Standard Solar has an opportunity for a Solar Engineering Manager with a passion to lead a team of solar engineers. We are seeking a creative, intelligent, driven individual with expertise in the large commercial and small utility scale solar industry. The ideal candidate will build, train and lead Associate Engineers, Project Engineers and Sr. Project Engineers, support project due diligence, engineering designs and third-party engineer oversight for large scale distributed generation (DG) solar PV projects. This is an exciting opportunity to showcase your talent, lead a growing team, and work for a proven leader in the renewable energy industry.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities:

• Management Duties
  • Manage a team of engineers performing project support and engineering design and oversight work
    • Team to include 4-8 full time engineers
    • 1-3 interns at a time, seasonally
  • Set objectives, review performance, meet periodically with team members.
  • Review and approve timecards and expense reports for direct reports
  • Assign and allocate work to direct reports
  • Train engineers in:
    • Interconnection application and management
    • Production modeling
    • PV interconnection policy, incentives, and electricity tariff analysis
    • Value engineering
    • detailed PV system design
    • third party engineer contracting, management, review and interpretation of third-party engineer deliverables.
  • Update and draft new standard operating procedures pertinent to the job as necessary
  • Reinforce standard operating procedures, proper use of file management and CRM systems.
  • Review deliverables and work product of direct reports on a continuous basis
• Engineering Duties
  • Work with appropriate electric utilities to prepare and process interconnection paperwork; provide technical support and management of the interconnection process.
    • Update status in tracking documents, provide updates to other departments as needed.
    • Guide direct reports in performance of the same duties.
  • Review l technical drawings, specifications of PV systems to ensure that installation and operations conform to standards and customer requirements.
  • Manage and work closely with equipment vendors to identify technical challenges and create new solutions.
  • Work with vendors to obtain and assess bids for major equipment such as PV system racking, transformers, and MV switchgear.
  • Participate in meetings and technical presentations to customers, investors, and PV technical community.
  • Review specifications for purchases of materials or equipment.
  • Identify appropriate equipment for use in PV systems and perform technical qualification of vendors.
  • Maintain constant communication with key members of construction management and other departments as needed to ensure optimal system design
  • Review and markup necessary deliverables such as complete system designs, single line diagrams, equipment or material specifications, engineering validation, 3-D renderings, interconnection policy and electric tariff analysis, and energy production estimates.
  • Provide engineering and/or technical input and direction relevant to site evaluation and characterization, permitting, Power Purchase Agreements, Interconnection Agreements, financial modeling, and related project development tasks.
  • Perform detailed energy production modeling calculations, string sizing, PV array to inverter matching, voltage drop, as well as orientation and inter-row spacing analysis.
    • Snow and soling loss calculations
    • 3-D shade modeling
    • Solar resource assessment and analysis
  • Perform electricity tariff analysis, electricity bill analysis, and load versus energy generation analysis.
  • Review and understand state and local discretionary permitting rules, requirements, setbacks, and limitations.
  • Engage in Request for Proposal (RFP) review, and response coordination
  • Maintain a deep understanding of the National Electrical Code (NEC), the International Building Code (IBC), and the International Fire Code (IFC), National Electrical Safety Code (NESC)
  • Learn to use PVsyst, HelioScope, PVCase, and Microsoft Excel

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities:

• 4-year bachelor’s degree or 2-year master’s degree in mechanical engineering, electrical engineering, or related engineering field
• NABCEP PVIP certification is preferred
• PE license is a plus
• Minimum 7 years of solar PV project and team leadership experience is required
• Ability to work within a team as well as mentor and manage other team members
• Working knowledge of the National Electrical Code (NEC)
• Strong knowledge of electrical power systems and PV design, including plant layout and performance modeling, modules, inverters, racking, and DC/AC collection systems
• Strong understanding of project performance and cost drivers
• Strong skills in solar project optimization for performance, cost, and constructability
• Demonstrate the ability to be organized and work on multiple projects and meet deadlines by setting priorities
• Must be able to prepare clear and concise status updates and reports as required
• Strong communication and client relationship skills
• Proven experience in Microsoft Applications (Word, Excel, PowerPoint)
• Must be able to travel to project/client sites as required (approximately 5-10%)
• Ability to meet and/or exceed established performance objectives of assigned duties as defined and communicated by management

Work Environment

This job operates in a professional office environment. This role routinely uses standard office equipment such as computers, phones, photocopiers, filing cabinets and fax machines. Interfaces with customers, vendors, and the public. All employees, including other engineers, Senior and Executive Management, Sales & Finance.

Physical Demands

Conducts work in in a professional office setting or off-site at company marketing events and trade shows. Physical working conditions may involve the following:

• Occasional work outdoors in non-ideal weather conditions for duties such as:
  • Field inspections
  • Client visits
  • Pre-construction site assessments
• Must be able to open and inspect non-live electrical gear
  • May require the use of hand tools
• Office environment
  • Daily work
  • Client visits
• Expo halls or conference centers
  • Industry conferences and trade shows

Potential Career Path Upward

• Sr. Engineering Manager
• Director of Engineering
• VP of Engineering