Design Manager

📍 Job Overview

Job Title: Design Manager

Company: Applied High Voltage, LLC (operating as CoVolt Power)

Location: Chattanooga, Tennessee, USA / Houston, Texas, USA

Job Type: Full-time

Category: Engineering & Design Operations (specifically focused on Renewable Energy Infrastructure)

Date Posted: August 15, 2026

Experience Level: Mid-Level (2-5 years)

Remote Status: On-site

🚀 Role Summary

• This role is pivotal in managing and coordinating the end-to-end engineering and design process for Photovoltaic (PV) and Battery Energy Storage Systems (BESS) projects, ensuring timely and budget-compliant Issued for Construction (IFC) design packages.

• The Design Manager will serve as the primary technical liaison between clients, third-party consultants, vendors, and internal Engineering, Procurement, and Solar Operations teams, fostering seamless collaboration.

• The position requires a strong emphasis on project management, meticulous organization, and proactive communication to drive project success and mitigate risks throughout the design lifecycle.

• Key responsibilities include integrating civil, structural, electrical, SCADA, and high voltage design components, managing client technical interfaces, and facilitating rigorous design reviews to ensure all project specifications are met.

📝 Enhancement Note: While the job title is "Design Manager," the core responsibilities and required experience suggest a role deeply embedded within GTM operations, specifically bridging the gap between sales/client requirements and the execution/engineering phases of renewable energy projects. The focus on IFC packages, client interfaces, and handover to operations highlights its operational significance.

📈 Primary Responsibilities

• Coordinate all engineering and design activities for multiple concurrent PV and BESS projects, ensuring design deliverables adhere to all project requirements and specifications.

• Develop comprehensive design-phase execution plans, diligently monitor progress against these plans, and proactively address any deviations to minimize project impacts.

• Ensure the seamless integration of all design components, including civil, structural, electrical, SCADA, and high voltage disciplines, to create a cohesive and constructible design package.

• Act as the primary client interface for all technical issues throughout the design phase, ensuring prompt resolution of Requests for Information (RFIs), stakeholder comments, and potential change events.

• Facilitate rigorous design reviews involving all stakeholders, ensuring thorough vetting of all design aspects, timely correction of deficiencies, and efficient addressing of all comments.

• Track and drive the implementation of value engineering opportunities to optimize project costs and enhance efficiency without compromising quality or scope.

• Monitor internal engineering hours relative to design progress, identify potential overruns, and facilitate corrective actions to maintain budget adherence.

• Interface directly with Authorities Having Jurisdiction (AHJs) to ensure complete and timely permit submittals, streamlining the approval process.

• Provide leadership, guidance, and mentorship to junior engineering and design team members, fostering their professional development.

• Support third-party consultant contracting efforts, including scope definition and negotiation, and cultivate trusted, productive partnerships.

• Capture and communicate lessons learned and best practices from each project to continuously improve design processes and team performance.

• Facilitate comprehensive and effective handover of finalized designs and permits to the Solar Operations team, ensuring a smooth transition to the construction phase.

📝 Enhancement Note: The responsibilities emphasize a blend of technical oversight and project coordination, typical for a mid-level operations role focused on project delivery within the renewable energy sector. The emphasis on RFI management, AHJ interaction, and handover to operations clearly places this within a GTM/Project Execution operational framework.

🎓 Skills & Qualifications

Education:

• Bachelor's degree in Engineering or a related technical field is required. Experience:

• Minimum of 3 years of applicable industry experience in PV, High Voltage (HV), BESS, and/or SCADA design.

• Experience with complex, multi-disciplinary projects is essential; EPC (Engineering, Procurement, Construction) experience is highly preferred.

• Demonstrated project management experience, with a track record of successfully delivering projects on time and within budget. Required Skills:

• Project Management: Proven ability to manage multiple concurrent projects, track progress, and mitigate risks.

• Engineering Design Coordination: Expertise in coordinating civil, structural, electrical, SCADA, and high voltage design elements.

• Client & Stakeholder Management: Excellent verbal and written communication skills for effective client interface, RFI management, and stakeholder engagement.

• Problem-Solving: Creative problem-solving skills with the ability to balance tactical and strategic decisions and drive open issues to closure.

