Role DescriptionOne of Terawatt's Core Values is "Electrify the Customer." Terawatt is seeking a Field Electrical Engineer with strong working knowledge of primary and secondary electrical systems to serve as the field technical lead for construction, commissioning, energization, and ongoing operation of its EV charging sites across North America. This is an experienced professional role: you'll work from limited information and precedent, adapt established approaches to novel field conditions, and develop engineering solutions with review from senior engineering leadership at key milestones.
In this role, you will independently evaluate field inspections against design intent, exercise engineering judgment to resolve discrepancies and non-conformances that do not have a predefined answer, and make real-time technical decisions with contractors, utility engineers, and Authorities Having Jurisdiction (AHJs), escalating high stakes or precedent setting calls to senior engineers You will assess incomplete or ambiguous field information, apply analytical techniques to identify root cause, and adapt commissioning and energization approaches site to site rather than following a fixed checklist. You will also advise senior engineering, Construction & Development, and Operations stakeholders.
You will work closely with the Head of Hardware & Electrical Systems and associated engineers while exercising independent professional judgment and partnering cross-functionally with Construction, Development, Energy, and Operations (Field Service team).
Core Responsibilities- Evaluate field conditions against approved single-line diagrams, panel schedules, three-line diagrams, and site design, exercising engineering judgment to determine whether deviations are acceptable, require rework, or require a design change, with review from senior engineering at key milestones
- Serve as the owners field representative during: Factory Acceptance Testing (FAT) and functional testing of Owner Furnished Equipment (OFE) consisting of: switchgear, distribution transformers, metal clad gear, and EVSE, independently assessing test results against acceptance criteria and determining pass/fail/conditional disposition
- Evaluate site energization readiness, weighing incomplete or conflicting information from utilities, contractors, internal teams, and make the final go/no-go engineering call, escalating ambiguous or high-risk cases to senior engineering leadership
- Troubleshoot complex, non-routine electrical and hardware issues on active sites, partnering with Field Service to diagnose and resolve electrical power system problems
- Analyze field-discovered deviations and as-built changes for engineering significance, and determine which require formal design revision versus documentation only
- Ensure the commissioning-to-operations handoff, including equipment turnover packages, maintenance schedules, and warranty terms, are sufficient for safe, reliable operation, exercising judgment on what site documentation and guidance the receiving team needs
- Interpret and apply NEC, UL, IEEE, and local code requirements during field reviews
- Manage field engineering activity across multiple concurrent sites with competing schedules
- Report regularly to management on progress, issues, and risks
Minimum Qualifications- Degree: Bachelor's in Electrical Engineering, Power Systems, or a related field
- 5+ years of field experience with electrical construction, commissioning, or startup of medium- and low-voltage systems, including 480V switchboards and distribution equipment
- Background in electrical engineering, facility engineering, field technician, power distribution, or comparable field experience
- Working knowledge of at least two of the following:
- DC fast EV charging infrastructure (200kW up to 1 MW per dispenser)
- Power electronics (inverters and rectifiers)
- Clean energy electrification (BESS, solar, wind, or similar)
- Substations, microgrids, or utility interconnection
- Advanced protective relaying and control within MV distribution systems
- Facility Electrical maintenance and troubleshooting
- Comfortable reading and field-verifying Single-Line Diagrams (SLDs) and Three-Line Diagrams
- Working familiarity with the National Electrical Code (NEC), Underwriters Laboratory (UL), Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE), and local building/electrical codes
- Willingness and ability to travel frequently to active construction and development sites (expect 60%+ travel)
- Valid driver's license and ability to work on active construction sites, including required PPE and safety training
Preferred Qualifications- 2+ years of experience in the EV ecosystem, vehicle electrification, or EV charging infrastructure
- Hands-on experience with commissioning or startup testing on commercial or industrial electrical projects
- Experience performing or witnessing protection and coordination studies and testing
- Familiarity with megger/insulation resistance testing, primary injection testing, and switchgear functional testing
- Understanding of industry standards such as OCPP (Open Charge Point Protocol) and ISO 15118 (Plug & Charge)
- OSHA 10/30 and NFPA 70E arc-flash safety training
- EIT (Engineer-in-Training) status or a Professional Engineer (PE) license
$120,000 - $140,000 a year
Compensation for this role is determined by several factors, including the cost of labor in specific geographic markets, and these ranges are intended to provide a helpful reference. The actual compensation offer will be based on the candidate's location, skills, level of expertise and experience, and internal equity considerations. In addition to base salary, we offer a comprehensive benefits package and, where applicable, performance-based incentives.
We are building a team that represents a variety of backgrounds, perspectives, and skills. At Terawatt, we continuously strive to foster inclusion, humility, energizing relationships, and belonging, and welcome new ideas. We're growing and want you to grow with us. We encourage people from all backgrounds to apply.
