Engineer or Sr. Engineer, Development Engineering (Utility-Scale Solar)

Summary

Avantus develops, owns, and operates utility-scale clean energy projects across California and the Desert Southwest. The Engineer or Senior Engineer, Development Engineering, develops site constraints for solar projects, leads engineering studies, coordinates with development and project teams, reviews layouts, and provides technical guidance and mentoring across multiple concurrent projects.

Responsibilities

• Create and take ownership of project CAD constraints, updating throughout the development cycle with inputs from cross-functional teams such as Land Acquisition, Permitting, Optimization, and Development
• Kick off and manage engineering related studies with consultants (hydro, geotech, topo, grading/drainage design)
• Work with HV engineering team for substation placement and gen tie constraints
• Help support utility crossing agreements by developing or reviewing MV and road crossing designs
• Be the overall technical leader on the project constraints, flagging items of concern to the development, permitting, and land teams as necessary
• Support in reviewing potential sites and assisting in pros/cons, impactful conditions (slopes, land features, soiling, structural), and other land considerations to help prioritize broader team to our most competitive sites
• Consider site/county/regional differences allowing for realistic guidance on land purchasing/leasing from site to site
• Assess and filter site considerations quicker/more accurately (i.e. can eliminate ‘deal breaker’ conditions earlier) to help allow team to assess things faster and more efficiently
• Review junior engineers’ early stage layouts to help assess how land feature may reduce buildable land and/or change the project size, production, or land required
• Ensure engineering project info is documented and organized on sharepoint
• Verify completeness of site constraints and ensure they are ready to be provided for EPC RFP
• Provide project support during the EPC design phase
• Collaborate with project engineers on potential value engineering opportunities (grading, pile design, electrical design, etc..) during EPC design phase

Skills

• BS in STEM field, Civil Engineering preferred
• Commercially-minded engineer who can dive into details, but can see how design considerations impact bigger picture (doesn't lose the forest in the trees)
• 4+ years prior engineering experience in the utility scale solar industry
• Proficiency in AutoCAD
• Knowledge of PVCase or PVFarm or other modeling tools preferred, but not required
• Ability to truly evaluate new technology – layout and design considerations to modules, trackers, storage, land use, etc

Qualifications

Must Haves

• BS in STEM field, Civil Engineering preferred
• Commercially-minded engineer who can dive into details, but can see how design considerations impact bigger picture (doesn't lose the forest in the trees)
• 4+ years prior engineering experience in the utility scale solar industry
• Proficiency in AutoCAD
• Knowledge of PVCase or PVFarm or other modeling tools preferred, but not required
• Ability to truly evaluate new technology – layout and design considerations to modules, trackers, storage, land use, etc

Benefits

• 401(k) matching
• Comprehensive medical and dental plan options
• Flexible PTO