Associate, Development Engineering

Copia Power; Dana Point (CA); Hybrid; USD 80,000 - 110,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Medical, dental & vision coverage

401(k) company match

Annual bonus eligibility

Flexible work hours

Unlimited PTO

Job summary

Copia Power is seeking an Associate, Development Engineering to help bring large-scale clean energy assets to the U.S. power grid.

You will support the development phase with preliminary designs, energy resource assessments, and performance testing standards while collaborating with Development, EPC, asset management, energy markets, legal, and finance teams. The role requires a proactive, data-driven engineer with strong communication skills and a passion for renewables.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in engineering is required.
• 1–2 years of renewable energy experience is required.
• Strong understanding of renewable energy markets, solar energy technologies, and project finance principles.
• Proficiency with CAD tools and PVsyst or equivalent energy modeling software.
• Ability to work out of the Washington, D.C., Dana Point, CA, Phoenix, AZ, Salt Lake City, UT or Lake Oswego, OR office a minimum of 3 days a week.
• Ability to travel up to 25%.
• Authorized to work in the United States without employer sponsorship.

Responsibilities

• Support development engineering by creating and managing preliminary designs for projects in development stage.
• Perform in-house preliminary designs 10% level using AutoCAD/Civil3D and PVcase layout tools.
• Develop energy resource assessment models.
• Contribute to energy assessment/production modeling and performance testing standards.
• Manage on-site solar resource assessment and deployment.
• Collaborate with stakeholders to optimize project economics (LCOE, IRR) prior to EPC LNTP.
• Coordinate design standards with Copia EPC team for consistency.
• Provide input to Approved Vendor List by reviewing consultants and vendors.
• Contribute to development of development engineering processes for efficient evaluation of projects.

Skills

Engineering background

Renewable energy

CAD tools

Energy modeling

Data analysis

Education

Bachelor's degree in engineering

Tools

PVsyst

Microsoft Office

Job description

Job Description:

Copia Power (“Copia”) is a Carlyle-backed energy and digital infrastructure platform that develops, constructs, and operates large-scale assets across the U.S. to accelerate the electrification and growth of the digital economy. Copia Power has over 2,600 MW of energy generation and storage assets in operation or under construction and is actively developing over 15 GW of grid-connected data centers supported by Copia’s portfolio of gigawatt-scale energy campuses comprising more than 25 GW of solar and storage and 7 GW of natural gas generation assets.

At Copia, we pride ourselves on a culture where sustainability is at the heart of everything we do. We are dedicated to making a meaningful impact on the environment, and we believe that achieving this goal requires not just hard work but also enjoying the journey. Our team thrives on connectivity, fostering strong relationships across all levels of the organization. Together, we combine passion and playfulness to drive progress and make a difference.

Copia is seeking an Associate, Development Engineering who is passionate about renewable energy and eager to help bring clean energy and data center load solutions onto the U.S. power grid, joining a rapidly growing, people-first organization. The ideal candidate will be responsible for supporting the development of large-scale clean energy assets, helping Copia Power maintain its position as a leader in the industry. This role requires exceptional organizational, communication, and analytical skills, along with a collaborative mindset and a genuine enjoyment of working as part of a team.

The Associate, Development Engineering will report directly to the Senior Manager, Engineering, working closely with Copia’s Development, EPC, asset management, energy markets, legal, and finance teams in an individual contributor capacity.

Key Responsibilities:

• Support Copia Development Engineering by creating and managing preliminary designs and studies for all projects in the development stage.
• Perform in-house preliminary designs 10% level using AutoCAD/Civil3D, PVcase layout generating software, and internal tools.
• Develop energy resource assessment models.
• Contribute to the development of energy assessment/production modeling and performance testing standards.
• Manage on site solar resource assessment and deployment.
• Work with project stakeholders to optimize projects for offtake, LCOE, IRR, etc. prior to EPC LNTP.
• Coordinate best practices and design standards with Copia EPC team to ensure consistency throughout the project lifecycle.
• Provide technical input to the Approved Vendor List process by reviewing engineering consultants, equipment vendors (including emerging technologies), engineers of record and EPC contractors.
• Contribute to the development of all Development Engineering processes for more accurate and efficient evaluation of projects and completion of relevant tasks.
• Additional responsibilities as assigned.

What We Look For:

• Experience and knowledge in engineering and renewable development.
• Passion for renewables and a keen interest in being a part of the climate change solution.
• Basic understanding of civil, structural and electrical engineering design.
• Strong critical thinking skills and ability to gather, organize, and draw conclusions from data.
• Ability to communicate effectively in verbal and written correspondence.
• Highly driven with problem-solving abilities, integrity, and strong work ethic.
• Proactive mindset with the ability to thrive in a fast-paced, dynamic environment.
• Ability to work effectively within a rapidly changing organization.
• Demonstrated collaborative partnerships with peers, management, and vendors.
• Resourcefulness and polite persistence.

Minimum Qualifications:

• Bachelor’s degree in engineeringrequired
• 1-2 years of renewable energy experiencerequired
• Strong understanding of renewable energy markets, solar energy technologies, and project finance principles
• Proficiency and experience with Microsoft Office, CAD tools and PVsyst or equivalent energy modeling software
• Ability to work out of the Washington, D.C, Dana Point, CA, Phoenix, AZ, Salt Lake City, UT or Lake Oswego, OR office a minimum of 3 days a week.
• Ability to travel up to 25%
• Applicants must be authorized to work in the United States without employer sponsorship.

Compensation:

At Copia, we carefully consider a wide range of factors when determining compensation, including your skills, qualifications, location, and experience. This role may also be eligible for benefits, performance bonuses, and other perks.

Our Benefits:

• Medical, Dental & Vision Coverage (with no premiums)
• Company contribution to 401(k) plans
• Annual bonus eligibility
• Flexible work hours
• Unlimited paid time off for a healthy work-life balance
• Paid holidays to celebrate and recharge
• Wellness and cell phone credits to support personal well-being
• Life and AD&D insurance for peace of mind
• Employee Resource Groups (ERGs) for community and support
• Opportunities for professional development to grow and thrive within the company

About Copia:

Copia Power (“Copia”), is a wholly owned portfolio company of the global investment firm, The Carlyle Group. Copia’s platform is focused on developing, owning, and operating utility-scale sustainable infrastructure in the United States.We value diversity and are committed to creating an inclusive environment for all employees. For more information, visit www.copiapower.com .

At Copia, we value diversity and are an equal opportunity employer by choice. We consider all qualified applicants equally for employment & do not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national origin, ancestry, citizenship status, protected veteran status, religion, physical or mental disability, marital status, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, age, or any other basis protected by law, ordinance, or regulation.