Development Engineer

The Development Engineer will work collaboratively alongside AC Power’s internal teams to develop a portfolio of large-scale solar PV projects from origination to the commencement of construction. Development Engineers occupy a multi-faceted role and provide technical leadership for projects, including site screening and preliminary design, production forecasting, and managing the full interconnection process of projects between 1 and 50 megawatts in size across multiple utilities.

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Candidates must demonstrate keen interest and knowledge of the solar and battery storage industry and a proven ability to efficiently and effectively multi-task in a team-oriented, fast-paced environment.

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Job Functions

Internal Team Support

• Conduct due-diligence review of potential Solar and BESS project sites and land acquisitions to help determine overall viability and identify potential issues
• Attend site qualification visits to collect information required to complete the project design and permitting of such projects.
• Create preliminary designs, including site plans and one-line diagrams in AutoCAD
• Support in sending out and reviewing engineering proposals managing thge technical components of RFPs for new projects
• Produce accurate energy production estimates utilizing modeling resources such as production estimating tools (PVSyst, PV Watts and HelioScope) to determine appropriate design and material solutions, with an understanding of electrical load requirements and running shading analyses
• Develop civil and electrical conceptual design, including technology selection, layouts, and drawings, that meet all national, state, local, and stakeholder requirements for the projects.
• Coordinate with and manage detailed design activities from professionally licensed engineering support
• Perform technical discretionary permitting support through engineering reviews and coordination with outside engineering consultants
• Support the Sales vertical by answering technical due diligence questions from investors
• Continually seek new equipment and design methodologies and specifications for PV systems
• Perform cost/benefit analysis of design and technology variants to optimize economic and performance outcomes

Interconnection Management

• Manage the entire interconnection process; submitting study requests, being the utility point of contact, monitor key milestones, reviewing preliminary interconnection feedback, reviewing and assessing studies, and negotiating generator interconnection agreements
• Provide technical support and deliverables for utility specific interconnection applications and approvals, rebate applications, performance validation models or any other technical support for commercial operation.
• Engage and manage consultants as necessary to support the interconnection process including application deliverables in addition to engineering review of utility schedules and cost estimates.
• Act as main liaison with project developers on matters relating to interconnection and provide technical insight and business solutions to reduce interconnection cost and remove obstacles to project development.

Job Requirements

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• Proven working experience as a project development engineer for 3 or more years in the solar PV industry
• Experience with submitting and managing distributed generation interconnection applications
• Bachelor’s Degree in Engineering (Civil, Electrical, Structural, or Mechanical)
• Understanding of the NEC, NESC, relevant electrical codes, building codes, and permitting procedures for large-scale solar projects
• Software experience: AutoCAD, HelioScope, PVSyst (or similar), and QGIS(or similar)
• Broad technical understanding of solar project development
• Ability to multitask and prioritize needs with timely responses
• Creativity in problem-solving
• Ability to interpret construction drawings and review project documentation for technical requirements

Compensation and More

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• Compensation is commensurate with experience. 
• $120,000- $170,000
• Eligible for medical, 401(k), bonus, employee retention plan, paid time off, etc.