakeholders and subject matter experts (SMEs) on design reviews.
• Value engineer system designs to maximize reliability and reduce overall project cost.
• Establish/review technical specifications of owner furnished equipment in coordination with Procurement and Sourcing.
• Manage Procore RFIs and submittals and ensure complete and timely responses in coordination with other internal teams.
• Respond to contractor requests for information (RFIs).
• Support field quality assurance (QA)/quality control (QC).
• Review test reports for compliance with contract requirements and technical standards.
• Support the technical resolution of punch list items.
• Support commissioning activities.
• Support internal Owner's Engineering team through financing activities.
• Support Operations/Asset Management teams to resolve technical issues at operating sites.
• Assist Development and Project Management teams with development of key financial inputs.
• Develop and implement technical solutions to market specific requirements in coordination with market manager.

Growth and Leadership

• Contribute to process improvement initiatives for the execution of safe, quality, and high-performance projects.
• Provide timely feedback on EPC and external engineer performance, and document lessons learned to influence internal process enhancements.
• Mentor and educate team on changing trends in technology, best practices, code enforcement, and safety.
• Direct mentorship of other Engineers on job requirements and technical acumen.
• Support the team as a technical subject matter expert.
• Support evaluation of emerging technologies and companies for the Approved Vendor List.

Safety

• Attend site safety walks and identify jobsite hazards.
• Obtain and maintain safety training certifications (NFPA 70E, OSHA 10-hour, and CPR/first aid).
• Lead by example.

Skills and Qualifications

Primary Qualifications

• Undergraduate degree in engineering (electrical, mechanical, or civil preferred) or equivalent technical field.
• 10+ years professional experience in energy system design, project or land development, and/or construction. Advanced degrees in a related field may be credited towards years of experience.
• 5+ years of experience in project management, consulting, or as a project engineer.
• Engineering design experience including either:Electrical design experience of the generator side of utility scale PV and BE SS projects.
• Stormwater and grading expertise with a thorough understanding of permitting processes and timelines.
• Strong communication and interpersonal skills, including ability to successfully work cross-functionally across a large organization.
• Self-starter with ability to work effectively in a remote and/or distributed team environment.
• Ability to effectively manage third party consultants, vendors, and internal stakeholders.

Plus Qualifications

• Proficient with MS Office Suite.
• Direct project experience with Procore.
• Graduate degree in engineering.
• EIT or PE qualifications.
• NABCEP PV Installation Professional certification.
• Knowledge of BESS Fire Safety Codes and Standards.
• Experience with ETAP, SKM, PVsyst and other advanced modeling tools.
• Substation/High Voltage design experience.
• Structural/SCADA/commissioning engineering design experience.
• Experience with AutoCAD Civil3D.
• Fluency in Spanish or Portuguese.

AES is an Equal Opportunity Employer who is committed to building strength and delivering long-term sustainability through diversity and inclusion. Respecting all backgrounds, differences and perspectives enables us to improve the lives of our people, customers, suppliers, contractors, and the communities in which we live and work. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to sex, sexual orientation, gender, gender identity and/or expression, race, national origin, ethnicity, age, religion, marital status, physical or mental disability, pregnancy, childbirth, or related medical condition, military or veteran status, or any other characteristic protected under applicable law. E-Verify Notice: AES will provide the Social Security Administration (SSA) and if necessary, the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) with information from each new employee's I-9 to confirm work authorization. The expected salary for this position, at commencement of employment, is between $145,000 and $181,050/year; however, base pay offered may vary depending on multiple individualized factors, including market location, job-related knowledge, skills, and experience. The total compensation package for this position also includes annual bonus. The benefits offered for this position are: medical, dental, and vision coverage, life insurance, 401(k) eligibility, and paid time off (including vacation, sick leave time, and parental leave). Details of participation in these benefit plans will be provided if a candidate receives an offer of employment. If hired, employee will be in an "at-will position" and the Company reserves the right to modify base salary (as well as any other discretionary payment or compensation program) at any time, including for reasons related to individual performance, Company or individual department/team performance, and market factors.