Director, Engineering and Pre-Construction

The Role:

Cultivate Power is seeking an experienced individual to serve as a critical internal expert and technically-grounded partner across our distributed solar and storage project portfolio This is a leadership role that sits at the intersection of engineering, permitting, interconnection, and project value optimization — with a core focus on minimizing cost to build while maximizing the constructability and quality of our projects. 

This role will function as a hands-on technical and commercial leader who guides strategy and tactics for our team across electrical engineering and interconnection matters, site buildability, and construction cost optimization, while also directly owning key workstreams, consultant relationships, and utility partnerships that determine whether our projects get built on time and on budget. More specifically, this role will: (1) help developers design projects that are cost-feasible and constructible; (2) guide our teams through building permit and stormwater approval processes; (3) provide technical support on interconnection feasibility and studies to drive better outcomes on cost and timeline; and (4) ensure our portfolio is underpinned by sound engineering and smart equipment decisions. In select cases where Cultivate Power directly contracts for project construction, the Director will also oversee EPC selection and management.

This position is for you if you are energized by technical problem-solving in a fast-paced environment, want to make a real impact on how distributed solar projects get built, and thrive in a collaborative team where ownership and initiative are rewarded.

About us:

Cultivate Power is a distributed solar and storage platform. We develop distributed energy resources that advance the productive use of the land and integrate with the community and grid. We believe community generation improves grid resiliency, furthers energy independence, and brings economic benefits to local communities. Our top focus is cultivating land into distributed renewable energy projects.

At Cultivate Power, we have completed the development of more than 35 projects over the past four years. Our ~30 person team has significant experience developing and financing solar, wind, battery storage, and transmission projects, as well as policy and market development across the US. The Cultivate Power team's skillset spans project development, project financing, policy, and power marketing from the beginning stages of land development all the way to project construction and operations.

We are a talent-centric company that believes deeply in empowering our team members with significant responsibility and creating a culture of inclusivity and diversity. We cultivate our team's talent, providing each team member with the training, support, and incentives they need to grow and thrive at Cultivate Power.

Essential duties and responsibilities:

Engineering, Design & Project Economics

• Partner closely with developers to evaluate and optimize project designs for cost and performance, including system sizing, layout, equipment selection, and civil/structural considerations, helping ensure projects meet pro forma assumptions and financing requirements. Review engineering deliverables including site plans, electrical single-line diagrams, civil drawings, and equipment specifications; provide technically-informed feedback to drive constructability and value

• Support early-stage project cost estimation and budget development, providing technical inputs that ground project economics in real-world construction cost expectations, either through direct cost-estimation or by engaging consultant and EPCs for draft bid. This is especially important for projects with difficult site conditions

• Lead value engineering efforts in collaboration with developers and construction managers to identify cost reduction opportunities without compromising schedule or quality

Permitting & Entitlement Support

• Serve as an internal technical resource, and owner of external technical resources, to project developers, providing guidance on site design parameters — setbacks, lot coverage, grading, equipment layout — to ensure project designs are optimized for economic feasibility and constructability ahead of non-ministerial approval processes (SUP, CUP, special use permits, etc.)

• From to time to time, directly lead or manage the pursuit of late-stage ministerial approvals, including building permits and stormwater permits, either personally, through internal staff, and/or through third-party consultants

• Identify, hire, and manage our stable of technical consultants; develop scopes of work, manage budgets and invoicing, and hold consultants accountable to schedule and deliverable quality

• Advise/manage advisement development team on building/SWPPP permitting risk, jurisdiction-specific requirements, and mitigation strategies that keep projects on critical path without compromising approval outcomes

Interconnection Advisory & Utility Relationships

• Serve in a consultative/advisory capacity to developers on grid requirements, technical specifications, and interconnection process strategy across distribution-level utility territories

• Identify and engage best-in-class interconnection consultants and technical advisors; help the team access and interpret grid data, hosting capacity maps, and utility technical standards to sharpen project siting decisions

• Own and cultivate primary relationships with key host utilities, developing deep familiarity with each utility’s technical standards, interconnection processes, and key contacts in an effort to improve project outcomes in terms of cost, timeline, and interconnection design

• Provide guidance to developers on interconnection application strategy, study management, review of study results, and cost allocation to support well-informed development decisions

Equipment, OEM Relationships & Procurement

• Develop and maintain deep knowledge of the solar module, inverter, and transformer markets, including product specifications, pricing trends, supply chain dynamics, and vendor reliability

• Cultivate and manage strategic relationships with key OEM partners (racking and panel manufacturers, inverter suppliers, and transformer vendors) to ensure we are well-positioned for competitive pricing, product availability, and technical support

• Monitor market conditions and advise the development and finance teams on equipment procurement timing, sourcing strategies, and cost inputs for use in project pro formas

• Support procurement planning and equipment specification for projects approaching construction, coordinating with construction managers to align on equipment schedules and technical requirements

Pre-Construction Coordination & Execution

• Develop and manage pre-construction project schedules, budgets, and risk registers across the portfolio; proactively communicate status and flag issues to leadership and cross-functional project teams

• Coordinate pre-construction readiness, ensuring completeness of the key development package (permits, interconnection agreements, land agreements, and engineering deliverables) ahead of construction commencement

• Support EPC/SME selection and contracting processes as needed, with primary emphasis on ensuring construction-ready project packages and continuity of technical knowledge through handoff

Team & Stakeholder Leadership

• Build and mentor a high-performing team, which may include construction managers, pre-construction analysts, and critical outsourced/external resources

• Serve as a key cross-functional partner to development and finance teams throughout the project lifecycle, ensuring technical considerations are well-represented in project decisions

• Represent Cultivate Power with external stakeholders including utilities, equipment vendors, consultants, local governments, and contractors

Requirements:

• 8–12+ years of experience in solar or broader renewable energy project development or construction, with meaningful experience in pre-construction, engineering management, or technical project management

• Demonstrated track record of managing solar projects through permitting, engineering, and construction readiness

• Strong working knowledge of interconnection processes, utility technical standards, and grid hosting capacity concepts; experience across multiple utility territories a significant plus; distribution-level experience is preferred, transmission/ISO/RTO familiarity helpful but not required

• Deep familiarity with solar module, battery system, inverter, and transformer products, vendors, and market dynamics

• Strong interest in build-cost estimation and project value optimization; direct experience preferred, but candidates without it must be eager to develop the skill — working hands-on or alongside consultants to estimate costs and drive down cost to build projects. 

• Experience managing third-party engineering firms, permitting consultants, and technical advisors, including scope, budget, and deliverable management

• Strong technical project management skills with the ability to manage multiple projects simultaneously across different markets and development stages

• Excellent communication and translation skills — ability to distill complex technical topics for non-technical colleagues including developers, finance team members, and executive leadership

• Proven ability to operate and lead in a entrepreneurial environment where initiative and ownership are highly valued 

• Bachelor’s degree in electrical engineering, civil engineering, environmental engineering, or a related technical field strongly preferred, advanced degree a plus

• Familiarity with GIS platforms a plus

• Ability to travel as needed for site visits, utility meetings, and stakeholder engagement