Preferred Skills:

• Value Engineering: Experience in identifying and implementing value engineering opportunities.

• Permitting Processes: Familiarity with AHJ interactions and permit submittal requirements.

• Software Proficiency:

  • Procore for project management and construction operations.
  • MS Office Suite (Word, Excel, PowerPoint) for documentation and analysis.
  • MS Project or Primavera P6 (P6) for project scheduling and planning.

• Technical Leadership: Ability to provide leadership and mentorship to junior team members.

• Contracting Support: Experience supporting third-party consultant contracting.

📝 Enhancement Note: The requirement for 3+ years of experience, coupled with the software proficiencies and project management emphasis, aligns with a mid-level operations role. The specific software mentions (Procore, MS Project, P6) are critical for operations professionals to highlight in their applications.

📊 Process & Systems Portfolio Requirements

Portfolio Essentials:

• Project Management Case Studies: Showcase examples of projects managed, detailing scope, timelines, budget adherence, and challenges overcome.

• Design Integration Examples: Present instances where complex multi-disciplinary designs (civil, structural, electrical, SCADA, HV) were successfully integrated.

• RFI & Change Management Documentation: Provide anonymized examples of how RFIs were managed and how technical issues were resolved with clients and stakeholders.

• Value Engineering Proposals: Illustrate any value engineering initiatives proposed or implemented, including projected cost savings and impact assessments.

Process Documentation:

• Design Workflow Optimization: Demonstrate an understanding of and contributions to optimizing design workflows from concept to IFC deliverables.

• Cross-Functional Handoffs: Detail experience in managing critical handoffs between design, procurement, and operations teams, highlighting communication protocols and documentation standards.

• Permitting & AHJ Interaction Protocols: Outline established processes for engaging with AHJs and managing permit application submissions and approvals.

• Lessons Learned & Best Practices Capture: Show evidence of systems or processes implemented for capturing and disseminating project lessons learned to improve future project execution.

📝 Enhancement Note: For a role like this, a portfolio demonstrating project management capabilities, technical coordination skills, and process improvement contributions is crucial. Highlighting experience with software like Procore in a portfolio context would be highly beneficial.

💵 Compensation & Benefits

Salary Range:

• Based on the experience level (2-5 years) and the specified locations (Chattanooga, TN and Houston, TX), a competitive salary range for a Design Manager in the renewable energy sector would typically fall between $80,000 - $110,000 annually. This estimate considers industry benchmarks for engineering and project management roles in these regions, factoring in the specialized nature of PV/BESS projects. Benefits:

• Health Insurance: Comprehensive medical, dental, and vision coverage.

• Retirement Savings Plan: 401(k) with potential company match.

• Paid Time Off (PTO): Generous vacation, sick leave, and paid holidays.

• Professional Development: Opportunities for training, certifications, and conference attendance.

• Travel Reimbursement: For required site visits and client meetings (up to 15% travel).

• Life and Disability Insurance: Standard employer-provided coverage.

Working Hours:

• Standard full-time hours are typically 40 hours per week. The role may require occasional flexibility to meet project deadlines or address urgent client/technical issues, particularly during critical design review or permit submission phases.

📝 Enhancement Note: Salary estimates are based on general market data for Design Managers in the specified US regions with 2-5 years of experience in a specialized field. Actual compensation may vary based on the candidate's specific qualifications and the company's compensation philosophy.

🎯 Team & Company Context

🏢 Company Culture

Industry: Renewable Energy (specifically focused on high-voltage power solutions, PV, and BESS).

Company Size: Applied High Voltage, LLC (CoVolt Power) is a growing company. While specific employee count isn't provided, the need for a Design Manager suggests an expanding operational capacity and project pipeline.

Founded: Applied High Voltage was founded with a mission to provide advanced electrical solutions, evolving into CoVolt Power to focus on renewable energy infrastructure. This indicates a company with established expertise transitioning into a high-growth sector.

Team Structure:

• Operations Focus: The role is embedded within the Engineering team but has significant cross-functional responsibilities, acting as a key interface for Sales, Procurement, and Solar Operations.

• Reporting: Reports directly to the Principal Engineer, indicating a senior technical lead overseeing design strategy and execution.

