Position Title: SENIOR COMMISSIONING ENGINEER Location: FIELD OFFICE FLSA Class: Exempt Responsible to: Operations Engineering Manager
Position Summary: The Senior Commissioning Engineer is responsible for the successful startup, commissioning, troubleshooting, testing, and operational turnover of VoltaGrid power generation systems throughout North America. This role serves as the primary technical representative during equipment installation, startup, and commissioning activities, ensuring systems are installed, tested, and operating safely and reliably before being transitioned to Operations.
Working a rotational schedule of approximately three weeks in the field followed by one week working remotely, this position partners closely with field technicians, project managers, engineering teams, operations personnel and vendors to deliver reliable power generation solutions.
Essential Duties and Responsibilities:
- Lead commissioning, startup, functional testing, and operational validation of power generation systems at customer sites.
- Verify proper installation of electrical, mechanical, instrumentation, controls, and auxiliary systems prior to startup.
- Perform system checkout, equipment calibration, loop checks, and pre-commissioning inspections.
- Execute commissioning procedures and performance testing to ensure systems meet design specifications and customer requirements.
- Troubleshoot electrical, mechanical, controls, PLC, engine, generator, and balance-of-plant issues during startup and commissioning.
- Serve as the primary technical liaison between VoltaGrid, contractors, vendors, and customer personnel throughout the commissioning process.
- Coordinate daily commissioning activities with project management, construction, operations, and field service teams.
- Develop commissioning punch lists, track deficiencies, and verify completion of corrective actions.
- Conduct root cause analysis for startup issues and implement effective corrective actions.
- Support system energization, synchronization, load testing, and operational acceptance testing.
- Ensure all commissioning activities are performed safely and in compliance with company procedures, customer requirements, and regulatory standards.
- Prepare commissioning reports, startup documentation, turnover packages, test records, and field engineering reports.
- Provide technical training and operational guidance to customers and Operations personnel during project turnover.
- Support warranty investigations, post-commissioning troubleshooting, and field modifications as required.
- During remote rotation weeks, prepare commissioning documentation, review project drawings, develop commissioning procedures, support engineering teams, analyze field issues, and assist with planning upcoming deployments.
- Support emergency field response and travel to customer locations as required.
Other Qualifications:
- Bachelor's degree in Electrical Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, Engineering Technology, or related technical field preferred.
- 5+ years of experience in commissioning, startup, field engineering, power generation, industrial construction, or related technical environments.
- Strong knowledge of generators, switchgear, medium- and low-voltage electrical systems, PLC controls, instrumentation, engines, and balance-of-plant equipment.
- Experience commissioning industrial power generation, distributed energy systems, microgrids, utility-scale equipment, or similar infrastructure.
- Demonstrated ability to troubleshoot complex electrical, mechanical, and controls issues under field conditions.
- Ability to read and interpret electrical one-line diagrams, P&IDs, control schematics, wiring diagrams, and construction drawings.
- Strong understanding of commissioning processes, startup sequencing, lockout/tagout, energized work practices, and industrial safety standards.
- Excellent verbal and written communication skills with strong customer-facing abilities.
- Ability to prioritize multiple projects in fast-paced field environments.
- Willingness to travel approximately 75%, working a rotational schedule of three weeks at project sites followed by one week working remotely from home.
- Ability to work extended hours, weekends, and flexible schedules during project startup as needed
Preferred Qualifications:
- Experience commissioning reciprocating engines, gas turbines, generators, switchgear, substations, or microgrid systems.
- Experience with PLC platforms such as Allen-Bradley, Siemens, GE, or Schneider.
- Experience with protective relays, ideally SELs
- Familiarity with SCADA systems, protective relays, generator controls, and synchronization equipment.
- Knowledge of NFPA 70, NFPA 70E, NEC, IEEE, and power generation industry standards.
- Customer-facing experience supporting industrial, oil & gas, utility, or data center projects.
- OSHA 30, NFPA 70E, or other industrial safety certifications.
- Experience supporting projects from construction through final commissioning and operational turnover.
The above statements are intended to describe the general nature and level of work being performed by employees assigned to this classification. All personnel may be required to perform duties outside of their normal responsibilities from time to time, as needed.
VoltaGrid is an Equal Opportunity Employer that does not discriminate on the basis of actual or perceived race, creed, color, religion, alienage or national origin, ancestry, citizenship status, age, disability or handicap, sex, marital status, veteran status, sexual orientation, genetic information, arrest record, or any other characteristic protected by applicable federal, state or local laws.
Our management team is dedicated to this policy with respect to recruitment, hiring, placement, promotion, transfer, training, compensation, benefits, employee activities, and general treatment during employment. #GC
