Technical Director Electrical Engineering, Renewables

This Opportunity

WSP is excited to announce an open position for Technical Director Electrical Engineering, Renewables within the dynamic national Renewables Business Unit (RBU) Team in Arlington, VA.  The following locations will also be considered: Houston, TX or Denver, CO.  Contributing to the continued growth of WSP’s Energy engineering footprint in the US market, this inspiring position is open remotely to any agreeable location within the United States. As part of our team, you will have access to an unparalleled network of resources and endless opportunities to collaborate on exciting projects with diverse teammates from across the globe.  

This leader will provide client engagement, Renewables subject matter expertise, and team leadership for due diligence, development, design review, and construction phases for scope associated with utility and commercial scale solar, wind, and BESS projects across the US, primarily in the private sector.  Some of the core tasks include project and task delivery, and review, oversight, and guidance of delivery teams with occasional support with proposal & business development such as participating in key conferences and client meetings. 

This individual will provide situational guidance to PMs and managers that address current and future challenges, and that documentation and recommendations accurately account for and address risk, innovation, and future-ready opportunities.  Provides leadership with ensuring that responsibilities are delivered and adhered to with a level of quality that meets or exceeds acceptable industry standards for design, safety, and functionality. 

Your Impact

• You will be tasked to help grow Owner’s Engineer (OE) capabilities within the Renewables Business Unit (RBU).  This includes helping to create the strategy for the RBU and outlining the steps to achieve it.  Also included is working to identify and make hires to grow the RBU’s OE business.  
• A key part of the RBU’s OE strategy is centered around full scope cradle to grave opportunities.  You will be asked to lead and participate in cradle to grave Owner’s Engineer opportunities.  This includes, but is not limited to owning the client engineering interface and overseeing discipline specific engineers on the job.  You will be expected to drive the overall process and create value add opportunities.
• Explore opportunities related to Asset Lifecycle/Management/Repowering to see if there is a business case for the RBU.  This includes owning the client interface and helping to create the business case and associated steps to achieve it.
• Participate in QA/QC activities related to EOR projects
• Participate in RBU initiatives such as helping to standardize project delivery & processes across the RBU
• Support our GCC initiatives, leveraging engineering resources in global WSP offices to continue to improve our operational KPI’s. 
• Provide project leadership/oversight of designs and studies associated with solar, BESS and wind generating facilities, conforming to client specifications, national electrical codes, and best industry practices.
• Coordinate, review and approve electrical infrastructure design plans for mid-level and complex projects, ensuring data integrity and work is compliant with all applicable codes, ordinances, and regulations.
• Apply high-level electrical engineering techniques and processes to identify improvements for various infrastructure project phases involving more complex infrastructure engineering work including concept development, preliminary design, final design, procurement, construction, and operation.
• Develop and or review construction plans, specifications, and cost estimates; preparing construction safety and phasing plans, and updating infrastructure layout plans that require coordination with owners, other disciplines, sub-consultants, and clients.
• Actively oversee from project inception to completion, the management of design and construction of electrical infrastructure projects, including rehabilitation and reconstruction, site development, grading, drainage, equipment layout, elevations, specifications, building materials, phasing, and construction safety plans.
• Lead larger-scale BOP engineering projects ensuring contributors know what they are required to do and by when, preparing and overseeing relevant project budgets, monitoring external events, tracking hours and expenses, ensuring satisfactory performance, and supervising subcontractors, contract work, and employees.
• Assist with engineering review of permit applications, engineering design plans and specifications, standby plans and engineering contracts, and periodic construction inspections, to ensure that they comply with applicable state and/or federal regulations and sound engineering practice and standards.
• Meet with various public or private entities or individuals to discuss issues relating to a variety of electrical/engineering/construction challenges and programs.  
• Ensure technical reports and presentations explain research, findings, and recommendations to prevent, control, restore, or address electrical, design, and/or construction issues or opportunities.  
• Mentor staff to support their growth and professional development.
• Remain current in latest BOP engineering techniques and practices.
• Collaborates with professionals from a variety of disciplines, other engineers, planners, and infrastructure authorities on Federal, State, regional, and locally funded improvement and development projects, as well as proposal and business development opportunities.
• Exercise responsible and ethical decision-making regarding company funds, resources and conduct, and adhere to WSP’s Code of Conduct and related policies and procedures.
• Perform additional responsibilities as required by business needs.
  
