Lead Commissioning Engineer | Solar | Northeast

Lead Commissioning Engineer | Solar | Northeast
The Company:
We have partnered with an innovative renewable energy services company specializing in commissioning, testing, and operations & maintenance for community and utility-scale solar projects across the United States. Based in Portland, Maine, they are experiencing rapid growth and are building a team of highly skilled engineers to support the delivery of high-quality commissioning services for some of the country's largest solar assets. This is an opportunity to join an entrepreneurial business at an exciting stage of its growth while playing a key role in the clean energy transition.
The Role:
The Lead Commissioning Engineer will serve as the senior technical authority across utility-scale solar commissioning projects, leading testing, commissioning, and energization activities from project completion through commercial operation. This individual will oversee junior engineers and field technicians while working closely with EPC contractors, utilities, OEMs, and project stakeholders to ensure projects are delivered safely, efficiently, and in accordance with engineering specifications.
Key Responsibilities:
Commissioning & Testing:
Lead commissioning activities for utility-scale solar PV projects, including inverters, transformers, switchgear, SCADA, DAS, trackers, substations, and interconnection equipment,
Develop detailed commissioning plans, testing procedures, and project-specific acceptance criteria from IFC drawings and engineering documentation,
Perform and oversee electrical testing, protection relay testing, inverter commissioning, medium-voltage equipment testing, and functional system verification,
Support project energization, utility witness testing, and commercial operation by acting as the lead technical representative onsite,
Identify technical issues, troubleshoot system deficiencies, and coordinate corrective actions with EPC contractors, OEMs, and project teams,
Prepare commissioning reports, testing documentation, punch lists, and as-built records throughout the project lifecycle.
Technical Leadership:
Provide technical leadership, mentoring, and oversight to commissioning engineers and field technicians,
Ensure all commissioning activities comply with OSHA regulations, NFPA 70E electrical safety standards, and client requirements,
Communicate project risks, schedule impacts, and technical updates to Project Managers and senior leadership,
Support the company's growing Operations & Maintenance business by assisting with troubleshooting, maintenance recommendations, annual inspections, and O&M proposals.
Requirements:
Bachelor's degree in Electrical Engineering, Power Systems, or a related discipline (or equivalent technical experience),
3–7+ years of experience commissioning utility-scale solar, renewable energy, or power generation projects,
Strong knowledge of AC/DC electrical systems, protection relays, SCADA, DAS, inverter technologies, and medium-voltage equipment,
Experience with electrical testing equipment including Omicron, Doble, or equivalent relay testing platforms,
Working knowledge of NEC, IEEE 1547, NFPA 70E, IEC, and utility interconnection standards,
Ability to interpret single-line diagrams, protection studies, and electrical design documentation,
Professional Engineer (PE) license preferred, or willingness to obtain multi-state licensure,
Ability to travel approximately 50–75% across project sites throughout the Northeast, Mid-Atlantic, Midwest, and Texas,
Strong communication, leadership, and documentation skills with proficiency in Microsoft Office, Google Workspace, and Procore.
Lead Commissioning Engineer | Solar | Northeast

Work arrangement
No