Senior Engineer - Permit Applications (PMO)

Job Description

As a Senior Engineer - Vendor Management (Permit Applications), you will play a key role within the PMO by managing and governing engineering vendor partnerships that support residential solar permit design and documentation. This role focuses on ensuring that external engineering vendors consistently deliver code-compliant, accurate, and timely permit application packages, aligned with Illumine-i's technical standards, quality benchmarks, and delivery timelines. You will act as the central coordination point between vendors, internal engineering teams, and project stakeholders to ensure predictable, high-quality outcomes at scale.

What you can expect as a Senior Engineer - Permit Applications

• You'll act as the primary PMO interface for external engineering vendors handling residential solar permit application designs and documentation.
• You'll Manage end-to-end vendor coordination, including onboarding, scope alignment, delivery tracking, and periodic performance reviews.
• You'll define, communicate, and enforce engineering standards, SLAs, KPIs, and quality benchmarks for vendor deliverables.
• You'll review, validate, and approve vendor outputs such as: Permit drawings and plan sets, Code-compliance documentation and AHJ-specific submission requirements
• You'll ensure vendor deliverables meet local authority (AHJ) standards, client expectations, and internal engineering guidelines.
• You'll plan and manage vendor workloads, schedules, dependencies, and turnaround times across multiple parallel residential solar projects.
• You'll proactively identify risks related to quality gaps, resubmissions, timelines, or capacity constraints, and drive corrective actions.
• You'll support issue resolution and escalations related to vendor performance, permit rejections, or documentation deficiencies.
• You'll collaborate closely with internal design teams, project managers, and client-facing stakeholders to ensure seamless permit approvals and downstream execution.
• You'll support cost efficiency, productivity improvements, and delivery optimization across vendor engagements.
• You'll contribute to continuous improvement of vendor governance processes, SOPs, documentation, and PMO reporting frameworks.

Essential Qualifications include

• 4-7 years of experience in Residential Solar PV design, with strong exposure to permit applications and AHJ submissions.
• Hands-on experience with AutoCAD or equivalent CAD-based design tools.
• Proven experience coordinating or managing engineering vendors / third-party design teams.
• Strong understanding of residential solar permitting workflows, compliance requirements, and documentation standards.
• Ability to manage multiple vendors and concurrent project deliverables in a deadline-driven environment.
• Strong verbal and written communication skills, with the ability to set expectations and drive accountability with external partners.
• Ability to work independently within defined PMO and organizational frameworks.
• Comfortable working in a fast-paced, global delivery environment.
• Willingness to work night shifts to support international vendors and stakeholders.

Great to have

• Experience working with US or international solar engineering vendors, especially for residential permit designs.
• Exposure to vendor contracts, SLAs, KPIs, and commercial discussions.
• Experience reviewing, certifying, or approving third-party AutoCAD permit drawings.
• Familiarity with project tracking tools, dashboards, and delivery metrics.
• Prior experience within a PMO, delivery governance, or centralized engineering operations role.