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Role Description

The Senior Manager, Development Engineering will lead the technical development of a portfolio of large-scale solar photovoltaic (PV) and battery energy storage (BESS) projects. Development Engineers at TerraForm work as peers with developers, sharing accountability and responsibility for project outcomes. While technically focused, this role requires approaching projects with both an engineering and development mindset.

This position plays a key role in advancing projects from origination through late-stage development and is expected to operate with a high degree of ownership, influence, and cross-functional leadership. Depending on business needs and team structure, the role may function as a senior individual contributor and/or provide leadership, guidance, and mentorship to other engineers. The ideal candidate brings hands-on experience in development engineering design and interconnection management, particularly within the Mid-Atlantic and Southeast regions.

Responsibilities

• Lead the technical execution of solar PV and BESS projects from origination through late-stage development including project design & interconnection management.
• Utilize GIS based systems for site analysis and site selection, in partnership with developers.
• Create preliminary site designs and energy yield analysis.
• Lead the submittal of interconnection requests to utility/ISO/RTOs, develop interconnection upgrade estimates, interpret interconnection study results and negotiate with the utility to identify economic interconnection solutions.
• Perform cost/benefit analysis of design and technology variants to optimize economic and performance outcomes.
• Collaborate with delivery teams to ensure seamless project transition from development to construction.
• Work with Project Delivery & Operations Engineering to incorporate lessons learned.
• Support regular project reporting to senior leadership and stakeholders.
• Evaluate new equipment and design methodologies for PV and energy storage systems.
• 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).
• 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.
• Support the project acquisition due-diligence process.
• Compile engineering submittals for proposals.
• Manage of 3rd party consultants, as needed.
• Other duties, as assigned.

Subject Matter Expertise

• Identifies and works to alleviate bottlenecks in development workflows.
• Develops standards, processes, and tools to guide development engineering work.
• Supports team members through mentorship, training, and work product review.
• Reviews performance models, preliminary designs, & assumptions developed by team members.
• Participates in project level strategic reviews.
• Delivers presentations on specific topic areas of expertise when appropriate.

Skills

• A joyful approach to work and life combined with a sense of humor highly recommended.
• Must have 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.
• 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 up to 25%; particularly for remote employees as regular presence at the Charlottesville, VA office is preferred.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's Degree in Engineering or equivalent experience is required.
• A minimum of six (6) years of experience working in the engineering of utility scale solar, wind, and/or battery storage projects in the U.S.
• Experience with site evaluation and design in ArcGIS, AutoCAD, and PV Syst (or similar).
• 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.