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

Avantus develops, owns and operates utility-scale clean energy projects across California and the Desert Southwest. The Senior Engineer, Development Engineering is responsible for developing site constraints for early to late-stage development projects and acts as the technical lead for engineering studies while coordinating with various teams.

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

Requirements:

• 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
• Ability to truly evaluate new technology – layout and design considerations to modules, trackers, storage, land use, etc
• Knowledge of PVCase or PVFarm or other modeling tools preferred, but not required