Senior Operations Engineer - Solar

Ecotal; North Carolina; Hybrid; USD 90,000 - 130,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

PTO 15–20 days (accrual up to 20)

11 observed holidays

401(k) Match

Wellness stipend

Family planning stipend

Parental leave

Job summary

Ecotal seeks a qualified MV Substation Engineer to support field operations for utility-scale PV and BESS assets. You will perform failure investigations, RCA, and spearhead protection coordination and power-flow analyses. The role emphasizes safety, reliability, and long-term engineering improvements.

You will work on substation SOPs, alarm triage, and PM planning, while collaborating with HSSE and maintenance teams. A Durham, NC hybrid schedule is preferred.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Electrical Engineering required; PE license preferred.
• 4–5 years MV electrical engineering experience in utility/renewables/industrial environments.
• Hands-on MV switchgear, transformers, protection relays and cable systems experience.
• Prior experience with utility-scale PV and/or BESS assets strongly preferred.
• Demonstrated RCA and corrective-action implementation experience.

Responsibilities

• Investigate, troubleshoot, and resolve MV failures across transformers, cables, and equipment.
• Lead RCA for MV failures and implement corrective actions.
• Monitor MV health and protection settings; review relay coordination.
• Review switching schedules and support substation operations.
• Define PM requirements and support HSSE electrical safety programs.
• Develop and deliver technical training for field technicians and operations engineers.

Skills

MV electrical engineering

Protection relays

Root Cause Analysis

Power system analysis

DGA interpretation

NEC/IEEE knowledge

Education

Bachelor's degree in Electrical Engineering

PE license preferred

Tools

ETAP

SKM

PSS/E

Job description

We are seeking a highly motivated candidate who supports Medium Voltage (MV) and Substation engineering across Field Operations for our utility-scale PV and BESS asset portfolio. You will work cross-functionally with operations, maintenance, and HSSE teams. This role is responsible for the reliability, safety, and performance of MV electrical infrastructure from day-to-day failure response through longer-term engineering improvement.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities:

MV Failure & Fault Management

• Investigate, troubleshoot, and lead resolution of MV failures across transformers, cables, and associated equipment.
• Conduct Root Cause Analysis (RCA) for MV failures and drive implementation of corrective actions.
• Monitor MVT health and POI hotspot indicators to enable proactive intervention.
• Review and manage protection philosophy, relay coordination, and settings changes for MV and substation equipment.
• Perform or coordinate engineering studies including power flow, short circuit, and harmonic analysis.
• Conduct AVR and PFR audits to ensure grid code compliance and operational performance.

Substation Operations & SOP Development

• Support substation switching operations and review switching schedules in coordination with the Substation Manager.
• Provide technical guidance on substation alarm triage and resolution.
• Author and maintain SOPs for substation activities including DGA response protocols.

Maintenance, Standards & HSSE

• Define PM requirements for MV and substation equipment; support MV product selection and AVL maintenance.
• Ensure all work aligns with NEC, IEEE, and applicable electrical safety standards; support HSSE electrical safety programs.
• Provide MV/substation engineering input to capital projects and modeling efforts.

Training & Knowledge Transfer

• Develop and deliver technical training for field technicians and operations engineers on MV and substation topics.
• Mentor operations staff to build internal competency on MV systems and best practices.

Education and/or Work Experience Requirements:

• Bachelor's degree in Electrical Engineering or closely related discipline required. PE license preferred.
• 4-5 years of MV electrical engineering experience in utility, renewable energy, or industrial environments.
• Hands-on experience with MV switchgear, transformers, protection relays, and cable systems.
• Prior experience with utility-scale PV and/or BESS assets strongly preferred.
• Demonstrated track record in failure investigation, RCA, and corrective action implementation.

Preferred Skills and Experience:

• Proficiency in power system analysis tools (e.g., ETAP, SKM, PSS/E, or equivalent).
• Working knowledge of protection philosophy, relay coordination, and settings management.
• Familiarity with DGA interpretation and condition-based maintenance practices.
• Working knowledge of NEC, IEEE, and relevant NERC/FERC standards.

Location:

We have a strong preference for the candidate to be based in our Durham, NC office. Our team operates on a hybrid schedule, with in-office schedule of three days per week.

• 15 days of Paid Time Off, accrual up to 20 days, 11 observed holidays.
• 401(k) Match
• Wellness stipend, family planning stipend, and generous parental leave