Electrical Engineer - Development

Company

Orenda is on a mission to make the grid more efficient with renewable energy projects and proprietary asset management technology. We develop, build, own and operate battery energy storage projects in dense urban environments to bridge the gap between renewables and electricity consumption.

We are a dynamic, NYC-based company at the forefront of a new industry. We are seeking highly motivated and incredibly talented individuals who wish to contribute to our important mission.

About the Team

Orenda’s Project Development team owns the design + permitting path from early development through construction readiness — turning site constraints into buildable, utility / AHJ-compliant packages. We hold a tight technical baseline through Orenda design standards and site specs, disciplined Engineer of Record (EOR) management, milestone QA/QC (30%/60%/90%/IFC), and clean document control.

We carry that rigor through permitting by coordinating with utilities and AHJs, delivering complete drawing sets, and closing objections without “baseline drift.” Throughout design, we partner closely with Pre-construction so engineering outputs stay aligned to schedule, procurement, and field readiness — then we hand Construction a clear, traceable package with interfaces and exceptions explicitly called out.

About the Role

The Electrical Engineer supports Orenda’s Principal Engineer and the Project Development team by keeping our design baseline sharp: enforcing standards, driving QA/QC at key design milestones, and closing technical loops across EOR packages, vendor interfaces, and field-driven clarifications. You’ll turn ambiguity into decision-grade inputs, drive traceable resolution back into active design sets, and — when patterns emerge — harden our design standards and equipment specs so issues don’t repeat.

• This role is ideal for: a rigorous, fast-moving engineer who loves getting to the bottom of things. You can spot design-standard violations quickly, run disciplined comment-closure cycles, and translate messy questions into crisp issue statements with impact, options, and a recommended path forward. You thrive in a high-urgency environment where tight coordination with Development Project Managers, Engineering, Pre-construction, Procurement, and Construction is how we scale.

What you’ll do

• Design Standards + Milestone QA/QC: Review EOR design packages at 30%/60%/90%/IFC against Orenda Site Design Specifications (single-lines, layouts, grounding/bonding, labeling, key interfaces). Issue crisp comment logs, run closure to zero, and prevent downstream rework.
• Constructability + Field Feedback Loop: Participate in constructability reviews (typically 60% and 90%). Capture recurring field issues and design clarifications and convert them into durable standards updates with the Principal Engineer.
• RFIs + Design-Change Triage: Own intake, triage, and coordination of technical RFIs and submittals that involve (or may trigger) a design change. Maintain an auditable RFI/comment log with timestamps, assumptions, and approvals; coordinate responses with the EOR + Principal Engineer for fast, clean closure.
• Vendor Clarifications + Submittal Reviews: Sanity-check vendor submittals (switchgear, transformers, protection/controls, metering CT/PT, communications) for interface completeness and spec alignment. Run clarification cycles to closure and keep every decision traceable to the design baseline.
• Interface Management: Coordinate electrical interfaces across BESS/PCS/MV gear, metering, protection, SCADA/EMS, and fire/life safety — surface integration risk early, before it becomes field pain.
• Decision Packages + Document Control: Produce decision-grade redlines/memos. Maintain clean baselines, revision history, and closure evidence so scope doesn’t change silently.
• Cross-Functional Coordination: Keep Development PMs, Preconstruction, Procurement, and Construction aligned to schedule + readiness needs; escalate crisply with issue statement, impact, options, and a recommendation.

Requirements

• Education: Bachelor’s degree in Electrical Engineering (preferred) or a related field (or equivalent experience).
• Experience: 5+ years in electrical engineering supporting complex projects (energy, utility, industrial, EPC, or comparable).
• Electrical codes: Working knowledge of applicable electrical codes and standards (e.g., NEC and relevant local/amendment requirements) and ability to apply them across design development, permitting packages, and field-driven clarifications.
• Electrical equipment fluency: Comfortable reviewing MV electrical equipment and related interfaces (protection/controls, metering CT/PT, grounding/bonding, communications, commissioning support) and spotting scope/interface risk early.
• RFI discipline: Proven ability to run structured RFI / technical clarification cycles (comment logs, turnaround targets, closure tracking) with auditable traceability of assumptions and approvals.
• Rigor + ownership: Low tolerance for ambiguous scope, undocumented commitments, or drifting baselines; uses logs, timestamps, and explicit assumptions to keep teams aligned.
• Cross-functional execution: Comfortable operating across Construction, Pre-construction, Procurement, Finance, and Legal without overstepping authority.
• Communication: Strong writing and exec-ready communication skills (clear issue statements, options, and recommendations).
• Tools: Comfortable adopting engineering/procurement workflows in systems like Kahua, Procore, Bluebeam/PlanGrid, BIM 360, or similar.

Preferred Qualifications (Bonus)

• BESS / PCS / protection schemes experience (battery OEM, PCS, switchgear/protection, communications).
• Cross-functional design experience coordinating with civil, structural, and architectural disciplines.
• NYC / dense-urban delivery constraints experience (tight delivery windows, rigging constraints, AHJ/utility interface).
• Experience working with EORs and driving comment-resolution cycles on accelerated schedules.

Skills and Attributes

• Extremely organized, process-oriented, and disciplined about document control.
• Low tolerance for ambiguous scope, un-owned technical risk, or undocumented commitments.
• Proactive risk-management mindset (surfaces issues early with clear options and recommended mitigations).
• Comfortable driving clarity across internal teams and external consultants/vendors without overstepping authority boundaries.

Work Environment

This is a full-time, in-office position requiring work from our headquarters (Brooklyn, NY) five days a week, with regular travel to project sites within the NYC area.

Why join Orenda?

At Orenda, you’ll help build the real-world infrastructure that makes the energy transition possible.

You’ll do this in a mission-driven culture that values ownership, accountability, continuous learning, high performance, and genuine collaboration. We work hard, move quickly, and enjoy doing it together.

In addition to the chance to do important work with a great team, Orenda offers a competitive compensation package designed to attract and retain top talent:

• Base Salary: The anticipated base salary range for this full-time position in New York City is $120,000-$170,000 per year. The final base salary will be determined on a case-by-case basis and may vary based on the successful candidate's relevant experience, skills, and qualifications.
• Bonus: In addition to the base salary, this role is eligible for a significant annual performance-based bonus.
• Benefits: Our comprehensive benefits package includes:
  • Health, dental, and vision insurance
  • 401(k) plan, with 3% Employer Match
  • LifeTime Fitness corporate membership
  • Monthly commuter stipend
  • Learning and education stipend
  • Flexible Paid Time Off (PTO) policy
  • Regular company events

Orenda Inc. is an equal opportunity employer committed to fair and inclusive hiring and employment practices in accordance with federal, New York State, and New York City law. We do not discriminate in any aspect of employment—including hiring, promotion, compensation, or termination—on the basis of any protected characteristic, including race, color, religion, sex, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, age, national origin, disability, veteran status, or any other status protected by law.

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