Sr. Engineering Manager/Director - REMOTE

Progressive; Charlottesville (VA); Remote; USD 180,000 - 240,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Fully remote work environment

Comprehensive benefits package

Job summary

Progressive is seeking a Senior Engineering Manager/Director to lead engineering across utility-scale energy projects, including solar, BESS, substations, and transmission. This role is fully remote in the United States with travel about 20–30% for site meetings and client engagements.

You will manage multidisciplinary teams, coordinate EPC contractors, and guide engineering strategy to deliver safe, on-schedule, and compliant projects while supporting development and business growth.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Electrical, Civil, Mechanical or related engineering field. Advanced degree preferred.
• 10+ years in power/renewable energy environments.
• 5+ years in engineering leadership or management.
• Experience with utility-scale projects (solar, BESS, substations, transmission).

Responsibilities

• Lead engineering across multiple utility-scale projects from development through commissioning.
• Oversee external consultants, EPC contractors, and engineers of record.
• Support project development, feasibility studies, and due diligence efforts.
• Mentor and develop engineering personnel and manage resources.

Skills

Power system analysis

Grid integration

Engineering leadership

Project development

Education

Bachelor's degree in Electrical/Electrical Engineering (or related)

Advanced degree preferred

Tools

AutoCAD

Bluebeam

MS Project/Primavera P6

Procore

ETAP

PSCAD

CYME

PowerWorld

PVsyst

GIS software

Job description

Senior Engineering Manager / Director

Our client is a growing energy infrastructure and project development company focused on delivering innovative solutions across the power and renewable energy sectors. The organization partners with developers, utilities, EPC contractors, and investors to advance critical energy projects from concept through commercial operation.

The Senior Engineering Manager / Director will lead engineering activities across a diverse portfolio of utility-scale energy projects, including solar, battery energy storage systems (BESS), substations, transmission, and broader power infrastructure developments.

This leadership role is responsible for guiding engineering strategy, managing multidisciplinary teams and external engineering firms, supporting project development and execution, and ensuring projects are delivered safely, on schedule, within budget, and in compliance with all applicable standards and regulations.

This ideal candidate combines strong technical expertise with proven leadership and client-facing capabilities and is comfortable managing EPC contractors, engineering consultants, utilities, and project stakeholders.

Location: Remote (United States)

Travel: Approximately 20-30% as needed for project meetings, client engagements, and site visits.

Key Responsibilities

Engineering Leadership & Execution

• Lead engineering efforts across multiple utility-scale energy projects from development through commissioning and closeout.
• Develop engineering execution plans, design schedules, resource plans, and project milestones.
• Oversee conceptual, preliminary, and detailed engineering activities.
• Review project constraints including site conditions, geotechnical reports, environmental studies, utility requirements, permitting requirements, and interconnection documentation.
• Ensure engineering deliverables meet project objectives, quality requirements, and commercial expectations.
• Identify technical risks and implement mitigation strategies throughout the project lifecycle.

Engineering Consultant & EPC Management

• Manage and coordinate external engineering consultants, Owners Engineers, EPC contractors, and Engineers of Record (EORs).
• Lead design review processes and approve major engineering deliverables.
• Review and provide guidance on:
  • One-line diagrams
  • Protection and control systems
  • Grounding systems
  • Arc flash studies
  • Power system studies
  • Civil and structural engineering packages
  • Substation and transmission designs
  • BESS integration designs
  • Permitting and interconnection submissions
• Facilitate design coordination meetings with clients, utilities, consultants, and project teams.

Business Development & Client Support

• Serve as a trusted technical advisor to clients and project stakeholders.
• Support project pursuits, proposals, feasibility studies, and technical due diligence efforts.
• Participate in client presentations and business development meetings.
• Assist in evaluating new market opportunities and strategic growth initiatives.
• Collaborate with commercial teams to develop technically sound and competitive project solutions.

Team Leadership

• Lead, mentor, and develop engineering personnel.
• Foster a culture of accountability, technical excellence, collaboration, and continuous improvement.
• Support recruiting, onboarding, training, and performance management activities.
• Assist in workforce planning and engineering resource forecasting.

Construction & Commissioning Support

• Provide engineering guidance during construction and commissioning.
• Support resolution of RFIs, design changes, field engineering challenges, and technical issues.
• Review equipment specifications, vendor submittals, and technical documentation.
• Ensure the accurate development of as-built documentation and project closeout deliverables.

Process Improvement & Technical Standards

• Develop and maintain engineering standards, templates, best practices, and design criteria.
• Improve engineering workflows and cross-functional coordination.
• Support continuous improvement initiatives across engineering and project execution functions.
• Ensure compliance with applicable industry standards, regulations, and company management systems.

Required Qualifications

Education

• Bachelor's degree in Electrical Engineering, Civil Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, or a related engineering discipline.
• Advanced degree preferred.

Experience

• 10+ years of experience within power, renewable energy, utility, EPC, project development, or infrastructure environments.
• 5+ years of engineering leadership or management experience.
• Demonstrated success managing multidisciplinary engineering teams and external engineering consultants.
• Experience supporting utility-scale projects involving one or more of the following:
  • Solar
  • Battery Energy Storage Systems (BESS)
  • Substations
  • Transmission
  • Power Generation
  • Grid Infrastructure

Professional Credentials

• Professional Engineer (PE) license preferred.
• Multi-state PE registration is a plus.

Technical Expertise

• Utility-scale power and renewable energy projects
• Interconnection and utility coordination
• EPC project execution
• Engineering management and design oversight
• Project development and due diligence
• Power system analysis and grid integration
• Construction support and commissioning
• Risk management and project controls
• Engineering quality assurance

Preferred Software & Tools

• Microsoft Office Suite (Excel, Word, PowerPoint)
• AutoCAD
• Bluebeam
• MS Project and/or Primavera P6
• Procore
• ETAP
• PSCAD
• CYME
• PowerWorld
• PVsyst
• GIS and related engineering software

Leadership Profile

• Strong leadership and organizational capabilities
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills
• Executive-level client-facing presence
• Strategic and commercially minded approach
• Ability to manage multiple complex projects simultaneously
• Strong stakeholder management and relationship-building skills
• Entrepreneurial mindset with a desire to help scale a growing organization
• Proven ability to drive results in a remote work environment

Compensation & Benefits

• Competitive base salary
• Performance-based bonus opportunity
• Comprehensive benefits package
• Fully remote work environment
• Significant leadership visibility and career growth potential
• Opportunity to influence major power and renewable energy infrastructure projects across North America

Equal Opportunity Employer

All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, disability, veteran status, or any other protected characteristic under applicable law.

EOE Statement: Specialist Staffing Group is an equal opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, or veteran status.

In addition to base pay, direct-hire employees may be eligible for client offered benefits such as medical, dental, and vision coverage, and paid leave where required by applicable law. Eligibility may vary based on factors such as location and hire date and is subject to change.