• Collaboration: Requires constant collaboration with internal departments (Engineering, Procurement, Solar Operations), external clients, 3rd party consultants, vendors, and regulatory bodies (AHJs).

Methodology:

• Data-Driven Design: Emphasis on developing designs that are not only technically sound but also aligned with budget constraints and operational efficiency.

• Process-Oriented Execution: Focus on structured design-phase execution plans, rigorous reviews, and clear handovers to ensure predictable project outcomes.

• Continuous Improvement: Active capture and communication of lessons learned and best practices to refine operational processes.

Company Website: ahvsllc.com

📝 Enhancement Note: The company's focus on high-voltage solutions and its expansion into PV/BESS suggests a dynamic environment with a strong technical foundation. The collaborative nature of the role indicates a team that values interdepartmental synergy.

📈 Career & Growth Analysis

Operations Career Level: Mid-Level Management. This role is beyond an individual contributor but likely reports to a senior engineering or operations leader. It involves managing project design processes and coordinating cross-functional teams, rather than direct line management of a large team.

Reporting Structure: Reports to the Principal Engineer. This implies a direct line of communication for technical guidance and strategic alignment within the engineering discipline. Collaboration with Sales, Procurement, and Solar Operations indicates a matrixed reporting or strong influence over teams outside direct reporting lines.

Operations Impact: The Design Manager has a direct and significant impact on project profitability and client satisfaction by ensuring designs are on time, on budget, and meet all specifications. Effective design management prevents costly rework, delays, and scope creep, directly contributing to the company's financial performance and reputation in the competitive renewable energy market.

Growth Opportunities:

• Senior Design Manager/Director of Engineering: Progression to managing larger, more complex projects or overseeing entire engineering departments.

• Project Director/Manager: Transition into broader project management roles with P&L responsibility for entire EPC projects.

• Operations Leadership: Move into roles focused on optimizing the entire project lifecycle, from sales to commissioning.

• Specialization: Deepen expertise in specific areas like BESS integration, grid interconnection, or advanced SCADA systems.

📝 Enhancement Note: This role offers a clear path for growth within the engineering and operations functions of a renewable energy company. The experience gained in managing complex, multi-disciplinary projects is highly transferable to senior leadership roles.

🌐 Work Environment

Office Type: Primarily an on-site role, requiring presence in the office for coordination, meetings, and collaboration. The company operates in the high-voltage and renewable energy sector, suggesting a professional office environment.

Office Location(s): The position is available in both Chattanooga, Tennessee, and Houston, Texas. Candidates should be prepared to work from one of these designated office locations.

Workspace Context:

• Collaborative Hub: The office environment likely facilitates direct interaction with engineering teams, procurement specialists, and operations personnel, fostering a collaborative atmosphere crucial for design coordination.

• Technical Resources: Access to necessary design software (Procore, MS Project, P6) and engineering tools will be provided.

• Team Interaction: Opportunities to engage with a diverse group of professionals, including engineers, project managers, and operations staff, promoting knowledge sharing and problem-solving.

Work Schedule:

• Standard 40-hour work week is expected. However, the nature of project deadlines and client deliverables may necessitate occasional flexibility. The role requires the ability to travel up to 15% for meetings and site visits.

📝 Enhancement Note: The on-site requirement is typical for roles involving intensive cross-functional collaboration and direct oversight of critical project documentation. The travel component is standard for project-focused roles in infrastructure development.

📄 Application & Portfolio Review Process

Interview Process:

• Initial Screening: HR or Talent Acquisition will review applications and conduct preliminary interviews to assess basic qualifications and cultural fit.

• Hiring Manager Interview: A detailed discussion with the Principal Engineer (hiring manager) to evaluate technical expertise, project management experience, and understanding of PV/BESS design principles. Expect questions about your approach to coordination, problem-solving, and stakeholder management.

• Team/Cross-Functional Interview: Meetings with key stakeholders from Engineering, Procurement, and Solar Operations teams to assess collaboration skills and ability to integrate designs with operational needs.

• Technical/Case Study Challenge (Potential): You may be asked to present a case study from your portfolio or tackle a hypothetical design coordination challenge to demonstrate your problem-solving and communication skills.

• Final Interview/Offer: A final discussion with senior leadership, potentially including offer negotiation.

