Senior Engineering Manager - New Zealand

Lightsource BP Group; Auckland; On-site; NZD 150,000 - 190,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Annual bonus

Health insurance

Pension

Job summary

Lightsource bp in Auckland, NZ, is seeking a Senior Engineering professional to lead technical delivery for large solar and BESS projects. You will coordinate engineering activities across development, pre-construction, and construction, balancing technical and commercial objectives.

The role requires 10+ years in renewables, deep knowledge of PV and energy storage tech, and strong experience with EPC/O&M contracts, EYA, and HV design.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s or Master’s degree in Engineering (Renewable Energy or related field).
• 10+ years in Renewable Energy, solar PV and BESS experience.
• Strong knowledge of PV/BESS tech, EPC/ICP/O&M contracts, and EYA.

Responsibilities

• Manage engineering activities to support the Project Development process.
• Lead Technical Due Diligence and coordinate internal/external engineering providers.
• Conduct Energy Yield Assessments and LCOE optimisation for new projects.
• Analyse PV/BESS technologies and lead concept design development.
• Develop technical appendices for OEM EPC/ICP/O&M contracts and guarantees.
• Support construction phase technical activities and site visits as needed.
• Coordinate Technical Advisors and review contractor bids for compliance.

Skills

Renewable energy

Solar PV

BESS

EYA

HV substation design

OEM/EPC/ICP contracts

SCADA/Cybersecurity

AutoCAD

PVSYST

Communication

Education

Bachelor’s or Master’s degree in Engineering (Renewable Energy or related field)

Tools

AutoCAD

ArcGIS

PVSYST

Job description

Location: Auckland, NZ

Reporting to: Head of Commercial Engineering – ANZ

We are Lightsource bp – and we’re on a mission to become a global leader in onshore renewables, anchored by our proven track record in solar development.

For over a decade we’ve been actively working to diversify the way our world is powered with sustainable and responsible renewable power. We work to safely deliver affordable, reliable, large-scale onshore renewable and energy storage solutions to help the world decarbonise.

Our growing business is constantly innovating and investing to help drive the energy transition. Our people and projects are focused on supporting long-term sustainable growth and energy security.

Lightsource bp operates with five core values: Safety, Integrity, Respect, Sustainability, and Drive.

We seek to attract and hire individuals who share our commitment to creating a safe workplace, uphold the highest standards of integrity, and demonstrate respect for colleagues, communities, and the environment. Our recruitment process promotes sustainability by valuing long-term growth and responsible practices, while seeking candidates with the drive to innovate and lead in the global energy transition.

Together, these values shape how we engage, assess, and welcome talent to join us in delivering transformational solar power solutions worldwide.

Lightsource bp was fully acquired by bp in 2024.

What you’ll do (the role)

Summary (Guideline: Provide a concise overview (2-4 sentences) of what the role entails. Describe the main purpose, key objectives, and how this role fits within the organisation or team)

Lightsource bp’s Commercial Engineering Team provides technical support across all areas of the global organisation and for projects being developed across the globe. This role includes being accountable for technical aspects of specific projects in New Zealand across all phases of a project including early development, pre-construction, and construction.

Responsibilities of the Role (Guideline: List the key duties and responsibilities, typically 5-8 bullet points. Focus on what the person will do day-to-day and major outcomes they will own)

• Manage engineering activities to support the Project Development process (including acquisitions)
• Lead the Technical Due Diligence (acquisition, financing and/or divestment) and manage internal and external engineering service providers.
• Undertake Energy Yield Assessments (EYA).
• Undertake optioneering analysis and LCOE optimisation and analysis for new projects.
• Support the assessment of new PV & BESS technologies (modules, inverters, structures, BESS).
• Lead the development of concept designs, including instructing equipment sizing, layouts, SLDs, civils and BOP equipment and systems.
• Manage the development and customisation of Technical Appendices for project specific OEM Supply Agreements, EPC, ICP and O&M Contracts, including performance and availability guarantees.
• Manage engineering activities to support Project Managers as needed across all technical aspects during Construction, Commissioning, Works Completion, Commercial Operations, Provisional and Final Acceptance. This may require some site-based work.
• Coordinate and manage Technical Advisors (OE, LTA, etc) locally and internationally.
• Review OEM, EPC, ICP and O&M Contractor bids, reports, orders, etc for compliance with Principal’s Requirements and Contract appendices.
• Lead the technical negotiations with OEMs and EPC, ICP and O&M Contractors.
• Undertake site visits to both new greenfield sites and sites under construction.
• Support on engineering analysis of performance, availability, curtailment and evaluation of new technologies as required.

