Civil Lead Engineer, Renewables

Job Description

Job Description

Description:

Westwood Professional Services, Inc. is seeking an experienced and detail-oriented Civil Engineering Project Lead to join our renewable energy team. The Civil Engineering Project Lead will be responsible for the overall direction, coordination, implementation, execution, quality assurance/quality control, and completion of civil engineering design on renewable projects, with a specific focus on Battery Energy Storage Systems (BESS). This role requires a strong leader who is dedicated to delivering high-level professional services to our clients.

1) Project Leadership

• Provide leadership, management, and mentorship for the design team. Project leadership tasks include:
  • Planning, coordinating, and executing the engineering design for a specific service
  • Defining project tasks, schedules, and resource requirements
  • Assigning tasks to and directing other technical and non-technical staff
  • Establishing goals for project deliverables and maintaining QA/QC standards
  • Preparing budgets for assigned projects and reviewing invoicing promptly
  • Communicating contractual requirements to the design team, verifying their incorporation into the design, and coordinating change orders with the Project Manager
  • Conducting team meetings and collaborating with other disciplines to ensure project success
  • Providing ongoing communication with the Project Manager regarding the project
  • Serving as a liaison between other engineers and the assigned design team
  • Removing obstacles preventing the design team from achieving their goals
• Plan and schedule necessary resources needed to support projects. Collaborate with Lead Engineers and Engineering Managers to optimize workload sharing between projects and offices.
• Support the Project Manager with planning, monitoring, and controlling the project scope, schedule, budget, reporting, and invoicing.
• Support the Project Manager with project close-out activities (e.g., lessons learned).

2) Quality

• Lead and provide quality assurance/quality control for assigned projects including:
  • Providing Engineer of Record (EOR) oversight of design tasks and final EOR review
  • Reviewing plans and specifications for constructability and risk management
  • Reviewing work by other members of the design team
  • Maintaining awareness of and complying with Westwood design/CAD standards
  • Performing quality review of all work products for accuracy
• Lead coordination with internal and external stakeholders to produce a well-coordinated and constructable design. Coordination efforts may include:
  • Coordinating with clients, utilities, and code enforcement agencies
  • Attending internal and external coordination meetings
  • Leading internal design team meetings
  • Collaborating closely with internal teams across multiple service groups
  • Keeping the Project Manager informed of work status, workload, problems, and progress related to your service
• Support service leadership to maintain firm standards and consistency.

3) Business Development Support

• Assist with client management and business development tasks. Assistance includes:
  • Maintaining strong relationships with existing clients and seeking opportunities with potential future clients
  • Building solid client contacts and fostering trusting relationships to encourage repeat business
  • Assisting with proposal preparation
  • Identifying additional scope and revenue opportunities related to the project and participating in business development activities
• Assist Market Directors as needed with marketing efforts and the creation of marketing materials.
• Provide clients with accurate design deliverables that closely meet contract requirements.
• Respond to client requests promptly.
• Treat all stakeholders with professionalism and respect.

4) Staff Development

• Assist with mentoring Project Engineers, Staff Engineers, and Technicians by providing guidance, explaining professional responsibilities, and reviewing work products.
• Advise service leadership on optimizing design team satisfaction and performance.

5) Technical Expertise

• Act as a technical advisor while effectively delegating design tasks.
• Lead and perform the design of a complete project, system, component, or process. Design tasks may include:
  • Researching, evaluating, and applying data
  • Preparing detailed engineering calculations
  • Preparing specifications and details
  • Preparing detailed construction drawings
  • Designing and producing deliverables using AutoCAD Civil 3D software
• Lead and perform other project tasks such as:
  • Conducting research and field assessments
  • Preparing permit applications
  • Writing technical reports
  • Creating technical presentations and exhibits
  • Preparing quantity take-offs and cost estimates
  • Providing construction support (e.g., responding to RFIs, performing field inspections)

Contacts / Direction

• Independently leads the design team with support from service leadership and the project management team.
• Receives general direction on key objectives.
• Receives guidance, when necessary, on unconventional or complex problems, direction on modified techniques, and new approaches on assignments with conflicting criteria.
• Responsible for personal and design team task management and adherence to deadlines, scope, and budget.
• Gains mentored experience from a licensed engineer in your area of specialty, project management, or business leadership.

