Solar Performance Engineer

at  Leeward Energy

Leeward Renewable Energy (LRE) is a high-growth renewable energy company that owns and operates a portfolio of 31 wind, solar and energy storage facilities across the United States, totaling approximately 3 gigawatts of generating capacity. We are actively developing new wind, solar, and energy storage projects in energy markets across the U.S., with about 30 GW of projects under development spanning over 125 projects. With projects currently under construction and soon to commence construction, we expect to commercialize over 1,000 MW of renewable energy projects in the next two years.
LRE is a portfolio company of OMERS Infrastructure, a preeminent global infrastructure investor and investment arm of OMERS, one of Canada’s largest defined benefit pension plans with C$127.4 billion in net assets (as at June 30, 2023).
As passionate renewable energy advocates, we take great pride in responsible development and the safe operation of our projects. We are focused on building sustainable solutions for clean, renewable energy, and we remain dedicated to empowering communities through energy independence, job creation, and lasting partnerships.
Job Summary:
The goals of this position are to develop and refine Energy Yield Assessments (EYAs) to accurately estimate expected generation for solar projects in both Development and Project Execution. EYAs will be project-specific, utilize the project’s current technical assumptions, and reflect LRE’s long term operator position. The Solar Performance Engineer will be expected to create new EYAs and review existing EYAs from third-party stakeholders such as Independent Engineers and EPCs. The position requires experience with utility scale solar plant design and project execution, the ability to manage complex and time sensitive projects in a fast-paced environment, with a premium on well-developed communication skills.

Essential Functions:

• Create and refine solar Energy Yield Assessments (EYAs) needed to support LRE’s Development and Execution projects
• Provide feedback on solar Energy Yield Assessments (EYAs) created by third-party stakeholders such as Independent Engineers and EPCs
• Ability to understand solar energy modelling inputs to refine assumptions and optimize generation.
• Ability to identify and select the best solar technology based on a project site’s technical specifications.
• Ability to analyze Solar Resource data to select the most representative for the project site.
• Oversee ground campaign collection and solar resource tuning processes.

Required Skills:

• Excellent communication skills, including ability to clearly communicate ideas succinctly to a non-technical audience.
• Ability to remain focused and reliable in completing tasks and meeting deadlines with minimal supervision.
• Demonstrated ability to be self-motivated and manage technical projects, including interaction with outside vendors.
• Understanding of solar plant design and typical losses associated with equipment and system design.
• Demonstrated ability to manage priorities in a complex and dynamic environment.

Technical Skills:

• Significant experience in solar energy prediction software such as PVSyst and PlantPredict
• Ability to read and interpret technical documentation and drawings and other common specifications.
• Current market knowledge on Solar Modules, Solar Inverters, and Tracking system suppliers.
• Deep technical expertise of:
• Solar resource data
• Solar development processes and milestones
• Solar resource tuning
• Performance uncertainties
• Optical and Electrical losses in the system design.
• Soiling and Albedo

Educational Requirements:

• 4-Year Bachelors Engineering Degree.

Preferred Work Experience:

• Minimum 2 years of relevant technical experience in solar resource/energy prediction.

Physical Demands:

• Position will require sitting for long periods of time as well as occasionally lifting up to twenty-pound boxes.

Leeward Management Services, LLC is committed to employing a diverse workforce, and provides equal employment opportunity for all individuals regardless of race, color, gender, age, national origin, marital status, sexual orientation, gender identity, status as a protected veteran, genetic information, status as a qualified individual with a disability, or any other characteristic protected by law

• Create and refine solar Energy Yield Assessments (EYAs) needed to support LRE’s Development and Execution projects
• Provide feedback on solar Energy Yield Assessments (EYAs) created by third-party stakeholders such as Independent Engineers and EPCs
• Ability to understand solar energy modelling inputs to refine assumptions and optimize generation.
• Ability to identify and select the best solar technology based on a project site’s technical specifications.
• Ability to analyze Solar Resource data to select the most representative for the project site.
• Oversee ground campaign collection and solar resource tuning processes