   

Who You Are

Required Qualifications

• Bachelor’s Degree in Electrical Engineering or related field
• 12+ years of relevant post education experience as an electrical engineer providing design deliverables for renewables, ideally at a utility, industrial and or commercial scale.
• Highly proficient with electrical engineering principles, practices, process, design/build, and the application to permitting and project work-related issues.
• Highly proficient with BOP design.
• Experience with infrastructure planning, design, and program/construction management; including comprehensive experience in working with adjacent disciplines such as civil engineering, P&C, SCADA, and telecom. 
• Experience mentoring staff to support their growth and professional development
• Strong knowledge of relevant engineering and electrical construction laws, codes, regulations, compliance practices, and record-keeping requirements.
• Highly proficient with making technical computations and calculations involving the application of engineering principles, understanding plans and specifications, and making factual comparisons to the appropriate regulations.  
• Highly effective interpersonal and communication skills when interacting with others, expressing intricate ideas effectively and professionally to an engineering and non-engineering audience.
• Strong self-leadership and interpersonal communication skills with the ability to effectively, persuasively, and tactfully interact with clients, regulators, project managers, and employees at all levels of the organization.
• Works independently to provide guidance and leadership to mid-level to senior level team or project members, with strict adherence to QA/QC.
• Proficiency with technical writing, office automation, discipline-specific design and modeling software, technology, math principles, predictive models, spreadsheets, and tools.
• Experienced with providing critical review for documents and preparing technical deliverables and plans with a high degree of complexity.
• Well-developed critical thinking and problem-solving skills required to apply technical knowledge to reach conclusions from testing results, data collation, computations, statistical analysis and arriving at the most effective, economical, and logical solution.
• Demonstrated effectiveness at coordinating and assertively directing subcontractors and others to consistently complete tasks safely and efficiently.
• Proven track record of upholding workplace safety and ability to abide by WSP’s health, safety and drug/alcohol and harassment policies.
• Must be flexible to a variety of schedules to meet business needs and able to prioritize responsibilities and quickly adapt to change in a pressure work environment.
• Occasional travel may be required depending on project-specific requirements. 
   

Preferred Qualifications 

• Balance of Plant Solar, Wind and/or BESS experience

• Professional Electrical Engineer license required (multi-state preferred)
   

WSP Benefits:

WSP provides a comprehensive suite of benefits focused on providing health and financial stability throughout the employee’s career. These benefits include coverage related to medical, dental, vision, disability, and life; retirement savings; paid sick leave; paid vacation (or other personal time); paid parental leave; and paid time off for purposes of bereavement, voting, and/or attendance at naturalization proceedings. 

Compensation:

Expected Salary (all locations): $145,400 - $259,100

WSP USA is providing the compensation range that the company in good faith believes it might pay and offer for this position, based on the successful applicant’s education, experience, knowledge, skills, abilities in addition to internal equity and specific geographic location. WSP USA reserves the right to ultimately pay more or less than the posted range and offer additional benefits and other compensation, depending on circumstances not related to an applicant’s sex or other status protected by local, state, and/or federal law.

Expected Salary (Colorado only): $130,300 - $226,100

WSP USA is providing the compensation range that the company in good faith believes it might pay and/or offer for this position within the state of Colorado, based on the successful applicant’s education, experience, knowledge, skills, and abilities in addition to internal equity and specific geographic location. WSP USA reserves the right to ultimately pay more or less than the posted range and offer additional benefits and other compensation, depending on circumstances not related to an applicant’s sex or other status protected by local, state, and/or federal law.

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