Success Measures

• Completing projects accurately while adhering to the schedule, budget, and scope with minimal scope creep.
• Ensuring project teams are engaged, thriving, and producing high-quality products.
• Establishing strong relationships with clients, leading to repeat business.
• Building trust with both clients and project teams, fostering an environment where people want to collaborate and have you involved in their projects.
• Serving as a technical advisor while effectively delegating design tasks to the appropriate members of the design team.

Requirements:

Qualifications

• 4+ years of experience
• Bachelor’s degree in engineering from an ABET/EAC-accredited program
• Professional Engineer (PE) licensure

Required Technical Skills

• Advanced knowledge of engineering principles, communication (formal and informal), teamwork, and leadership
• Strong attention to detail and commitment to quality
• Effective time and workload management skills, including planning, organizing, and prioritizing tasks
• Working knowledge of project management principles
• Experience preparing progress reports, managing project data, and communicating project requirements
• Advanced knowledge of construction drawing and specification packages
• Basic knowledge of construction practices and constructability
• Experience with proposal writing and project estimating
• Proficiency in AutoCAD
• Proficiency in 3D modeling (AutoCAD Civil 3D)
• Working knowledge of Microsoft Office applications (Word, Excel, Outlook, etc.)
• Commitment to lifelong learning and staying informed on contemporary issues

Required Personal Skills

• Ability to maintain a high standard of professionalism in all workplace interactions
• Ability to lead a design team, including resource management and task delegation
• Strong oral and written communication skills, including the ability to:
  • Communicate effectively with technical and non-technical audiences
  • Provide technical direction to a team
  • Demonstrate empathy and strong listening skills
  • Show assertiveness and a collaborative approach when resolving conflicts
• Strong mentoring skills
• Ability to foster a team culture aligned with organizational values
• Ability to work both independently and collaboratively across multiple offices
• Ability to follow firm policies, practices, and procedures diligently

Preferred Additional Skills

• Advanced knowledge of construction practices and constructability
• Advanced knowledge of project management activities
• Working knowledge of scheduling and project control processes
• Experience with renewable energy projects

About Westwood Professional Services, Inc. (Westwood)

At Westwood, our purpose is to create a better world for people through our work. We transform the energy grid, design resilient infrastructure, and develop communities that will flourish today and for future generations. With over 50 years of experience and a legacy of innovation, we stand at the forefront of our industry, dedicated to understanding the unique needs of the markets we serve.

Our approach revolves around people. We are committed to building a culture that attracts, retains, and develops high performers. Our team values relationships, innovation, dedication, initiative, and growth. We believe fostering a collaborative “One Team” mentality yields superior outcomes in everything we do.

We customize our technical capabilities and geographic reach to meet our clients where they are and help them realize their vision. We are partners in our clients’ success, driving to provide solutions that make a lasting difference. Safety, sustainability, and operational excellence are not just facets of our work; they are intrinsic to our identity, guiding every decision we make.

We are deeply invested in the communities we serve. Through our projects and giving-back initiatives, we enrich the lives of those we serve, engage others within our industry, and create a lasting impact on communities around the world. To us, success transcends the completion of projects; it is reflected in the lives we have positively impacted by our work.

Join us in creating a better world.

In 2025, Westwood was recognized as #77 on the ENR Top 500 Design Firms. Additionally, Westwood was ranked #5 for ENR's Top Design Firm for Solar, #6 for Battery Storage, and #3 for Wind (2025). The firm consistently ranks on the industry's top 25 lists and receives recognition for its involvement in award-winning projects nationwide.

Westwood provides equal employment opportunities to all employees and applicants for employment and prohibits discrimination and harassment of any type without regard to race, color, religion, age, sex, national origin, disability status, genetics, protected veteran status, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, or any other characteristic protected by federal, state, or local laws. We believe that diverse backgrounds strengthen our business. This policy applies to all terms and conditions of employment, including recruiting, hiring, placement, promotion, termination, layoff, recall, transfer, leaves of absence, compensation, and training.

Westwood offers a full suite of competitive benefits, including medical, dental, and vision insurance; Health Savings Account (HSA) with employer contribution; company-paid life and AD&D insurance; short- and long-term disability coverage; and an Employee Assistance Program (EAP). Employees are also eligible for a 401(k) with employer match, paid time off, paid holidays, tuition reimbursement, and paid medical and family leave benefits in accordance with applicable state law.

  Applications are being accepted on an ongoing basis; however, this job posting may close at any time after 8/25/2026.