Portfolio Review Tips:

• Quantify Achievements: For each project, clearly state the scope, your role, key metrics (e.g., budget adherence, timeline met, cost savings from value engineering), and specific challenges you addressed.

• Showcase Process: Detail your approach to coordinating multi-disciplinary designs, managing RFIs, interacting with AHJs, and facilitating design reviews. Use flowcharts or diagrams if helpful.

• Highlight Software Proficiency: Explicitly mention your experience with Procore, MS Project, P6, and other relevant tools, demonstrating how you leveraged them to improve efficiency or project outcomes.

• Focus on Impact: Emphasize how your design management contributed to project success, client satisfaction, and the company's bottom line.

• Tailor to Role: Ensure your portfolio examples directly address the core responsibilities and preferred skills outlined in the job description.

Challenge Preparation:

• Scenario-Based Questions: Prepare to discuss how you would handle common design coordination issues, such as conflicting discipline requirements, delayed vendor information, or unexpected client change requests.

• Process Articulation: Be ready to explain your ideal design workflow from concept to IFC, including key checkpoints and stakeholder involvement.

• Value Engineering Mindset: Think about how you identify opportunities for cost savings and efficiency improvements in design and construction.

📝 Enhancement Note: A strong portfolio that demonstrates practical application of project management and design coordination skills, particularly with the specified software, will be critical for success. Applicants should be prepared to walk through their project examples and explain their process.

🛠 Tools & Technology Stack

Primary Tools:

• Procore: Essential for project management, document control, RFI tracking, and communication within the construction lifecycle. Proficiency is highly preferred.

• MS Project / Primavera P6 (P6): Critical for developing and managing detailed project schedules, tracking progress, and identifying critical path activities.

• MS Office Suite (Excel, Word, PowerPoint): Standard tools for reporting, documentation, analysis, and presentations. Advanced Excel skills for data analysis are beneficial.

Analytics & Reporting:

• Internal Reporting Tools: Likely proprietary or customized systems for tracking engineering hours, design progress, and budget adherence.

• Data Visualization Tools (Potential): While not explicitly mentioned, familiarity with tools like Tableau or Power BI could be advantageous for presenting design metrics and performance.

CRM & Automation:

• CRM (Client Interface): While not directly managing sales, understanding CRM principles for client communication and tracking technical correspondence is helpful.

• Workflow Automation (Potential): Any experience with automating design review processes or RFI workflows would be a plus.

📝 Enhancement Note: Proficiency in Procore, MS Project, and P6 are key technical requirements for this role. Candidates should be prepared to discuss their level of expertise and specific use cases for these tools in managing complex projects.

👥 Team Culture & Values

Operations Values:

• Alignment with Core Principles: Candidates must demonstrate alignment with CoVolt Power's core principles (specifics not provided, but generally include integrity, safety, innovation, and customer focus).

• Organization & Prioritization: A core value for this role is being highly organized and adept at prioritizing multiple, concurrent, high-impact activities.

• Positivity & Enthusiasm: Operating with positivity and enthusiasm, especially in high-stress situations, is crucial for maintaining team morale and driving progress.

• Data-Driven Decision Making: Emphasis on aligning designs with budget constraints and ensuring efficiency, implying a data-informed approach to decision-making.

• Collaboration & Communication: Openness to sharing lessons learned and best practices, fostering a collaborative environment.

Collaboration Style:

• Cross-Functional Integration: The role necessitates strong collaboration with Engineering, Procurement, and Solar Operations, requiring clear communication channels and a shared understanding of project goals.

• Proactive Engagement: Encourages proactive engagement with clients, consultants, and AHJs to resolve issues swiftly and maintain project momentum.

• Mentorship & Support: Fosters a supportive environment where senior members mentor junior team members, promoting knowledge transfer and team development.

📝 Enhancement Note: The emphasis on "positivity and enthusiasm" in high-stress situations suggests a company culture that values resilience and a proactive, solution-oriented mindset among its operations and engineering teams.

⚡ Challenges & Growth Opportunities

Challenges:

• Managing Multiple Concurrent Projects: Balancing the demands of several complex projects simultaneously, each with unique client requirements and timelines.

