Lead Electrical Engineer

Job Description

• Own, define, structure and manage the scope, budget, schedule, HSE, risks and quality of the electrical scope -  from generation/storage equipment (solar PV, wind turbines, BESS) through to grid connection, on a portfolio of projects, through pre-acquisition due diligence processes, design, procurement, financial close, NTP, construction, commissioning and operations phases.
• Demonstrate technical leadership and provide mentoring/support to colleagues, with a focus on continuous improvement of electrical engineering standards, lessons learnt, and development of templates and governance processes covering HV/MV systems including:
• MV collector and reticulation systems
• Main power transformers
• AIS/GIS and switchgear
• HV cables and overhead/underground transmission lines
• Substations and electrical balance of plant
• Protection, control, earthing and power-quality studies
• Construction and installation methods/techniques of all of the above
• Own electrical interfaces with civil, grid, SCADA, environmental, planning, land, commercial, construction and asset management teams, and educate key internal stakeholders with regards to electrical workstream objectives, risks and opportunities.
• Contribute to project contracting strategies, scope definition, tender documentation, technical evaluation, contract negotiation and post-award engineering management.
• Manage OEM and contractor performance from design through construction.
• Prepare/review concept designs, single line diagrams (SLDs), cable layouts, protection philosophies, bills of materials, technical specifications, employer's requirements/principal's project requirements, design reports, design certificates and construction documentation.
• Review, challenge and evaluate EPC / Owner’s Engineer’s / contractor’s design submissions, RFIs, variations and non-conformances with a focus on proactive practical issue resolution, technoeconomic optimization and risk management.
• Manage resolution of electrical-related punch list issues on operating assets post-COD.
• Coordinate and manage design reviews, site inspections and technical workshops as required.

Qualifications

Ideally, you will have some or all of the following qualifications, skills and experience:

• Demonstrated electrical engineering experience (7-10 yrs) on Australian utility-scale renewable energy projects, ideally across wind, solar PV, and / or battery energy storage systems – experience on hybrid solar/BESS projects and projects involving complex generation performance standards requirements in particular highly regarded.
• Experience working for an EPC contractor, engineering consultant, utility, independent power producer or renewable energy project developer.
• Proven involvement in both pre- and post-financial close/construction project phases, acting as the owner's representative for the electrical package, and managing package delivery from design through to handover to operations.
• Practical site-based construction exposure, including contractor management, ITP/ITR processes, design change management and punch list issue resolution.
• Strong MV/HV power systems knowledge and understanding.
• Experience preparing, reviewing or managing technical documentation for tendering, contract negotiation, contractor design review and construction delivery.
• Familiarity with Australian approvals, engineering standards, construction practices and grid-connected infrastructure delivery environments.
• Previous experience as a user of power systems software packages such as DIgSILENT PowerFactory.
• Tertiary qualification in Electrical Engineering or a related discipline. Chartered status, RPEQ / NER / state registration or progress towards registration is not a pre-requisite for the role however will be highly regarded.
• Eligibility to work in Australia.

What we are looking for

Success in this role will be demonstrated through:

• A practical mindset, sound judgement and a commitment to ensuring safe, bankable and constructible renewable energy projects.
• Strong electrical workstream management skills, and willingness/desire to take ownership of budget, scope, programme, risks and quality.
• Ability to work well in teams with diverse professional/personal backgrounds – focusing as much on what needs to be done as well as how to work together best as a team.
• Commercial awareness, technical depth and comfort operating at the interface between engineering, development, procurement, finance and construction.
• Proactiveness, self-motivation, and conscious prioritization of workload in alignment with Engineering Manager.
• Clear communication with technical and non-technical stakeholders and ability to translate engineering issues into actionable recommendations.
• An appreciation of the value of quality, genuine relationships with colleagues – we spend most of our week with our colleagues so we might as well enjoy it!

Additional Information

What we offer

• 💰 A competitive salary package including annual bonus
•  🩺 A generous contribution to your private health insurance, when you join the Octopus Australia-sponsored Medibank policy.
• ✈️ An extra five days’ annual leave entitlement
• 🏡 Hybrid working arrangement.
• 💼 Ongoing learning and career development opportunities including a LinkedIn learning subscription.
• 📱Monthly mobile phone allowance.
• 🧘‍♀️Access to our employee wellness program, including an annual wellness allowance and Headspace subscription.
• 🚗 Access to novated leasing
• ☀️ The opportunity to apply your skills to the renewable energy transition.

Octopus Australia has built an exciting and inclusive high-performance culture where employees feel empowered. We understand the value of diversity, and we are dedicated to creating an inclusive workplace environment. We welcome people of all backgrounds to apply. 

Our Values 

At Octopus Australia we don’t just focus on what we do but also how we do it. Everyone shares our values of being straightforward, helpful, bold and empathetic. Our culture is critical to our success and is built around four principles that underpin how we pursue our goals:

We empower people to:

• Be Bold – make decisions quickly and be OK changing your mind if it turns out there’s a better way of doing things.
• Be Helpful – behave like it’s always day one and remember that without our customers, there is no business.
• Be Straightforward – have opinions and express them in a way that’s respectful and easy to understand.
• Be Empathetic – care about others and take the time to understand different perspectives. It’s about listening, supporting, and creating an environment where everyone feels valued – so we can send our people home happy.