Senior Commissioning Engineer: HV, BESS, PV (Remote)

SOLV Energy; Tennessee; On-site; USD 127,000 - 159,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Medical, dental, vision insurance

401(k) plan with vacation/sick/holiday

Job summary

SOLV Energy is seeking a Senior Commissioning Engineer to lead testing, commissioning, and energization for utility-scale HV substations, BESS, and PV facilities. The role requires travel (20–30%) and close collaboration with Owners, Utilities, and Engineering teams.

Fully remote position; the senior technical authority will develop energization strategies, review test data, mentor staff, and ensure safety and regulatory compliance across projects.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Electrical Engineering from an accredited university.
• 10+ years of experience in testing, commissioning, and initial energization of utility-scale HV substations, BESS, and/or utility-scale PV facilities.
• 5+ years leading or serving as the primary technical engineer for commissioning and energization activities on complex utility-scale projects.
• 5+ years performing and directing high-voltage switching operations and supporting energized electrical systems.
• 2+ years of engineering leadership or supervisory experience.
• Demonstrated expertise in power system protection, control systems, relay testing, electrical system analysis, power quality, harmonic analysis, and interconnection requirements.
• Demonstrated ability to independently resolve complex technical issues requiring engineering analysis and sound engineering judgment.
• Experience developing commissioning plans, initial energization procedures, switching procedures, and technical work instructions.
• Experience reviewing and approving engineering deliverables, commissioning reports, and technical documentation.
• Experience leading technical investigations and root cause analyses for complex electrical system failures.
• Experience mentoring, supervising, or providing technical leadership to engineering staff.

Responsibilities

• Attend Owner, Utility, and stakeholder meetings as requested by the Commissioning Manager (PM).
• Develop Testing & Commissioning (T&C) Plans aligned with project specifications, utility interconnection requirements, and industry standards.
• Develop, review, and execute detailed Initial Energization Procedures for HV substations, BESS Auxiliary power distribution systems and BESS and PV AC Power collection systems.
• Serve as the engineering authority for complex commissioning issues requiring technical evaluation and engineering judgment.
• Review protection and control philosophies, relay settings, and commissioning strategies to identify commissioning risks and verify readiness for safe system energization.
• Support the development and review of switching procedures, LOTO, Permit to Work, Red Rope, and System Under Test (SUT) programs.
• Lead and support initial substation energization activities, including readiness verification and field coordination.
• Perform high voltage switching operations as required for initial energization and commissioning activities.
• Review and approve completed commissioning and acceptance test reports, verifying that test results, data, and findings conform to project specifications, and contractual acceptance criteria.
• Identify non-conformances, direct corrective retesting or documentation revisions, and provide final engineering sign-off before release to the client.
• Perform or coordinate harmonic measurements and power quality assessments during commissioning and post-energization.
• Develop substation operations and training documentation and deliver onsite training to Owner and Operations personnel.
• Provide post-energization technical support, including system monitoring, troubleshooting, and commissioning closeout activities.
• Provide on-call technical support for site events, including system trips and abnormal operating conditions.
• Lead post-trip and equipment failure investigations. Direct the analytical approach and assign investigative tasks to the commissioning team.
• Document root cause findings using structured methodologies (5-Why, fishbone, fault tree analysis); prepare and formally release RCA reports for internal and client distribution.
• Identify, analyze, and recommend corrective actions.
• Track corrective action implementation to closure; verify effectiveness through post-repair functional testing and system return-to-service sign-off.
• Contribute lessons learned to commissioning procedures, design standards, and O&M documentation to prevent recurrence across the portfolio; lead cross-project dissemination of findings.
• Serve as the final technical reviewer and approver for Testing & Commissioning deliverables, including commissioning documentation, energization procedures, technical reports, test documentation, and turnover packages prior to client release.
• Review EPC contract exhibits and project documentation to define Testing & Commissioning scope of work and division of responsibility (DOR).
• Serve as the senior technical resource and engineering authority for the Commissioning Engineering team, providing guidance on complex technical issues, commissioning strategies, and engineering best practices.
• Conduct performance evaluations, establish development goals, provide regular coaching and feedback, and support career development for assigned engineering staff.
• Assign, prioritize, and coordinate engineering workload for Commissioning Engineers to ensure timely delivery of engineering deliverables across multiple projects.
• Provides engineering leadership and technical authority for utility-scale HV, BESS, and PV commissioning activities.
• Supervises and develops Commissioning Engineers while ensuring consistent engineering execution and technical quality.
• Exercises independent engineering judgment in support of safe and successful project energization.

Education

Bachelor's degree in Electrical Engineering

Professional Engineer (PE) license

Tools

SEL protection systems

GE protection equipment

ABB protection equipment

Job description

SOLV Energy is seeking a Senior Commissioning Engineer to lead testing, commissioning, and energization for utility-scale HV substations, BESS, and PV facilities. The role requires travel (20–30%) and close collaboration with Owners, Utilities, and Engineering teams.

Fully remote position; the senior technical authority will develop energization strategies, review test data, mentor staff, and ensure safety and regulatory compliance across projects.