Director, Engineering

About UsEV Realty develops, deploys and owns grid-scale charging infrastructure critical to electrifying commercial fleets in the U.S. We accelerate the adoption of large EV fleets by focusing on the fundamental constraint all electrified fleets face: low-cost, reliable and expandable access to grid-scale power.  Today’s electrical grid is complex, constrained and rapidly evolving.  It is also the backbone source of fuel that will power the world’s shift to electrified transportation, a use case it was not designed for over a century ago.  That’s where EV Realty comes in – we are developing a network of grid-optimized, large-scale EV charging hubs for delivery, logistics, services and vocational fleet customers.  Our depots serve multiple commercial fleets in secure, high-power locations with guaranteed charging access and availability, and are located proximate to major logistics corridors within last-mile delivery/duty range of urban population centers.  By aggregating multiple fleets onto shared private infrastructure in grid-ready locations, our depots reduce upfront and recurring costs for fleets, optimize charging times and provide high utilization rates. Role SummaryEV Realty is seeking an experienced Director of Engineering to execute, lead and manage the full suite of engineering and technical activities required to design, engineer and implement grid-optimized commercial electric vehicle charging projects.  You will be responsible for ensuring that EV charging infrastructure and other project components (including battery energy storage and solar PV) are designed, procured and constructed optimally and cost-effectively.  In this role, you must possess the experience and skills to execute engineering design work, to review and oversee the work of contractors for quality and cost and to effectively manage scope/budget/schedule for outsourced engineering and construction work.    

Principal Responsibilities & Key Results

• Manage engineering deliverables for multiple projects with competing deadlines and resources
• Serve as in-house subject matter expert and key point of contact on engineering and design matters from concept through commissioning
• Perform initial assessments and lead the detailed design drawing for sites with a focus on the project’s civil and electrical architecture, optimizing sites to achieve long-term value
• Prepare electrical designs and collaborate with Development to initiate and advance utility interconnection processes, including preparation of interconnection applications and single-line diagrams
• Source and manage qualified external consultants to support engineering activities as needed, negotiating contracts and scopes of work and holding partners accountable through execution
• Attend project site walks to ensure the Company’s engineering contractor(s) are performing and collecting all necessary information for design and permitting
• Review and accept project design drawings produced by third parties
• Research, obtain and apply critical design information including building and electrical code requirements to site design
• Identify site constraints, exclusion areas and mitigations solutions
• Perform load profile and usage estimates with and without load management solutions to inform project scoping and economics
• Maintain current market and technical knowledge of EV, PV and battery energy storage system products and specifications as well as continuous interest in learning about new technologies in a dynamic and evolving field
• Support or lead the selection of appropriate, best-in-class charging hardware and software, electrical equipment, PV, and energy storage, including EPC procurement efforts from preparation of technical exhibits to negotiations of the EPC contract and award
• Work with vendors and other internal teams to develop, evaluate and standardize major equipment
• Ensure deliverables meet high quality standards
• Report regularly on engineering progress and setbacks and participate in meetings to communicate progress and expectations to all stakeholders in a timely and clear manner

Knowledge & Skills

• Understanding of how the EV charging stations will impact the electric grid at distribution and transmission levels and ability to create and apply innovative and cost-effective solutions to minimize grid impact
• Well versed in utility design standard requirements (e.g. PG&E Greenbook and other utility equivalents), load studies and interconnection processes
• Knowledge of grid-connected and islanded solutions, including site reliability/backup solutions
• Knowledge of permitting implications under various Authority Having Jurisdictions (AHJs)
• Knowledge of National Electric Code (NEC), building codes, and Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) codes in the context of EV charger infrastructure deployment
• Knowledge of and ability to evaluate EV charger software solutions
• Comfort and ability to speak directly with customers to explain technical issues in a simplified manner
• Experienced with project and contract management; construction management a plus
• Strong AutoCAD drafting skills and fluency in mapping/GIS software, MS Project and other technical tools and platforms for electrical load and generation project design and optimization

Qualifications

• Mission-driven to combat the effects of climate change by tackling the urgent problem of decarbonizing the transportation sector at scale
• Undergraduate degree in electrical, mechanical or controls engineering required. Advanced study degree(s) and/or Professional Engineer license preferred
• Minimum 8 years of engineering experience in any of the following: vehicle electrification, EV charging infrastructure, solar PV, and/or energy storage
• Experience in utility electrical power system projects or distributed energy resource projects strongly preferred
• 2-4 years of hands-on experience with design of EV charging systems including electrical and civil architecture and applying electrical and building codes to design
• Demonstrated track record of success with organizational and analytical problem-solving skills, written and verbal communication skills, attention to detail
• Entrepreneurial spirit with a “think outside the box” mindset in designing creative solutions for customers in an emerging and dynamic field and a can-do attitude toward execution