#United States #Castillo Engineering #Maitland #PMO 360 #Design IQ

Castillo Engineering Bolsters Utility-Scale Expansion

In an ambitious move to enhance its footprint in the utility-scale solar market, Castillo Engineering has made a substantial investment of $2.5 million aimed at upgrading its project and process management capabilities. This strategic funding not only modernizes the firm's operational tools but also expands its senior leadership team, positioning the company to better serve the increasing demands of the solar energy sector.

The firm, based in Maitland, Florida, has implemented significant changes to strengthen its leadership dynamics. Gary Joseph has been appointed as the Vice President of Sales and Marketing, while Arun Ramadass steps into the role of Vice President of Operations. Founder Rick Castillo has transitioned to become the Chief Operating Officer, overseeing a newly enhanced Project Management Office (PMO) to better accommodate the rapid growth and evolving demands of the industry.

Under Rick's guidance, the PMO is now distinctively positioned to provide strategic oversight and daily mentorship to project managers. A standout initiative, PMO 360™, has been introduced as a user-friendly project management platform designed to enhance client engagement and operational efficiency. This innovative platform features an intuitive dashboard that facilitates direct communication between the engineering team and clients, offering crucial visibility into engineering data, timelines, and project plans.

The PMO 360™ empowers project managers with essential data and insights vital for making informed decisions, thereby improving project timing, budget management, and overall client satisfaction. The project management professionals at Castillo Engineering, all certified by the Project Management Institute (PMI), align their strategies with industry's gold standards to help clients mitigate risks, maximize budget efficiency, and adhere to project schedules.

Additionally, to strengthen its internal engineering capabilities, Castillo Engineering has launched Design IQ™, an innovative design tool developed in collaboration with a leading global software provider. This proprietary tool automates the collection of engineering calculations and design assets in real-time, streamlining various workflows into a unified interface. By minimizing human error and enhancing standardization, Design IQ™ enables Castillo's engineers to expedite project delivery while ensuring high-quality outcomes.

Christopher Castillo, the CEO, commented on the investment, stating, "In our conversations with utility-scale EPCs, nearly every leader voiced a pressing need for an Engineer of Record that could offer exceptional project management and reliability at scale. Our proactive strategy includes bold investments in talent, technology, and innovative tools to ensure our team is prepared to meet the expanding needs of EPCs without compromising quality."

Looking ahead, the utility-scale solar landscape anticipates a significant uptick, with forecasts suggesting as much as 356 GWdc of new solar capacity by 2035, largely driven by escalating energy requirements from AI technologies and data centers. Castillo Engineering’s latest initiatives are strategically engineered to empower utility-scale projects with tailored, process-driven engineering solutions throughout the project lifecycle. This approach aims to streamline communication, shorten timelines, and optimize costs, driving the company towards its mission of delivering efficient, high-quality energy solutions for the future.

Leadership Profiles

• - Rick Castillo, PE, SE – Chief Operating Officer

As the founder, Rick has instilled a robust company culture and expertise in project management. His focus is directed towards leading the PMO, raising the bar for industry standards in project delivery.

• - Gary Joseph – Vice President of Sales & Marketing

With extensive experience in the solar sector, Gary's background as a licensed electrician and his leadership roles equip him with a unique perspective to bridge technical knowledge with commercial strategy.

• - Arun Ramadass – Vice President of Operations

Bringing over 15 years of solar industry experience, Arun specializes in engineering large-scale projects, assisting teams in overcoming complex challenges, and scaling operational processes effectively.

Castillo Engineering is recognized as a pioneer in utility-scale solutions, specializing in solar and energy storage systems designed for optimal performance and compliance across diverse project scopes. Their commitment reflects a deep-seated expertise built on over 25 years in the industry, along with a proven track record of managing over 10 GW of successful projects nationwide. With a license covering all 50 states, the District of Columbia, and Puerto Rico, Castillo Engineering remains a cornerstone of reliable engineering solutions in the ever-growing renewable energy landscape.