Solar Design Engineer

Solar Design Electrical Engineer

Company: Lee Group Search (Client: Leading Utility-Scale PV Provider)

Location: Calgary, AB (Satellite Office)

Salary: $100,000 – $140,000 per year

Employment Type: Full-Time, Permanent

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Clean Professional Job Summary

Lee Group Search is recruiting a senior-level Design Electrical Engineer for a premier provider of turnkey utility-scale solar systems. Based in the Calgary office, you will be a key technical driver for ground-mounted PV power plants across Canada and the USA. This role bridges the gap between high-level conceptual design and construction execution, requiring mastery of AC/DC collector layouts, energy production modeling, and detailed AutoCAD engineering. You will collaborate with a multidisciplinary team to engineer, procure, and commission massive renewable energy assets, ensuring all designs meet rigorous electrical codes while optimizing for both performance and economic efficiency.

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Key Responsibilities

• Detailed Engineering Design: Develop comprehensive engineering packages for utility-scale PV facilities, including equipment layouts, single-line diagrams (SLDs), and precise cable sizing for trench or suspended systems.

• Energy Modeling: Utilize PVsyst to develop accurate energy production models and reports to validate project viability and performance guarantees.

• Technical Documentation: Create and manage detailed engineering drawings using AutoCAD and PV Case, ensuring all quantity take-offs are precise for procurement.

• Equipment Procurement Support: Conduct technical and economic analyses of electrical components (inverters, transformers, combiner boxes) and manage vendor communications and specifications.

• Construction & Commissioning Support: Provide real-time technical guidance to field teams; manage the creation of redlines and as-built documentation; and support onsite testing and commissioning.

• Standards Development: Contribute to the evolution of internal electrical design principles, software evaluation, and code reviews to maintain a competitive engineering edge.

• Project Lifecycle Management: Supervise subcontractors and consultants, maintain accurate project databases, and finalize project close-out packages.

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Required Qualifications & Skills

• Education: Bachelor’s degree in Electrical Engineering is mandatory.

• Professional Licensure: Professional Engineering License (P.Eng.) is highly preferred.

• Sector Experience: Minimum of 4 years of electrical engineering experience specifically within the wind or solar power generation sectors.

• Software Proficiency: Advanced user of AutoCAD and PV Case; strong experience with PVsyst is preferred.

• Code Knowledge: In-depth working knowledge of both Canadian (CEC) and USA (NEC) electrical codes.

• Analytical Skills: Ability to interpret complex electrical studies, technical specifications, and vendor quotations.

• Soft Skills: Strong interpersonal skills to navigate communications between corporate engineers, vendors, and construction field crews.

• Mobility: Valid passport and ability to travel to project sites across North America.

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About the Company: Lee Group Search & Client

Lee Group Search is a specialized executive search firm connecting top-tier engineering talent with leaders in the renewable energy sector. Their client is a prominent, Toronto-headquartered firm that manages the full lifecycle (EPC and O&M) of utility-scale solar projects. By joining the Calgary satellite office, you will be part of a strategic expansion into Western Canada’s booming renewable market, backed by the resources of a national leader in PV power plants.

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Market & Industry Context: Utility-Scale Solar (2026)

In 2026, Alberta has solidified its position as the “Renewable Capital of Canada.” The province’s unique deregulation and high solar irradiance have led to a surge in utility-scale deployments.

The industry is currently focused on Bifacial Module technology and Single-Axis Trackers, which require more sophisticated energy modeling than traditional fixed-tilt systems. For a Design Engineer, the 2026 market values the ability to integrate “Storage-Ready” designs (BESS integration) into PV layouts. With salaries in Calgary for this role trending higher than the national average, the $100K–$140K range reflects the high demand for engineers who can navigate the complexities of cross-border (Canada/USA) regulatory environments.

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Career Growth & Progression Path

• Senior Lead Engineer: Take full ownership of the Western Canadian engineering portfolio, mentoring junior designers and approving major design packages.

• Project Engineering Manager: Shift into a high-level management role, overseeing the coordination between engineering, procurement, and construction (EPC) workflows.

• Director of Engineering: Define the long-term technical strategy and technology adoption roadmap for the entire North American organization.

• Grid Interconnection Specialist: Specialize in the complex regulatory and technical requirements for connecting massive solar arrays to provincial and state grids.

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Interview Preparation Insights

• The “PV Case” Edge: Be prepared to demonstrate your proficiency in PV Case. Since this is a required skill, discuss how you have used it to automate site layouts or optimize stringing in past projects.

• Cross-Border Codes: You may be asked about the primary differences between the CEC (Canada) and NEC (USA) regarding solar grounding or DC arc-flash protection.

• Economic Analysis: Be ready to walk through a “Value Engineering” scenario where you had to choose between two different inverter technologies based on both technical specs and long-term O&M costs.

• Site Travel Readiness: Confirm your ability to travel and your comfort level with conducting onsite inspections and managing “as-built” discrepancies in real-time.

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Compensation & Working Arrangement

• Salary: $100,000 – $140,000 per year, commensurate with experience and P.Eng. status.

• Office Culture: Professional 40-hour work week with an “in-person” focus during the initial phase.

• Hybrid Flexibility: Potential for a 2-day-per-week hybrid schedule following a successful probation period.

• Travel: Occasional North American travel required for site inspections and stakeholder meetings.

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Short Compliance & Equal Opportunity Note

Lee Group Search and its clients are committed to building a diverse and inclusive workforce. Applications are encouraged from all qualified candidates, including women, Indigenous peoples, and members of visible minorities. Hiring decisions are based on technical competence, experience, and the specific needs of the utility-scale solar market.