Sr Project Engineer

Position Summary
Duke Energy is seeking a Senior Project Engineer to support the development, engineering, construction, and commissioning of utility-scale Battery Energy Storage System (BESS) projects. This role serves as a critical technical leader throughout the project lifecycle, providing engineering oversight, project execution support, quality assurance, and coordination across internal teams and external partners.
The ideal candidate combines strong electrical engineering expertise with project execution experience and can confidently engage with EPC contractors, OEMs, consultants, utilities, and internal stakeholders. Candidates with utility-scale solar, substations, transmission, generation, or other power infrastructure experience will also be considered.
This position offers the opportunity to shape the delivery of strategic energy projects while ensuring technical excellence, compliance, constructability, and operational readiness.
Key Responsibilities
Engineering Leadership & Technical Oversight

• Provide technical leadership for utility-scale BESS and energy infrastructure projects from development through commissioning and handoff to operations.
• Review and oversee engineering design packages, technical specifications, calculations, equipment selections, and construction deliverables.
• Challenge and provide oversight to the Engineer of Record (EOR), ensuring design assumptions, methodologies, and project decisions align with Duke Energy standards and project objectives.
• Perform QA/QC reviews of engineering designs and project documentation.
• Ensure compliance with applicable industry standards, codes, utility requirements, and project specifications.

Project Development & Execution

• Support project development, engineering, procurement, construction, testing, commissioning, and operational readiness activities.
• Coordinate activities between engineering, construction, regulatory, operations, EPC contractors, and equipment manufacturers.
• Review RFIs, technical submittals, change requests, drawing packages, and construction documentation.
• Identify technical risks early and develop mitigation strategies before field execution impacts schedule or cost.

Power Systems & Interconnection Support

• Review interconnection requirements, point of interconnection (POI) designs, one-line diagrams, utility comments, relay settings, and control interfaces.
• Support integration of:
  • Battery Energy Storage Systems (BESS)
  • Power Conversion Systems (PCS)
  • Energy Management Systems (EMS)
  • SCADA Systems
  • Medium-Voltage (MV) and High-Voltage (HV) infrastructure
• Coordinate protection and controls reviews and support grid integration activities.

Stakeholder Coordination

• Lead technical discussions with EPCs, OEMs, consultants, utilities, contractors, and internal stakeholders.
• Resolve engineering, procurement, construction, startup, and commissioning challenges.
• Communicate project risks, technical recommendations, and key decisions to management and project teams.

Required Qualifications
Education

• Bachelor's Degree in Electrical Engineering required.
• PE license preferred but not required.

Experience

• 7 years of overall engineering, project engineering, or project management experience.
• Minimum 3 years supporting utility-scale energy projects, including:
  • Battery Energy Storage Systems (BESS)
  • Solar PV
  • Utilities
  • Generation
  • Transmission
  • Substations
• Experience supporting projects through construction and commissioning phases strongly preferred.

Technical Knowledge
Strong understanding of:

• Utility-scale power systems
• Electrical infrastructure (MV/HV systems)
• Interconnection and Point of Interconnection (POI) requirements
• Protection and controls
• Relaying and coordination studies
• Inverters and power conversion equipment
• SCADA and EMS integration
• Substations and collector systems
• Power quality and harmonics

Working knowledge of:

• NFPA 855
• UL9540 / UL9540A
• NEC
• IEEE Standards

Preferred Qualifications

• Utility-scale BESS project experience.
• Experience supporting multiple projects simultaneously.
• Experience working directly with utilities, EPCs, and major equipment suppliers.
• Familiarity with owner's engineer or EOR review processes.
• Background in project management within energy infrastructure environments.

Ideal Candidate Profile
The successful candidate will be:

• Highly organized, proactive, and execution-focused.
• A self-starter who takes ownership and drives results.
• Comfortable operating in fast-paced project environments.
• Able to bridge technical engineering teams and project management functions.
• A strong communicator capable of influencing stakeholders and resolving complex technical issues.
• Adaptable to evolving technologies, grid requirements, industry standards, and regulatory changes.

Benefits:

• Health insurance
• 401(k)