Project Development Manager, Grid Solutions and Early Stage Engineering

LVI Associates; Houston (TX); Hybrid; USD 150,000 - 190,000; Full time

Job summary

LVI Associates is seeking a Manager of Project Development for Grid Solutions & Early-Stage Engineering in Texas. The role drives utility-scale projects from concept through development, including feasibility, interconnection, budgeting, and scheduling.

The position requires coordinating with cross-functional teams, evaluating technical options, and managing development risks. This role supports travel to client sites and project evaluations while offering hybrid work options.

Qualifications

• Minimum 10 years in power generation or utility infrastructure development.
• Bachelor's degree in Engineering (Electrical or Mechanical preferred).
• Strong understanding of transmission, substations, generation, distribution, and energy storage infrastructure.
• Experience evaluating interconnection feasibility, system resiliency, grid reliability, and project development risk.
• Ability to prepare conceptual cost estimates and development schedules for large-scale projects.

Responsibilities

• Provide technical leadership during early-stage development of utility-scale projects.
• Evaluate transmission and distribution networks, interconnection opportunities, and grid constraints.
• Develop and maintain budgets, timelines, and milestone schedules.
• Lead meetings with clients, utilities, consultants, and external stakeholders.
• Prepare conceptual cost estimates including equipment, labor, and contingency.

Skills

Power generation

Project management

Stakeholder management

Communication

Travel readiness

Education

Bachelor's degree in Engineering

Tools

PSS E

PowerWorld

PSCAD

ETAP

Job description

Locations: Midland, Houston, Arlington, TX (Remote option)

Position Summary

The Manager, Project Development - Grid Solutions & Early-Stage Engineering will be responsible for advancing a portfolio of utility-scale generation and electrical infrastructure projects from concept through development. Projects may include combustion turbine generation, combined-cycle facilities, reciprocating engine plants, waste heat recovery systems, substations, transmission assets, and energy storage solutions. The successful candidate will evaluate project feasibility, analyze interconnection opportunities, assess grid reliability and redundancy requirements, support technology selection, prepare conceptual project budgets, and develop milestone-driven schedules. The position requires strong technical judgment and the ability to identify development risks while supporting investment and go/no-go decisions. This position works closely with multidisciplinary teams including business development, engineering, finance, construction, legal, commercial operations, consultants, utilities, customers, and other project stakeholders. Hybrid work arrangements are available, with regular travel expected for client meetings, project site evaluations, and collaboration with internal teams.

Key Responsibilities

• Provide technical leadership during early-stage development of utility-scale electrical infrastructure and generation projects.
• Evaluate transmission and distribution network configurations, interconnection opportunities, and grid constraints.
• Perform grid topology assessments to identify vulnerabilities and recommend resiliency improvements such as dual-source configurations, looped systems, transfer schemes, and islanding capabilities.
• Develop and maintain project budgets, development timelines, and key milestone schedules.
• Lead meetings with project teams, clients, utilities, consultants, and other external stakeholders.
• Track obligations and milestones associated with development agreements and project contracts.
• Support technology evaluations by comparing equipment options, vendor capabilities, lead times, reliability considerations, and commercial impacts.
• Prepare Class 3 through Class 5 conceptual cost estimates, including equipment, labor, construction, owner costs, and contingency analysis.
• Coordinate land-related development activities, including surveys, title reviews, and site diligence.
• Establish development schedules covering permitting, procurement, engineering, financing, and construction milestones.
• Present technical findings, risk assessments, cost analyses, and schedule updates to executive leadership and customers.
• Support contractor qualification and procurement activities alongside construction teams.
• Assist with development and permitting processes through project handoff to construction.
• Participate in financing and due diligence activities by providing technical documentation and project support.
• Manage external consultants, engineering firms, and specialty contractors during development phases.
• Communicate project risks, mitigation strategies, and recommendations to stakeholders at all organizational levels.
• Contribute to pipeline reporting, project tracking, and business development efforts.

Qualifications

Required

• Minimum of 10 years of experience in power generation, utility infrastructure development, engineering, or project management.
• Bachelor's degree in Engineering, preferably Electrical or Mechanical Engineering.
• Strong understanding of transmission, substation, generation, distribution, and energy storage infrastructure.
• Working knowledge of utility interconnection processes, regional grid operations, and applicable industry standards.
• Experience evaluating interconnection feasibility, system resiliency, grid reliability, and project development risk.
• Proven ability to prepare conceptual cost estimates and development schedules for large-scale infrastructure projects.
• Strong project management, organizational, and stakeholder management skills.
• Excellent written, verbal, and presentation abilities.
• Ability to work independently while collaborating effectively across functional teams.
• Experience managing client relationships and balancing competing project priorities.
• Willingness to travel approximately 25% to 50% as project needs require.

Preferred

• Professional Engineer (PE) license or ability to obtain licensure.
• Experience with thermal generation technologies and associated balance-of-plant systems.
• Familiarity with power system modeling and analysis tools such as PSS E, PowerWorld, PSCAD, ETAP, or similar platforms.
• Knowledge of market operators, transmission planning processes, and utility standards.
• Experience with CRM systems, project reporting, and performance metrics.