Senior Associate, Operations Engineering

RWE Clean Energy, LLC
To start as soon as possible, full time, permanent

Functional area: Engineering
Remuneration: Exempt

 

The Project Engineering Team supports the existing RWECE solar fleet’s engineering needs with goals of providing safe, highly available, and cost-effective solar electricity to our customers.  We spearhead efforts to improve the performance of the existing plants via repowering and expansion, design solutions to enable rapid return to service when equipment suffers casualties, and provide technical solutions when engineering support is needed for large-scale initiatives. The team interacts directly with the solar power plant’s operators, asset managers, and other support roles in RWECE.

 

The Senior Associate, Operations Engineering will be the key designer and SME for these efforts.  Day-to-day work involves interaction with other engineers, staff, and plant operators, to evaluate the impact of proposed improvements, expansion, and equipment.

 

The role leads efforts from opportunity identification through ‘go/no-go’ decisions and eventual completion of projects.  Work involves collaboration with field staff, third party providers, and manufacturers – assessing how to improve plant energy yield.

 

RESPONSIBILITIES:

• Responsible for producing design drawings, calculations, processes, and procedures for internal and external teams
• Review as-built information, operations history, and data when new projects are evaluated
• Evaluate and select alternatives, documenting the rationale and lessons learned along the way
• Understand grid-specific requirements, interconnection agreements, environmental limitations, and existing plants
• Develop specifications for equipment, controls, and construction to meld into existing plants
• Interact with Operations teams throughout the projects to provide guidance on means and methods as needed
• Support construction and commissioning of projects in the field and in the office
• Network with internal and external parties and team members to build knowledge base and provide the best version of projects possible

 

QUALIFICATIONS:

• Bachelor of Science degree in Electrical Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, Industrial Engineering, or similar field of engineering or equivalent experience
• E.I.T. or P.E. certification preferred
• Minimum 6 years of professional experience in electrical operations or design
• Strong track record in construction and operations, field support, RFI’s, and working with multi-disciplinary teams
• Prior experience in the operation or design of wind and solar power plants, power distribution, substations, and/or conventional power generation preferred
• Strong interpersonal skills, with an ability to manage customer relationships
• Excellent proficiency with AutoCAD, PVSyst, System Advisor Model, Microsoft Office (Excel, Word, PowerPoint, Outlook), Teams
• Strong quantitative and data analysis skills
• Energetic leadership, communication, and organization skills
• Working experience with inverters, solar modules, mounting solutions, trackers, instruments
• Ability to multi-task, while working independently and as part of a team on-time
• Motivated self-starter, goal-oriented, and strong problem-solving abilities
• Structured in analyzing equipment, with an eye towards constructability and ease of operation
• Proven ability to empathize, build relationships, and effectively communicate with people from a diverse set of backgrounds
• Work with permitting requirements, interconnection agreements, environmental impact statements etc.
• Review field requirements, change to meet operations’ needs, flexible
• Take ownership of projects and is proactive in resolving issues
• This position is an office-based role with some travel and visits to other RWECE offices and field locations