Solar Development Engineer Jobs in Willimantic, CT

Job Title: Preconstruction Engineer – Solar, Storage & Substation

Company: Louth Callan

Location: Hybrid

Department: Preconstruction / Estimating

Louth Callan, a leading power infrastructure contractor specializing in utility-scale solar, battery energy storage systems (BESS), and substation construction, is seeking an experienced Preconstruction Engineer.

In this key role, you will lead technical preconstruction efforts, with a strong focus on design optimization, constructability, and cost efficiency for complex solar, storage, and substation projects. You will work at the intersection of engineering design, procurement, and construction to ensure projects are designed for maximum performance, constructability, and profitability while meeting stringent utility and regulatory requirements.

You will play a critical role in reviewing and influencing project designs, developing accurate estimates, and delivering competitive proposals that position Louth Callan as a premier EPC contractor in the renewable energy and power delivery sectors.

• Design Review & Optimization: Perform detailed reviews of civil, electrical, and structural designs for solar PV arrays, BESS facilities, and substations. Provide value engineering recommendations to improve design efficiency, reduce costs, and enhance constructability without compromising performance or reliability.
• Technical Preconstruction Leadership: Lead preconstruction engineering activities including site layout optimization, equipment selection, foundation design considerations, electrical collection system design input, and interconnection facility planning.
• Cost Estimating: Develop comprehensive, multi-discipline cost estimates (civil, electrical, and structural) for utility-scale solar, BESS, and substation projects. Break down costs for major components such as inverters, racking systems, trackers, combiner boxes, wiring, transformers, switchgear, battery systems, foundations, and site civil works.
• Constructability Analysis: Conduct thorough constructability reviews of design drawings and specifications. Identify potential field challenges and recommend design modifications to improve safety, schedule, labor efficiency, and material installation.
• Value Engineering: Actively identify and propose design alternatives and innovative solutions (e.g., advanced racking systems, next-generation inverters, optimized foundation designs, or improved BESS layouts) that deliver cost savings and performance improvements.
• Bid & Proposal Development: Collaborate with Business Development, Engineering, and Procurement teams to prepare technically sound and competitively priced proposals. Contribute to the development of project execution plans, schedules, and risk registers.
• Procurement Integration: Work closely with the Procurement team to align design decisions with current market pricing and availability of key equipment (inverters, wire, BLAs, combiner boxes, racking, foundations, transformers, etc.).
• Schedule & Risk Management: Develop preconstruction schedules with emphasis on long-lead equipment and design milestones. Identify and quantify design-related risks, supply chain constraints, and site-specific challenges.
• Cross-Functional Collaboration: Partner with internal design engineers, external consultants, owners’ engineers, and construction teams to ensure seamless transition from preconstruction design refinement to active construction.
• Industry Leadership: Stay current with evolving design standards, new technologies, and best practices in solar, energy storage, and high-voltage substation infrastructure.

Qualifications & Requirements

• Experience: 5+ years of preconstruction, estimating, or design engineering experience on utility-scale solar, BESS, and/or substation projects. Direct EPC contractor experience is strongly preferred.
• Technical Expertise: Deep understanding of solar PV system design (array layout, DC/AC collection), BESS design and integration, and substation design (including transformers, switchgear, protection & control, and grounding systems). Strong knowledge of civil/site development requirements for energy projects.
• Education: Bachelor’s degree in Electrical Engineering, Civil Engineering, or Mechanical Engineering. PE license is preferred.
• Skills:
  • Proficient in design review and collaboration tools (AutoCAD, Civil 3D, PVsyst, ETAP, or similar)
  • Advanced skills in estimating software (Bluebeam, HCSS, Excel-based estimating models) and scheduling tools (Primavera P6 or MS Project)
  • Strong ability to interpret and influence electrical one-lines, civil drawings, structural details, and equipment specifications
  • Excellent analytical, problem-solving, and technical communication skills
• Other: Willingness to travel to project sites, supplier facilities, and industry events as required.

• Competitive base salary + performance bonus
• Comprehensive benefits package (health, dental, vision, 401k matching, etc.)
• Opportunity to work on large-scale, high-profile power infrastructure projects across the United States
• Significant professional growth in a rapidly expanding power infrastructure contractor

*The Key Job Responsibilities described are not a comprehensive list – additional tasks may be assigned as needed.