Solar Project Engineer II

Pepper Construction Group; Barrington (IL); On-site; USD 86,000 - 105,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Medical, dental, vision insurance

401k match

Paid time off

Parental leave

Mental health services

Job summary

Pepper Energy, based in Barrington, IL, seeks a Project Engineer II to support commercial and utility-scale solar construction projects. You’ll coordinate planning, procurement, scheduling, cost control, documentation, and field operations from startup to closeout.

The ideal candidate is organized, detail-oriented, and passionate about renewable energy, with 3+ years in project engineering or construction operations. Position based in Barrington, IL.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Construction Management, Engineering, Renewable Energy, or related field.
• 3+ years of experience in project engineering, project management, or construction operations.
• Experience supporting commercial, industrial, utility-scale solar, or large-scale construction projects.

Responsibilities

• Support all phases of solar construction projects, from preconstruction through closeout.
• Assist with budgeting, scheduling, procurement, and contract administration.
• Coordinate subcontractor bidding, buyout, and material procurement activities.
• Manage project documentation (RFIs, submittals, drawings, meeting minutes).
• Monitor schedules and identify potential cost/quality/timeline impacts.
• Coordinate activities among clients, subcontractors, suppliers, consultants, and internal teams.
• Support field operations through issue resolution, document control, and procurement tracking.
• Assist with cost tracking, forecasting, change orders, pay applications, and budget monitoring.
• Collaborate with QA/QC and commissioning teams for turnover readiness.
• Identify project risks, schedule challenges, and contractual concerns.
• Support project closeout activities (commissioning, punch lists, final docs).
• Promote Pepper’s safety and operational excellence.

Skills

Strong communication

Problem solving

Organizational skills

Team collaboration

Education

Bachelor's degree in Construction Management or related field

Tools

Procore

CMiC

Autodesk Construction Cloud

Job description

Pepper Energy expands upon Pepper Construction’s mission to improve people’s quality of life through the built world by bringing creative, renewable energy solutions to life in alignment with our commitment to high performance and sustainability. Pepper Energy provides an experienced engineer-procure-construct (EPC) team as a single-source solution for renewables construction projects.

Pepper Construction is a general contracting and construction management firm known for their quality work, strong ethics, and long‑standing relationships with clients and partners.

With offices in Illinois, Wisconsin, Indiana, and Ohio, Pepper Construction provides clients the experience and resources of a national company, combined with the hands‑on approach of a local company. We believe in exploring new technologies and methods that support the visions of our clients and positively impact the communities in which we live, work and play.

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

The annual salary midpoint for this role is $95,000. We consider many factors when determining the actual hiring salary. These factors may include location, transferable skills, work experience, licensure and certification, business needs, internal equity, and market demands.

Pepper Construction is dedicated to offering our employees a comprehensive and best‑in‑class benefits package that prioritizes their physical, financial, and emotional well‑being. We offer medical, dental, vision, life, and disability insurance plans, a generous 401k match, and a student loan repayment benefit. In addition to paid time off for company holidays, vacation, and personal days, Pepper offers fully paid medical and parental leave, mental health services, and more.

For additional information, visit www.pepperconstruction.com

Pepper Construction is an Equal Opportunity Employer committed to building a diverse and inclusive workforce. We welcome all qualified applicants and encourage veterans, transitioning service members, and military spouses to apply. Employment decisions are made without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, disability, veteran status, or any other protected characteristic under applicable law.

Please note: This position is not eligible for sponsorship