Civil Engineer

Job Title: Civil Engineer - Distributed Solar and Energy Storage (Remote Opportunity)

Job Description

This role focuses on civil engineering design and scope development for distributed solar and battery storage projects in the 2-20 MW range. You will evaluate site feasibility, develop detailed civil design packages, and collaborate closely with multidisciplinary teams to deliver renewable energy projects that support the transition to a carbon-neutral future. The position offers the opportunity to influence the full project lifecycle, from early feasibility through design and construction support, while working in a highly collaborative, fully remote environment.

Responsibilities

• Develop civil engineering designs and scope for distributed solar and storage projects in the 2-20 MW range.

• Evaluate site feasibility by assessing grading, drainage, stormwater, hydrology, geotechnical conditions, and site access.

• Prepare, review, and refine site layouts and grading plans to optimize constructability, performance, and cost.

• Design drainage and stormwater management systems that comply with applicable standards and support long-term asset performance.

• Plan and design access roads and utility routing to ensure safe, efficient, and reliable site access and interconnection.

• Support the design of foundations for PV arrays and battery energy storage system (BESS) infrastructure.

• Coordinate civil design deliverables with internal development, engineering, construction, and procurement teams, as well as external consultants.

• Support multiple concurrent projects (approximately five at a time), ensuring timely delivery of accurate and high-quality civil design packages.

• Participate in design reviews and provide technical input to improve standards, processes, and project outcomes.

• Communicate clearly and frequently with team members to align on project requirements, schedules, and design decisions.

• Contribute to continuous improvement of land development processes specific to solar and storage projects.

Essential Skills

• Civil engineering degree from an ABET-accredited institution.

• Minimum of 5 years of civil engineering experience, with a strong background in land development, transmission or distribution, or solar engineering.

• Proficiency in AutoCAD Civil 3D for civil design and site development.

• Experience with civil engineering design for site layouts, grading plans, drainage, stormwater management, and access roads.

• Ability to evaluate site feasibility, including grading, drainage, stormwater, hydrology, geotechnical conditions, and access.

• Strong understanding of civil design principles for foundations supporting PV arrays and BESS infrastructure.

• Demonstrated ability to support and manage work across multiple concurrent projects.

• Strong communication skills, with the ability to collaborate effectively with internal teams and external consultants.

• Eligibility to work remotely from Illinois, Virginia, Minnesota, or Pennsylvania.

• EIT or similar engineering-in-training background (as indicated by experience with engineering fundamentals).

Additional Skills & Qualifications

• Experience in civil design for renewable energy projects such as solar, wind, or battery storage.

• background in transmission or distribution civil engineering projects.

• Experience with land development processes, particularly for large-scale or distributed energy projects.

• Familiarity with site development workflows and coordination with multidisciplinary project teams.

• Interest in working across the full project lifecycle, from site feasibility through design and construction support.

• Desire to grow within a collaborative, purpose-driven culture focused on sustainability and innovation.

• Openness to mentorship and professional development in land development for solar projects.

Work Environment

You will join a tight-knit, fully remote civil and structural team consisting of one structural engineer, two civil engineers, and two civil designers. The team operates in a highly collaborative atmosphere, placing strong emphasis on clear, frequent communication and mutual support. You will work in a smaller team environment where your contributions are visible and impactful, and where leadership and mentorship are actively provided to help you deepen your expertise in land development for solar projects. The organization fosters a purpose-driven culture centered on sustainability, innovation, trust, inclusion, and professional growth, with significant investment in training, mentorship, and career mobility. Work is internally focused, supporting engineering teams on layout and design across multiple simultaneous projects, leveraging tools such as AutoCAD Civil 3D in a fully remote setup.

Job Type & Location

This is a Contract to Hire position based out of Chicago, IL.

Pay and Benefits

The pay range for this position is $40.87 - $55.29/hr.

Eligibility requirements apply to some benefits and may depend on your job classification and length of employment. Benefits are subject to change and may be subject to specific elections, plan, or program terms. If eligible, the benefits available for this temporary role may include the following: - Medical, dental & vision - Critical Illness, Accident, and Hospital - 401(k) Retirement Plan - Pre-tax and Roth post-tax contributions available - Life Insurance (Voluntary Life & AD&D for the employee and dependents) - Short and long-term disability - Health Spending Account (HSA) - Transportation benefits - Employee Assistance Program - Time Off/Leave (PTO, Vacation or Sick Leave)

Workplace Type

This is a fully remote position.

Application Deadline

This position is anticipated to close on Jun 30, 2026.

About Actalent

Actalent is a global leader in engineering and sciences services and talent solutions. We help visionary companies advance their engineering and science initiatives through access to specialized experts who drive scale, innovation and speed to market. With a network of almost 20,000 consultants and 5,000 clients across the U.S., Canada, Asia and Europe, Actalent serves many of the Fortune 500. We are proud to be an Engineering News-Record (ENR) Top 500 Design Firm for our engineering design services and a ClearlyRated Best of Staffing® winner for both client and talent service.

The company is an equal opportunity employer and will consider all applications without regard to race, sex, age, color, religion, national origin, veteran status, disability, sexual orientation, gender identity, genetic information or any characteristic protected by law.

If you would like to request a reasonable accommodation, such as the modification or adjustment of the job application process or interviewing process due to a disability, please email View email address on click.appcast.io for other accommodation options.

San Francisco Fair Chance Ordinance: Pursuant to the San Francisco Fair Chance Ordinance, for all positions located in the city and county of San Francisco, we will consider for employment qualified applicants with arrest and conviction records.

Massachusetts Lie Detector: It is unlawful in Massachusetts to require or administer a lie detector test as a condition of employment or continued employment. An employer who violates this law shall be subject to criminal penalties and civil liability.

Use of Artificial Intelligence (AI): We may use Artificial Intelligence (AI) to support parts of our hiring process, including sourcing, screening, and evaluating candidates. AI helps assess applications and qualifications, but final decisions are made by our hiring team. By applying, you acknowledge and agree that your application may be reviewed using AI tools.