Senior Solar PV Engineer

at  BB Energy

THE COMPANY

Solarcentury Africa is one of the leading renewable energy developers in Africa with over ten years of experience operating on the continent. Headquartered in the UK, we are a market leader in the development of solar PV and energy storage projects using smart energy technology and controls in sub-Saharan Africa.

QUALIFICATIONS AND EXPERIENCE

• Bachelor’s degree in STEM subject (in exceptional circumstances equivalent combination of training and related professional experience may be considered);
• Minimum of 7 years’ experience in the energy sector with demonstrable electrical and technical engineering skills; conversant with technical drawings;
• Strong understanding and experience with hybrid generation systems and technologies e.g., solar PV, BESS, thermal generation;
• Construction and quality supervision for utility scale PV plant and BESS systems including testing, commissioning; and systems energization.

ESSENTIAL SKILLS

• Experience of technical engineering software (e.g., AutoCAD) and strong data analysis skills (e.g., MS Excel);
• Expert MS Office / productivity software skills, including MS Project, MS Excel, Word, and PowerPoint;
• Familiar with PVsyst and solar PV modelling software;
• Electrical engineering knowledge – broad technical knowledge and experience with LV, MV and HV substations, cable calculations and transmission line equipment design and delivery;
• Awareness of British and International standards related to solar PV design, operations and communications;
• Strong interpersonal skills; team player attitude;
• Self-motivated; able to independently research, learn and continue professional development;
• Contributor; able to help strengthen and build a small dynamic organisation;
• Excellent communication skills; oral and written;
• Wider awareness of the renewable energy market (especially solar PV and Battery storage) and related concepts and policies;
• Process driven; able to follow (and offer improvements to) organisational protocols; and
• Valid Driving licence and ability to travel to Southern Africa.

DESIRABLE SKILLS:

• Able to work with Python, Powershell, or equivalent, etc;
• Familiar with Homer Pro and hybrid system software;
• Experience of SCADA, industrial control systems, telecommunications systems, TCP/IP networks, cybersecurity, IoT hardware, field hardware devices, communications protocols;
• Fluent in other languages than English;

THE ROLE

The successful candidate will work as part of Solarcentury Africa’s Engineering team in the UK or Southern Africa, providing technical services to support Solarcentury Africa’s large-scale solar PV plant and battery energy storage development activities. These technical services include project feasibility assessments, technical documentation reviews, design specifications and layouts, tender reviews, detailed design review, construction quality monitoring, testing and commissioning supervision and operational technical support.
The role holder will review and prepare technical and non-technical documentation including preliminary systems designs, technical specifications, coordinate and prepare technical reports, support on technical elements of proposals, suppliers offers review and liaison, calculations and contract technical appendices for solar PV + BESS projects being developed and delivered by Solarcentury Africa across the Continent.
He/she will particularly be responsible for oversight of project-related electrical elements including cable sizing and calculations, electrical diagrams, protection systems, application of international and local standards. As such, he/she will have a good understanding of not only solar PV technologies, but a strong background or demonstrable experience in electrical engineering at least up to 33kV voltage levels.

JOB RESPONSIBILITIES

• Undertake project feasibility assessments and assist with PV plant designs and Energy Assessments;
• Undertake Engineering tasks including drafting, reviewing, and issuing technical design specifications, particularly those related to PV plant electrical infrastructure, SLDs, network architecture;
• Undertake site visits and assessments, including site audits, quality control, defect recording, commissioning & testing, witnessing;
• Review and oversee MV and HV systems commissioning and energization (with support for HV and from site engineers);
• Perform design review and manage flow of information and drawings provided by contractors;
• Provide technical support to Development Managers as well as the Project Management and the Commercial teams with technical matters;
• Review, compare and assess proposals and deliverables from third party consultants such as geotechnical, topographical and grid integration studies as well proposals from suppliers of electrical equipment including switchgear, transformers, protection, solar PV equipment; and
• Assist the Procurement Team with procurement and logistics for solar PV and BESS components;