• Interdisciplinary Coordination: Ensuring seamless integration and communication across diverse engineering disciplines (civil, structural, electrical, SCADA, HV) and external stakeholders.

• Client Interface & RFI Resolution: Effectively managing client expectations and driving timely responses to technical queries and change requests from various parties.

• Permitting Delays: Navigating complex and sometimes unpredictable permitting processes with AHJs to avoid project delays.

• Budget Adherence: Balancing design quality and scope with strict budgetary constraints, including identifying and implementing value engineering solutions.

Learning & Development Opportunities:

• Advanced Project Management: Opportunities to refine project management skills on large-scale renewable energy projects.

• Technical Specialization: Deepen expertise in PV, BESS, HV, or SCADA systems through hands-on project experience.

• Industry Best Practices: Exposure to cutting-edge design methodologies and technologies in the renewable energy sector.

• Leadership Development: Potential for mentorship and leadership growth within the engineering and operations teams.

• Software Mastery: Gaining advanced proficiency in industry-standard project management and design software.

📝 Enhancement Note: This role presents significant opportunities for professional growth by tackling complex challenges in a rapidly evolving industry, with a clear path for advancement into more senior engineering or project leadership roles.

💡 Interview Preparation

Strategy Questions:

• "Describe a time you managed a complex, multi-disciplinary design project. What were the biggest challenges, and how did you ensure successful integration and timely delivery of IFC packages?" (Focus on your process, tools used, and stakeholder management.)

• "How do you approach client communication and RFI management during the design phase? Provide an example of a difficult technical issue you resolved with a client or consultant." (Highlight your communication style, problem-solving approach, and documentation practices.)

• "Walk me through your process for identifying and implementing value engineering opportunities in a project. What was the outcome?" (Demonstrate your cost-optimization mindset and ability to drive efficiency.)

• "How do you ensure seamless handover of designs and permits to the Solar Operations team? What documentation and communication are critical for this transition?" (Show your understanding of the full project lifecycle and operational integration.) Company & Culture Questions:

• "What do you know about CoVolt Power and the renewable energy sector? How do your skills align with our mission?" (Research the company's projects, values, and recent news.)

• "How do you maintain positivity and manage stress when dealing with high-pressure project deadlines or technical challenges?" (Provide examples of your resilience and problem-solving under pressure.)

• "Describe your experience mentoring junior engineers or team members. What is your approach to developing talent?" (Show your leadership potential and team-building capabilities.) Portfolio Presentation Strategy:

• Select 2-3 Strong Examples: Choose projects that best demonstrate your project management, design coordination, and problem-solving skills relevant to PV/BESS.

• Structure Your Narrative: For each project, clearly outline the objective, your role, the key challenges, the actions you took (emphasizing process and tools), and the quantifiable results.

• Highlight Software Usage: Specifically mention how you used Procore, MS Project, or P6 to manage the project, track progress, or communicate.

• Focus on Collaboration: Emphasize how you worked with different teams and stakeholders to achieve project goals.

• Be Prepared for Deep Dives: Anticipate detailed questions about your project decisions, methodologies, and outcomes.

📝 Enhancement Note: Candidates should be prepared to discuss their experience with Procore and other project management tools in detail, as these are critical for operational efficiency in this role.

📌 Application Steps

To apply for this operations position:

• Submit your application through the provided Ultipro link on the Applied High Voltage, LLC careers page.

• Resume Optimization: Tailor your resume to highlight experience in PV, BESS, HV, and SCADA design, emphasizing project management, design coordination, and stakeholder engagement. Quantify achievements with metrics where possible.

• Portfolio Preparation: Curate a portfolio showcasing your project management experience, design integration examples, RFI/change management documentation, and any value engineering proposals or process improvements.

• Interview Practice: Prepare to discuss your experience with Procore, MS Project, and P6, and practice articulating your approach to design coordination, problem-solving, and client management using the strategy questions above.

• Company Research: Thoroughly research CoVolt Power (Applied High Voltage, LLC), its projects, core principles, and recent activities in the renewable energy market to demonstrate your interest and alignment.

⚠️ Important Notice: This enhanced job description includes AI-generated insights and operations industry-standard assumptions. All details should be verified directly with the hiring organization before making application decisions.