Project Engineering Director HVDC

Job Description Summary

The Project Engineering Director – HVDC serves as the primary technical authority and engineering lead for large-scale HVDC projects. You will be responsible for the end-to-end technical delivery of HVDC systems, ensuring that engineering, design, testing, and commissioning activities are executed to the highest standards of safety, quality, and technical integrity.
You will manage a multidisciplinary engineering team and interface with internal manufacturing, sourcing, and project management teams, as well as external consortium partners and utility customers. This role is pivotal in ensuring that complex, multi-year energy transition projects meet all grid code requirements and performance specifications within budget and schedule.

Job Description

Key Responsibilities

1. Technical Project Leadership

• Lead the total engineering scope for HVDC projects, from contract inception through to final commissioning and site acceptance tests (SAT).
• Define the technical execution strategy, including design lifecycle, design reviews, and engineering document management.
• Act as the primary technical interface for the customer, acting as the bridge between internal engineering teams and customer technical stakeholders.
• Ensure technical alignment with consortium partners, subcontractors, and suppliers.

2. Engineering Governance and Quality

• Oversee the implementation of robust engineering processes, design verification, and validation (V&V) procedures.
• Ensure all technical documentation meets company standards, international codes (IEC, IEEE), and grid code compliance.
• Lead formal design review processes (PDR, CDR) to ensure technical risk is identified and mitigated early.
• Manage engineering changes, deviations, and non-conformances with a focus on impact analysis and rigorous documentation.

3. Cross-Functional Integration

• Manage the interface between primary equipment, secondary systems, control, and protection, and HVDC valve/converter technology.
• Coordinate with Sourcing and Manufacturing teams to ensure technical specifications are met and supply chain risks are managed through engineering solutions.
• Drive the integration of digital tools and BIM/PLM processes to optimize engineering efficiency.
• Work closely with the Project Director to ensure engineering milestones support the overall project schedule and cash flow.

4. Technical Risk and Issue Management

• Proactively identify technical bottlenecks and system integration risks.
• Develop and lead recovery plans for technical challenges arising during engineering or commissioning.
• Provide expert-level judgment on technical trade-offs, balancing system performance, cost, and schedule.
• Ensure "Lessons Learned" are captured from previous projects and integrated into current design processes.

5. Talent and Resource Management

• Lead and mentor a large, geographically dispersed team of systems, design, and commissioning engineers.
• Set technical direction, define competencies, and ensure the right technical talent is assigned to project tasks.
• Foster a culture of technical excellence, accountability, and continuous improvement within the engineering organization.
• Support organizational development by identifying training and certification needs for the engineering staff.

Required Qualifications

• Bachelor’s or Master’s degree in Electrical Engineering (Power Systems focus preferred).
• 15+ years of professional experience in large-scale power system engineering, specifically in HVDC technology, FACTS, or high-voltage substations.
• Proven experience in leading major engineering projects, managing multi-disciplinary technical teams, and interfacing with high-profile utility/TSO customers.

Preferred Qualifications

• Expert knowledge of HVDC converter stations, control systems, and power electronics.
• Experience with EPC delivery models and multi-party consortium agreements.
• In-depth understanding of grid codes, dynamic system studies, and commissioning procedures.
• Experience working within a global matrix organization (e.g., GE Vernova, or similar).
• Professional Engineering (PE) or Chartered Engineer (CEng) status.

Additional Information