Job Description:
About Nextpower
Founded in 2013, Nextpower operates as an independent subsidiary of Flex, a leading Sketch-to-Scale™ solutions company that designs and builds intelligent products for a connected world. Delivering smart PV and storage solutions on close to 400 solar power plants across five continents, with nine global offices, Nextpower is an established leader in the ground mount solar and storage industries. Having earned the #1 market share leadership position for solar trackers world-wide for two consecutive years (Greentech Media, IHS Markit, 2016 & 2017), Nextpower is recognized as one of the Top Workplaces for 2023 by the San Francisco Chronicle.
Position Overview
Nextpower is looking for a Sr Structural Engineer to join the Europe Project Engineering Team based in Italy (remote position) . Working directly with key accounts located throughout Europe to manage day to day issues on utility scale PV projects from the development stage to construction support.
This key leadership role will manage all decisions relating to Structural Engineering for Nextpower’s projects including but not limited to wind load calculations, steel design and component sizing, foundation sizing, and various other structural engineering tasks and decisions to support project quoting and calculation packages. Further, this position will be responsible for guiding structural aspects of utility-scale PV projects across global markets, collaborating and interfacing with the rest of the engineering team located in the US, Mexico, Brazil, Australia, and India as well as Sales, Project Management, and R&D teams at Nextpower’s offices around the world. The role also involves leading and mentoring engineering talent within the team to ensure high technical standards, professional development, and workload balance.
Responsibilities
Produce civil and structural design documentation, including drawings and calculations.
Act as the signing engineer for structural engineering projects in Italy, certifying calculations, and technical reports according to national regulations.
Manage all administrative and technical engineering documentation workflows with local authorities, specifically handling submission, approval processes, and compliance tracking with the Genio Civile .
Lead and mentor team members, ensuring high technical standards, professional development, and workload balance.
Assist in the project development phase, review pertinent site information, calculations, and cost estimation.
Prepare wind, seismic, foundation, and other structural calculations.
Provide construction support, manage RFIs, submittals, and technical calculation packages.
Assist in development of Nextpower products and generate a full understanding of the Nextpower product catalog.
Coordinate with Nextpower's Structural/Civil/Geotechnical Engineers in other regions to create, maintain, and update structural and civil standards, specifications, templates, and design tools.
Manage schedules and review structural and civil engineering external consultants' works and deliverables to ensure alignment with project timelines and technical requirements.
Assist in development of expanding Nextpower Design Services team.
Oversee the development of new structural sections and integration into standard Nextpower systems.
Represent Nextpower in technical forums: author white papers, present at conferences, and maintain knowledge of current trends and advancements.
Required Skills / Experiences
Education: BS or Master's degree in Structural or Civil Engineering or equivalent.
Professional Certification (Mandatory): Must be a chartered/licensed professional engineer in Italy (Abilitazione all'esercizio della professione / Iscrizione all'Ordine degli Ingegneri) with full legal authority to sign off on structural projects ( firma dei progetti ).
Regulatory Expertise (Mandatory): Proven track record and direct experience in structural document management and file processing with the Genio Civile . Deep understanding of Italian structural construction codes (NTC) and regional authorization procedures.
Experience: Minimum 5 years of structural engineering work experience in the EPC, renewable energy, or infrastructure sector.
Leadership: Proven leadership experience, including mentoring or managing engineering teams.
Software Proficiency: Proficiency in MS Office, AutoCAD, LPile, and other structural analysis software (RISA, STAAD, or equivalent).
Standards & Codes: Thorough knowledge of engineering standards and codes including but not limited to: Italian NTC, Eurocodes, ASCE, AISC, AISI, and IBC.
Technical Expertise: Significant work experience in structural analysis and design, including dead, live, snow, wind, and seismic loads, design of steel and concrete structures, and development of construction documents.
Soft Skills: Excellent communication and organizational skills; ability to lead in a cross-functional, multicultural environment.
Languages: Proficient in English and Italian . Spanish is a plus.
Travel: Willingness to travel occasionally for site investigations, field support, or meetings with local authorities.
Preferred Qualifications
Programming skills in VB and Python is a plus.
Specific background in solar tracker foundation and structural design and optimization.
Familiarity with corrosion mechanisms, soil corrosion data, and mitigation techniques.
Previous experience in a matrixed, global organization.
Nextpower is an Equal Opportunity Employer. We celebrate diversity and are committed to creating an inclusive environment for all employees. Employment decisions are made based on qualifications, merit, and business needs, without regard to race, gender, age, disability, or any other status protected by law.
We are more than a solar tracking company — we are shaping the future of sustainable energy through technology, innovation, and talent. Nextpower designs and manufactures industry-leading solar and storage systems that dramatically improve and scale the economics of renewable energy. Applications and customers range from behind the meter solar farms with Fortune 500 companies like PepsiCo and L’Oreal to massive utility-scale power plants across domestic and international markets, and a portfolio of energy storage solutions. Join a market leader that values our talent, service excellence and innovation as core to our business growth and culture. With one of the most experienced management teams in solar, category-leading products, and a fortified technology roadmap, Nextpower is making a dramatic impact on the power plant of the future.
At Nextpower, we are driving the global energy transition with an integrated clean energy technology platform that combines intelligent structural, electrical, and digital solutions for utility-scale power plants. Our comprehensive portfolio enables faster project delivery, higher performance, and greater reliability, helping our customers capture the full value of solar power. Our talented worldwide teams are redefining how solar power plants are designed, built, and operated every day with smart technology, data-driven insights, and advanced automation. Together, we’re building the foundation for the world’s next generation of clean energy infrastructure.
