About Us:
Polar Racking Inc. is a trusted leader in the design, engineering, and manufacturing of innovative solar mounting solutions, proudly serving customers across North America. At Polar Racking, we are committed to delivering high-performance, site-specific solar mounting systems that empower our clients to harness clean energy with confidence. Our collaborative approach combines cutting-edge technology, expert engineering, and a customer-first mindset to provide tailored racking products that meet the unique demands of each project. With a passion for sustainability and excellence, we work hand-in-hand with construction and engineering professionals to bring solar visions to life. Learn more at www.polarracking.com.
Polar Racking Inc. is looking for a Product Lead Engineer to own and drive the design, performance, and continuous improvement of our solar carport product line. This is a hands-on structural engineering leadership role for someone who wants to build the best solar carport system in the industry - from concept through structural certification to cost-optimized manufacturing.
You will be the technical owner of the solar carport product: setting the engineering direction, leading cross-functional design efforts, and applying rigorous Value Analysis / Value Engineering (VAVE) discipline to maximize performance while driving down cost and complexity. This role suits a structural engineer who is equally comfortable running detailed calculations and rallying a team around an ambitious product vision.
Key Responsibilities
Product Leadership
- Serve as the engineering lead and technical owner for the solar carport product line, from concept through production release.
- Lead both ongoing projects and new project development simultaneously, prioritizing effectively across a live project portfolio.
- Define and drive the product roadmap in partnership with sales, operations, and manufacturing to keep Polar's carport offering ahead of competitors.
- Set structural design standards, tolerances, and quality benchmarks for the product family.
- Serve as the primary technical point of contact for customers on carport projects - reviewing requirements, answering technical questions, and presenting design solutions.
- Work closely with designers/drafters to translate structural concepts into detailed, buildable drawings and BOMs.
- Travel to project sites as needed (approximately 5–10%) to support design validation, installation support, and troubleshooting.
Structural Engineering
- Design and analyze steel/aluminum solar carport structures, including columns, beams, cantilevers, and foundations, for wind, snow, seismic, and dead/live loads per applicable codes (ASCE 7, AISC, CSA S16, NBCC, local jurisdictional requirements).
- Perform and review structural calculations, finite element analysis (FEA), and connection design.
- Oversee Professional Engineer (PE/P.Eng.) stamped drawings and coordinate with third-party engineers-of-record as needed across USA and Canada jurisdictions.
- Ensure designs are buildable, code-compliant, and optimized for real-world installation conditions.
VAVE & Cost Optimization
- Lead Value Analysis / Value Engineering initiatives to reduce material usage, simplify fabrication, and lower installed cost without compromising structural performance or durability.
- Continuously benchmark designs against competitors and identify opportunities to improve strength-to-weight ratio, part count, and manufacturability.
- Partner with procurement and manufacturing to evaluate alternative materials, coatings, and fabrication methods.
Design Leadership & Cross-Functional Collaboration
- Lead the end-to-end design process, coordinating with drafters, manufacturing engineers, project managers, and installation teams.
- Champion Design for Manufacturing (DFM) and Design for Assembly (DFA) principles throughout development.
- Review and approve shop drawings, BOMs, and installation guides.
- Support sales and pre-construction teams with technical input on bids and custom site configurations.
Continuous Improvement & Testing
- Drive prototyping, load testing, and field validation of new designs and revisions.
- Investigate and resolve field issues, feeding lessons learned back into the design standard.
- Stay current on industry codes, competitor products, and emerging solar mounting technology.
Required Qualifications
- Bachelor's or Master's degree in Structural, Civil, or Mechanical Engineering.
- Professional Engineer (PE or P.Eng.) license, or ability to obtain licensure, required.
- 5+ years of structural engineering experience, ideally including racking, canopy, carport, or similar steel structure design.
- Demonstrated, hands-on VAVE (Value Analysis / Value Engineering) experience with measurable cost or performance outcomes.
- Strong working knowledge of relevant structural codes (ASCE 7, AISC 360, CSA S16, NBCC, IBC) and wind/snow/seismic load analysis.
- Proficiency with structural analysis and design software (e.g., RISA, SAP2000, STAAD, or similar) and FEA tools.
- Experience with CAD/BIM tools (AutoCAD, Inventor, Revit, or SolidWorks).
- Proven ability to lead a design effort end-to-end and take ownership of a product's success.
- Highly motivated, detail-oriented, and comfortable operating with a high degree of autonomy and accountability.
- Excellent written and verbal communication skills; ability to translate technical detail for non-technical stakeholders.
Preferred Qualifications
- Direct experience with solar carport, ground-mount racking, or parking structure design.
- Familiarity with galvanized/coated steel and aluminum extrusion design considerations.
- Experience working across both US and Canadian codes and jurisdictions.
- Background in DFM/DFA and lean manufacturing principles.
- Experience managing external EOR (Engineer of Record) relationships and permitting processes.
What Success Looks Like
- Polar's solar carport product is recognized in the industry for structural efficiency, ease of installation, and total installed cost.
- A steady cadence of VAVE-driven improvements measurably reduces cost and material usage year over year.
- Design issues are caught and resolved before they reach the field; field issues are rare and quickly closed out.
- Cross-functional teams look to you as the clear technical authority and driving force behind the product.
What We Offer:
- Competitive salary, bonus and benefits package.
- Opportunity to lead innovative projects in the growing renewable energy industry.
- Collaborative and supportive team environment with access to cutting-edge tools and technology.
- Career growth potential within a dynamic, forward-thinking company.
Polar Racking Inc. is an equal opportunity employer. We celebrate diversity and are committed to creating an inclusive environment /for all employees.
