Solar Project Engineer II

Pepper Construction; Barrington (IL); On-site; USD 75,000 - 110,000; Full time

Job summary

Pepper Energy in Barrington, IL seeks a Project Engineer II to support delivery of commercial and utility-scale solar construction projects. This role works with Project Managers, Superintendents, subcontractors, vendors, and clients to coordinate project planning, procurement, scheduling, cost control, documentation, and field operations from startup through closeout.

The ideal candidate is organized, detail-oriented, and passionate about renewable energy, with experience supporting large-scale

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree or equivalent in construction-related field.
• 3+ years in project engineering or construction operations.
• Experience with commercial/industrial solar projects.

Responsibilities

• Support all phases of solar construction projects, from preconstruction through project closeout.
• Assist with project planning, budgeting, scheduling, procurement, and contract administration.
• Coordinate subcontractor bidding, buyout, and material procurement activities.
• Manage project documentation, including RFIs, submittals, drawings, meeting minutes, and correspondence.
• Monitor project schedules and help identify potential impacts to cost, quality, and timeline.
• Coordinate activities among clients, subcontractors, suppliers, consultants, and internal teams.
• Support field operations through issue resolution, document control, procurement tracking, and construction administration.
• Assist with project financial management, including cost tracking, forecasting, change orders, pay applications, and budget monitoring.
• Work with QA/QC and commissioning teams to support quality standards and project turnover requirements.
• Identify and communicate project risks, schedule challenges, and contractual concerns.
• Support project closeout activities, including commissioning, punch list completion, and final documentation.
• Promote and support Pepper's commitment to safety and operational excellence.

Skills

Communication

Budgeting

Multi-tasking

Team collaboration

Problem solving

Education

Bachelor's degree in Construction Management

Tools

Procore

CMiC

Autodesk Construction Cloud

Job description

Pepper Energy is seeking a Project Engineer II to support the successful delivery of commercial and utility-scale solar construction projects. This role works closely with Project Managers, Superintendents, subcontractors, vendors, and clients to coordinate project planning, procurement, scheduling, cost control, documentation, and field operations from project startup through closeout.

The ideal candidate is organized, detail-oriented, and passionate about renewable energy, with experience supporting large-scale construction projects in a fast-paced environment.

This position will be based out of our Barrington, IL location.

What You'll Do

• Support all phases of solar construction projects, from preconstruction through project closeout
• Assist with project planning, budgeting, scheduling, procurement, and contract administration
• Coordinate subcontractor bidding, buyout, and material procurement activities
• Manage project documentation, including RFIs, submittals, drawings, meeting minutes, and correspondence
• Monitor project schedules and help identify potential impacts to cost, quality, and timeline
• Coordinate activities among clients, subcontractors, suppliers, consultants, and internal teams
• Support field operations through issue resolution, document control, procurement tracking, and construction administration
• Assist with project financial management, including cost tracking, forecasting, change orders, pay applications, and budget monitoring
• Work with QA/QC and commissioning teams to support quality standards and project turnover requirements
• Identify and communicate project risks, schedule challenges, and contractual concerns
• Support project closeout activities, including commissioning, punch list completion, and final documentation
• Promote and support Pepper's commitment to safety and operational excellence

What You Bring

• Bachelor's degree in Construction Management, Engineering, Renewable Energy, or a related field (or equivalent combination of education and experience)
• 3+ years of experience in project engineering, project management, or construction operations
• Experience supporting commercial, industrial, utility-scale solar, or other large-scale construction projects
• Knowledge of construction project management practices, including budgeting, scheduling, procurement, contract administration, and cost control
• Experience with construction management software such as Procore, CMiC, Autodesk Construction Cloud, or similar platforms
• Understanding of project financials, including change orders, forecasting, cost tracking, pay applications, and schedule of values (SOV)
• Strong communication, problem-solving, and organizational skills
• Ability to manage multiple priorities while working collaboratively with diverse project teams