Noise Control Engineer

Noise Control Engineer

Location: Minnesota, USA
Employment Type: Full-Time / Contract
Experience: 4+ Years
Industry: Utility Transmission & Distribution, Substations, Battery Energy Storage Systems (BESS), Renewable Energy, Industrial Facilities

Position Summary

We are seeking an experienced Noise Control Engineer to support utility-scale substation, transmission, renewable energy, and Battery Energy Storage System projects in Minnesota. The successful candidate will perform environmental noise assessments, field sound measurements, predictive acoustic modeling, equipment noise evaluations, and mitigation design.

The role requires coordination with engineering, environmental, permitting, construction, equipment vendors, and project management teams to ensure that project noise levels comply with applicable regulatory limits, permit conditions, client requirements, and community noise criteria.

Key Responsibilities

• Plan and conduct baseline and operational environmental sound surveys at project sites and surrounding sensitive receptors.
• Perform attended and unattended sound-level monitoring using calibrated noise measurement equipment.
• Document site conditions, meteorological conditions, measurement locations, existing noise sources, and monitoring results.
• Develop predictive acoustic models for substations, BESS facilities, transformers, inverters, HVAC equipment, generators, cooling systems, and other project equipment.
• Evaluate cumulative noise impacts from multiple equipment sources under normal, emergency, and maximum operating conditions.
• Assess expected project noise levels at nearby residences, property boundaries, schools, hospitals, and other noise-sensitive locations.
• Review manufacturer sound data, octave-band data, sound power levels, and equipment operating information.
• Identify dominant noise sources and determine their contribution to overall project sound levels.
• Prepare environmental noise impact assessments, acoustic study reports, technical memorandums, permit-support documentation, and presentation materials.
• Compare measured and modeled sound levels against applicable state, local, utility, and project-specific noise limits.
• Recommend practical noise mitigation measures such as sound barriers, acoustic enclosures, silencers, equipment relocation, low-noise equipment, vibration isolation, and operational restrictions.
• Support the design and specification of acoustic barriers, walls, louvers, silencers, enclosures, and other noise-control systems.
• Coordinate with civil and structural engineers regarding noise-wall locations, heights, foundations, materials, and constructability.
• Coordinate with electrical and mechanical engineers to evaluate equipment layout and select lower-noise equipment where feasible.
• Review project drawings, site plans, equipment layouts, and technical specifications for potential noise impacts.
• Support environmental permitting and respond to comments from regulators, utilities, clients, and local authorities.
• Review contractor and equipment-vendor acoustic submittals for compliance with project requirements.
• Participate in design reviews, client meetings, community discussions, and regulatory meetings as required.
• Perform post-construction or commissioning noise measurements to verify compliance with design criteria and permit limits.
• Investigate noise complaints and recommend corrective actions when required.
• Maintain accurate records of sound measurements, calibration certificates, modeling inputs, assumptions, and results.
• Ensure all acoustic analyses and reports follow established quality-control procedures.
• Support project teams during construction, startup, and commissioning where noise-related issues arise.
• Travel to project sites across Minnesota as required.

Required Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Acoustical Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, Environmental Engineering, Physics, or a closely related field.
• Minimum 4+ years of professional experience performing environmental noise studies or industrial acoustic assessments.
• Demonstrated experience conducting field sound measurements and interpreting noise-monitoring data.
• Experience developing and reviewing predictive acoustic models.
• Strong knowledge of sound propagation, octave-band analysis, sound power, sound pressure, tonal noise, low-frequency noise, and cumulative noise impacts.
• Ability to evaluate stationary equipment noise from transformers, inverters, cooling systems, HVAC units, generators, and industrial equipment.
• Experience preparing environmental noise reports and technical documentation.
• Ability to interpret project drawings, equipment layouts, vendor data sheets, and technical specifications.
• Strong technical writing, analytical, communication, and problem-solving skills.
• Ability to work independently and coordinate with multidisciplinary project teams.
• Ability to perform fieldwork and travel to project locations as required.