Why you’ll make a great member of the team

Experience & Knowledge Required (Guideline: Experience: Specify the type and amount of professional experience necessary. Include industry, functional area, or specific types of projects or roles previously held. Knowledge: Detail essential knowledge areas needed for the role, such as industry regulations, technical standards, market trends, or company-specific processes)

• 10+ years of experience in the Renewable Energy industry, in both Solar PV and BESS sectors.
• Experience with large-scale Solar PV, BESS and Hybrid projects in the region, working either on the Developer, EPC Contractor, or Technical Advisor side.
• Strong knowledge of solar PV technologies and constituent components (PV modules, inverters, mounting structures, trackers, switchgear, transformers etc).
• Strong knowledge of BESS technologies and constituent components (cells, racks, inverters, BMS, EMS etc).
• Familiarity with HV substation design and construction.
• Strong knowledge of OEM, EPC, ICP and O&M contract structures, especially Technical Appendices.
• Basic knowledge of hybrid generating systems including control modes and energy modelling techniques.
• Familiarity with SCADA and Cybersecurity requirements.
• Good understanding of PPAs, Grid Connection Agreements and technical inputs to Financial Models.
• Experience in undertaking Energy Yield Assessment (EYA) and detailed knowledge of pertinent factors affecting solar farm performance.
• Good knowledge of the main players in the industry (OEMs, Technical Advisors, investors, EPCs, NSPs, etc).

Skills Required (Guideline: List the critical skills required to succeed in the role, such as technical, managerial, interpersonal, or software skills)

• Collaborating with internal and external stakeholders to successfully problem solve engineering and techno-economic challenges on projects.
• Excellent communication skills to communicate complex technical issues with technical and non-technical stakeholders.
• Good knowledge of solar energy resource assessment methodologies and of simulation software including PVSYST. Other Wind, Battery (BESS) or Hybrid modelling software is a plus.
• Experience with AutoCAD, ArcGIS or other design software.
• Fluent English - spoken and written.
• Full Driving license.
• Proactive, autonomous, flexible, and driven.
• Forward thinking, a problem solver and solution provider.
• Able to balance technical and commercial aspects.
• Proactive and being able to prioritise workload.
• Able to promote a positive working culture within the team.
• Strong organisational and communication skills; both verbal and written

Education Required (Guideline: State any minimum formal education, certifications, or professional qualifications required or preferred)

• Bachelor’s or Master’s degree in Engineering (Renewable Energy or related field)

(Optional Section: Additional Notes / Role-specific Requirements – If any special working conditions, travel requirements, or other relevant info, please add further information)

Why you’ll want to work for us

Our company is a place where you can be yourself and grow, a place where your ideas and opinions matter.

Be you: We pride ourselves on being an inclusive community, where every individual is valued and treated with respect.

Be responsible: Our culture is driven by our core values – from operating safely to ensuring our projects are responsible.

Be recognized: Alongside a competitive salary, we offer a variety of benefits including annual bonus, retention bank, health insurance, pension and other local benefits.

Be inspired: Beyond your day-to-day working life at Lightsource bp, there’s a variety of initiatives that will contribute to your own personal development. These include our charitable causes, supporting our solar honey project, or volunteering on our VIBES committee to name a few.

Our core values: Lightsource bp truly cares about creating a sustainable future through safe, responsible and meaningful low carbon energy projects. Our core values of Safety, Integrity, Respect, Sustainability and Drive are the guiding principles for everything we do.

For further information on our career opportunities and life at Lightsource bp, please visit https://www.lightsourcebp.com/careers/

Why you’ll want to stay with us

At Lightsource bp, you’ll work within agile, cross-functional teams where diverse perspectives come together. Our culture embraces open knowledge sharing and collaboration, empowering you to learn from others and accelerate progress collectively.

Your career growth is our priority and a shared journey. We are committed to developing talent from within and prepare you for career advancement so you can shape a fulfilling and lasting journey here.

In today’s fast-changing world, a learning mindset is essential and therefore we proactively support upskilling to help you push your skill boundaries and stay ahead in your field, so you can not only keep pace with change, but confidently shape a brighter future.