Senior Project Engineer

Energy Vault; Gauteng; On-site; ZAR 600,000 - 850,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading renewable energy company is seeking a Senior Project Engineer to oversee the design and execution of large-scale solar PV projects. The ideal candidate will have a strong background in project management and engineering design, with a focus on grid-tied and hybrid systems. This position involves client engagement, technical oversight, and mentoring junior engineers while ensuring compliance with local and international industry standards.

Qualifications

• Minimum 3 years in engineering design and project implementation of PV systems >100kW.
• Minimum 3 years of experience in technical leadership or project management.
• Experience in mentoring or supervising junior engineers.

Responsibilities

• Lead engineering design of PV systems including analysis and optimization.
• Act as technical lead across project lifecycles, supporting project managers.
• Mentor junior and mid-level engineers and promote team learning.

Skills

Project Management

Technical Design

Renewable Energy Knowledge

Client Engagement

Mentorship

Education

Bachelor’s degree in electrical engineering

Honours or master’s in electrical engineering

Tools

PVsyst

Helioscope

AutoCAD

SketchUp

Job description

Solar Energy / Energy Efficiency company is looking for a Senior Project Engineer to join their team.

The Senior Project Engineer is responsible for leading the engineering, technical design, and execution support of grid-tied and hybrid solar PV projects ranging from 100kW to 50MW. The role combines technical depth in system design and project implementation with strong project management capability.

Responsibilities:

Engineering & Design Oversight:

• Lead the engineering design of grid-tied and hybrid PV systems, including analysis, sizing, costing, and optimization of proposals.
• Review and validate EPC technical submissions, BOQs, loss assumptions, and yield guarantees.
• Ensure all designs meet local and international standards (SANS, NRS, IEC, RSA Grid Code).
• Perform site assessments, grid assessments, and detailed feasibility evaluations.
• Supervise the preparation of single-line diagrams, layout drawings, and technical documentation.
• Ensure engineering design integrates health, safety, and environmental (HSE) best practices.

Project Manager & Execution support:

• Act as technical lead across project lifecycles, supporting project managers during procurement and construction.
• Participate in contract and design meetings, offering technical insights and risk mitigation measures.
• Develop and maintain engineering risk registers throughout project stages.
• Support the development of detailed execution schedules and critical path analysis.
• Ensure engineering deliverables align with project budget, scope, and timelines.
• Facilitate technical closeout documentation and warranty support.

Client & Stakeholder Engagement:

• Act as a key technical point of contact with clients, EPCs, suppliers, and regulatory bodies.
• Provide defendable advice and recommendations to senior management and external partners.
• Facilitate technical clarifications, presentations, and FAT/SAT test witnessing as needed.
• Represent the company in technical forums and stakeholder meetings.

Mentorship & Development:

• Mentor and guide junior and mid-level engineers to grow technical capacity within the team.
• Delegate tasks and conduct quality reviews of work outputs.
• Develop standard operating procedures and design templates for future project use.
• Promote a culture of learning and continuous improvement in the engineering team.

Operations support:

• Assist Asset Management and O&M teams with fault diagnostics, underperformance issues, and component failures.
• Oversee performance testing and validation against PPA or PR guarantees.
• Support weather station commissioning, inverter troubleshooting, and system upgrades.

Sales & Business Development Support:

• Provide technical support to the business development team during client prospecting.
• Assist in translating client requirements into feasible and optimized technical solutions.
• Contribute to proposal development, tender responses, and client presentations.
• Support commercial and sales teams with technical input to secure new opportunities.

Technical Skills:

• Deep understanding of PV system design (DC & AC: 1500V, MV, LV).
• Knowledge of hybrid systems, genset integration, and BESS.
• Familiarity with grid integration and utility compliance (Eskom, Municipalities, NERSA).
• Tools: PVsyst, Helioscope, AutoCAD, SketchUp; additional PV/BESS tools advantageous.
• Strong project documentation and reporting ability.
• Competence in evaluating and deploying new engineering tools

Experience and Qualifications:

• Bachelor’s degree in electrical engineering (Honours or master’s advantageous).
• Minimum 3 years in engineering design and project implementation of PV systems >100kW.
• Minimum 3 years of experience in technical leadership or project management within EPC/IPP sector.
• Experience in mentoring or supervising junior engineers.
• Experience with PR testing, energy efficiency, and grid compliance is advantageous.