Design Manager

Design Manager

Supervisor: Director of Engineering

Classification: Full-time, exempt

Location: Full Remote

Benefits:

• Competitive salaries

• Health, vision and dental insurance

• 401(k) program with 6% matching

• Paid holidays

• Flexible PTO

Position Overview

CalSolar is seeking a Design Manager to join our Engineering Team and serve as a client-facing technical leader for assigned commercial solar PV and battery energy storage projects throughout California.

Reporting to the Director of Engineering, the Design Manager is responsible for managing the design and engineering execution of a portfolio of projects while leading a team of Designers and Drafters. This role serves as the primary coordination point between CalSolar and external project stakeholders, including developers, architects, engineers of record, general contractors, utilities, and building owners.

The Design Manager is accountable for ensuring project designs are technically sound, code-compliant, constructable, and delivered on schedule while maintaining strong client relationships throughout the project lifecycle.

Success in this role requires a unique combination of technical expertise, leadership ability, project management skills, and exceptional client-facing communication. The ideal candidate can confidently lead technical discussions, coordinate multidisciplinary teams, mentor junior staff, and build trust with clients and project partners.

Key Responsibilities

Client-Facing Technical Leadership

• Serve as the primary technical point of contact for assigned clients and projects.
• Lead design coordination meetings with developers, architects, engineers of record, general contractors, utilities, and project owners.
• Manage technical communications throughout project development, permitting, and construction.
• Develop trusted relationships with clients and project stakeholders.
• Facilitate resolution of design challenges, scope changes, and technical conflicts.
• Translate client objectives into actionable engineering and design deliverables.
• Represent CalSolar professionally in stakeholder meetings, project reviews, and technical presentations.

Project Design Management

• Manage the engineering and design execution of multiple commercial solar PV and BESS projects simultaneously.
• Direct the preparation of permit plans, construction documents, utility interconnection packages, and engineering deliverables.
• Coordinate internal design activities with project management, estimating, procurement, and construction teams.
• Ensure projects maintain compliance with applicable codes, utility requirements, and client standards.
• Perform quality reviews of engineering and drafting deliverables.
• Support utility interconnection and AHJ permitting efforts.

Team Leadership

• Lead and mentor a team of Designers and Drafters.
• Assign workloads and manage project priorities within the team.
• Provide technical guidance, coaching, and performance feedback.
• Review design work for accuracy, quality, and consistency.
• Support onboarding and professional development of engineering staff.
• Promote engineering best practices and continuous improvement initiatives.

Technical Expertise

• Review and coordinate:
• Solar PV system layouts
• Electrical single-line diagrams
• Energy storage system designs
• Equipment selections
• Structural coordination requirements
• Utility interconnection documentation
• Identify and resolve constructability concerns early in the design process.
• Support field teams with technical issue resolution during construction.
• Contribute to the development of engineering standards, templates, and design procedures.

Required Qualifications

• 5+ years of commercial solar PV engineering, design, or project delivery experience.
• Experience managing project stakeholders including developers, architects, engineers of record, contractors, and utilities.
• Prior experience leading or mentoring Designers, Drafters, or engineering personnel.
• Strong client-facing communication and relationship management skills.
• Experience with commercial and multifamily solar projects, including both new construction and retrofit applications.
• Experience coordinating permitting and utility interconnection processes within California.
• Working knowledge of battery energy storage systems (BESS).
• Strong understanding of NEC, California Building Code, California Fire Code, and commercial construction practices.
• Excellent organizational, leadership, and project management capabilities.