Senior Manager, Development Engineering

Senior Manager, Development Engineering

Job Type: Exempt Salaried, Full-Time
Location: Charlottesville, VA (onsite in-office) | Remote (Mid-Atlantic / Southeast Regions preferred)
Reports To: Director of Operations, Solar
Department: Operations

About Us

TerraForm Power (“TERP”), a platform company of Brookfield Renewable, attracts high-performing individuals who are driven to make an impact in a fast-paced and collaborative environment. We offer unparalleled opportunity to lead and manage one of the largest renewable energy businesses with decades of history, while contributing to the global need for sustainable energy.

We offer tremendous growth opportunity for individuals with an entrepreneurial mindset. The company is committed to employee development, encouraging curiosity, ownership, and continuous learning. You’ll be empowered to take initiative, contribute ideas, and grow your career within a supportive and ambitious organization.

Job Summary 

This position will give you the opportunity to lead the technical development on a portfolio of large PV and energy storage projects, with ownership over design strategy, interconnection approach, and technical risk assessment. Our development engineers work on a team as equals with developers, with both having shared accountability and responsibility. While this is a technically focused position that draws on engineering principals, you can expect to spend time approaching projects as both a “developer” and as an “engineer”.

This role serves as a subject matter expert (SME) within development engineering, driving technical decisions, improving processes, and influencing project outcomes across the portfolio.

The ideal candidate will bring experience in development engineering design and interconnection management, particularly in the Mid-Atlantic Southeast regions.

Key Responsibilities

• Project Execution
  • Lead technical development of solar PV and BESS projects from origination through late-stage development
  • Drive optimization of project layouts, equipment selection, and performance outcomes

• • Utilize GIS based systems for site and constraints analysis
  • Create and maintain development site designs and energy yield analyses, validate technical assumptions
  • Maintain a strong understanding of the technical requirements for specific projects, as well as industry trends in design, engineering solutions, equipment types, and technical risks & opportunities
• Interconnection
  • Lead submittal of interconnection request, study review, and utility engagement, in partnership with the Interconnection team
  • Interpret complex interconnection results, develop schedule and cost projections, identify risks & opportunities
  • Negotiate technical aspects with utilities, ISOs, and RTOs
• Cross-Functional Influence
  • Partner with Development, Delivery, and Operations to align technical strategy & execution across the project lifecycle

• • Support permitting including land use and zoning (typically Conditional Use Permit / Special Use Permit) via county planning and zoning authorities, as well as any state or federal permits as may be necessary (e.g. VA DEQ Permit By Rule)
  • Develop project documentation, reporting, and engineering deliverables

• • Support investment decisions, including technical due diligence for acquisitions
• External & Stakeholder Management
  • Manage third-party consultants and engineering partners
  • Support the engagement with regulatory authorities

• • Other duties, as assigned
• Subject Matter Expertise & Team Management
  • Proactively identifies inter-portfolio technical risks and optimization opportunities
  • Serves as a technical resource for Development Engineers

• • Develop and refine engineering standards, design strategy, tools, and best practices
  • Review and validate designs, models, and assumptions prepared by others
  • Present technical insights and recommendations to senior leadership
• Team Management
  • Responsible for performance, development, and growth of Development Engineers, either as direct report(s) or through mentorship & training
  • Supports hiring, onboarding, and resourcing for the team
  • Sets priorities and allocates technical effort across the development platform

Skills & Competencies 

• A joyful approach to work and life combined with a sense of humor highly recommended
• Integrity, tenacity, and credibility complimented by a bias for action and a strong sense of personal accountability
• Proven communication and interpersonal skills necessary for community building internally, and trust building externally
• Creativity in problem solving and advanced analytical capability
• High energy, responds well to pressure, works to deadlines
• Excellent attention to detail and a commitment to quality work product
• Well organized; able to manage a myriad of competing priorities
• Ability to work on own initiative as well as with a team
• Willingness to travel as needed; regular presence at the Charlottesville, VA office preferred

Qualifications 

• Bachelor’s degree in Engineering (or equivalent experience)
• 6 years of experience in utility-scale renewable energy engineering
• Strong experience in interconnection, system design, and project optimization
• Strong proficiency with tools such as ArcGIS, AutoCAD, PVsyst (or similar)
• Demonstrated ability to independently lead technical workstreams
• Broad technical understanding of solar and battery storage project development, including the interconnection process and the ability to perform cost-benefit analyses of design variants to optimize outcomes

Recruitment Agency Notice:

TerraForm Power Human Resources team does not accept unsolicited resumes from third party recruiters, staffing firms, or related agencies. The Human Resources team coordinates all recruiting and hiring at our company. We do not accept resumes from third-party recruiters unless authorized by the Human Resources team and if a signed agreement is in place. Any unsolicited resumes will be considered property of TerraForm Power and we are not responsible for any related fees. All communication related to recruiting partnerships should ONLY be directed to the Human Resources team.