Civil Development Engineer, Renewable Energy
About This Role
As part of Intersect’s Development Engineering team, you’ll provide civil and structural guidance that turns early concepts into buildable, code-compliant designs for grid-scale solar, storage, and compute-adjacent data center sites. You’ll set clear design criteria, optimize layouts for land and cost efficiency, and coordinate technical diligence so projects move from site control through Issued for Construction (IFC) with fewer surprises.
You’ll work as an individual contributor while partnering closely with Development, Real Estate, Permitting, Construction, Finance, and external A/E consultants, EPC partners and general contractors. Your work ensures safe, timely, and cost-effective delivery.
Team Overview
The Development Engineering team transforms vision into reality. By owning the civil and structural foundations of project design from early due diligence through Issued for Construction (IFC) and into construction support we de-risk land, permitting, cost, and schedule so Intersect can scale clean energy infrastructure at speed. Our work blends deep technical rigor with practical project management, in close collaboration with EPC partners, consultants, utilities, and internal teams to ensure seamless delivery. Joining this team means contributing directly to Intersect’s mission of powering a sustainable future while growing your expertise in large-scale power project execution.
What You’ll Do
Set the design criteria & align stakeholders
Collaborate with internal teams, hyperscalers, external consultants, and AHJs to define and develop civil and structural design criteria aligned with project goals and regulatory requirements
Provide civil engineering direction and oversight for data center-adjacent power facilities, coordinating closely with A/E consultants and general contractors
Advance project development & manage risk
Support project development from concept to completion, identifying and mitigating design, budget, and schedule risks with a civil-engineering focus
Translate commercial, permitting, and site constraints into clear engineering guidance and decision-ready documentation
Optimize layouts for land, cost & permitting
Optimize civil site layouts for efficient land use, considering equipment selection, topography, environmental constraints, and permitting requirements
Balance constructability, cost, and schedule while iterating designs to reduce risk and improve outcomes
Run technical diligence & surveys
Manage and coordinate site technical diligence, including hydrology, geotechnical, and transportation studies
Procure boundary/topographic surveys and crossing/encroachment matrices; coordinate crossing locations with utilities, landowners, and other stakeholders
Deliver integrated civil & structural design
Lead engineering consultants and general contractors through constraint mapping, civil and structural design, value engineering, and design reviews
Ensure designs comply with relevant codes, industry standards, and project specifications, maintaining clear, review-ready documentation
Coordinate across disciplines
Work closely with Wind, PV, BESS, Data Center, and High-Voltage engineering teams to resolve interfaces and deliver integrated designs
Support permitting & approvals
Assist in obtaining development and construction permits, ensuring compliance with local regulations and expediting approvals
Enable procurement & contracting
Support value engineering and prepare civil/structural scope and contract exhibits, ensuring cost-effective solutions aligned with project specifications
What You’ll Bring
A bachelor’s degree in civil or structural engineering or equivalent experience that prepares you to guide complex site designs
7+ years of technical civil/structural design experience, including 2+ years leading multidisciplinary design processes for utility-scale power projects
Strong command of design development, construction methods, relevant codes and standards, and safety fundamentals for large-scale site work
Ability to balance design, production, cost, schedule, and land-use considerations; and to clearly explain tradeoffs to diverse audiences
Proven project management skills with the judgment to prioritize across multiple, simultaneous projects
Proficiency with AutoCAD, Revit, and Civil 3D; familiarity with project tools such as Procore and MS Project (or similar)
Collaborative communicator who builds trust with internal teams, EPCs, consultants, AHJs, and landowners
A growth mindset, curiosity to learn, willingness to mentor peers and drive to improve playbooks and standards
Bonus Points
Hands-on experience with grading, stormwater management, erosion control, and SWPPP preparation
Experience taking projects from early site diligence through construction