Director of Optimization Engineering

Adapture Renewables; Oakland (CA); Hybrid; USD 210,000 - 260,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

401(k) plan with company matching

Health, vision, and dental benefits

Generous PTO and holidays

Work-from-home policy

Salary commensurate with experience

Job summary

Adapture Renewables, Inc. is seeking a Director of Optimization Engineering to own the technical strategy for optimizing our hybrid solar and battery energy storage systems. You will drive energy yield, storage efficiency, and load-matching across a multi-GW development pipeline and build a team of engineers.

Hybrid Bay Area base; remote considered for exceptional candidates. The role partners across Development, Interconnection, Asset Management, and Power Marketing, setting standards for

Qualifications

• 8+ years in renewable energy with PV and BESS optimization experience.
• 3+ years leading technical teams and delivering results.
• Fluency in PV performance modeling (PVSyst) and yield estimation.
• Strong PV and BESS electrical engineering foundations.
• Experience with dispatch/arbitrage optimization and data analytics.
• Ability to translate models into actionable recommendations.
• Preferred: Python, MATLAB, SQL; SCADA/EMS & OT data architecture knowledge.
• PE license a plus; willingness to travel occasionally.

Responsibilities

• Own the engineering roadmap for hybrid solar-plus-storage optimization and define KPIs.
• Govern PV performance modeling standards and production estimates.
• Model and optimize PV+BESS output for large-load customers.
• Set engineering basis for battery dispatch and energy-arbitrage strategies.
• Establish standards for sizing, EMS configuration, and round-trip efficiency.
• Ensure designs meet interconnection and SCADA/EMS requirements.
• Direct root-cause analysis of fleet underperformance and feed findings back.
• Hire, develop, and lead the optimization engineering team.
• Deliver design and performance recommendations to leadership.

Skills

PV modeling

Optimization

Linear programming

Python

MATLAB

SQL

PVSyst

BESS knowledge

Education

Bachelors in engineering

Advanced degree a plus

Tools

SCADA/EMS

Interconnection knowledge

PE license (plus)

Job description

Adapture Renewables, Inc. is on a mission to be a leader in this new era of sustainable energy. Drawing upon an extensive knowledge base, we develop, finance, engineer, build, own, and operate high quality utility-scale photovoltaic projects and battery energy storage projects. Our Engineering team is looking for a talented Director of Optimization Engineering to help support the efforts of our fast-growing company. Adapture Renewables is owned by KIRKBI – the private holding and investment company of the Kirk Kristiansen family founded to build a sustainable future for the LEGO® brand through generations.

Overview

This position will work in our Engineering team and report to the Sr. Director of Engineering. The Director of Optimization Engineering owns the technical strategy for optimizing our hybrid and collocated utility-scale solar and battery energy storage (BESS) systems — driving energy production, capture, storage efficiency, and load-matching across Adapture Renewable’s multi-GW development pipeline. This is a builder’s seat: the role sets the optimization vision, defines success criteria, and grows a team of engineers to execute against it, partnering closely with Development, Interconnection & Transmission, Asset Management, and Power Marketing. The candidate will ideally be based in the San Francisco Bay Area (hybrid); remote considered for exceptional candidates.

Core Responsibilities

• Own the engineering roadmap for hybrid solar-plus-storage optimization — from system sizing and configuration through dispatch strategy — and define the KPIs and initiatives that connect design choices to energy yield and financial return.
• Govern PV performance modeling standards (PVSyst), including P50/P90 production estimates, degradation profiles, and loss/availability frameworks.
• Model and optimize combined PV and BESS output to serve large-load customers such as data centers, through both front-of-meter and co-located behind-the-meter designs.
• Set the engineering basis for battery dispatch and energy-arbitrage strategy using linear-programming methods, in coordination with Power Marketing.
• Establish standards for solar/BESS sizing, EMS configuration, DC/AC ratios, ground coverage ratios, state-of-charge limits, and round-trip efficiency.
• Ensure designs meet utility and interconnection requirements and SCADA/EMS protocols; partner with Interconnection & Transmission and IT on the underlying data path.
• Direct root-cause analysis of operating-fleet underperformance (soiling, availability, equipment faults, clipping, degradation, capacity fade) and feed findings back into design and procurement.
• Hire, develop, and lead the optimization engineering team, including the Manager of Optimization Engineering.
• Deliver design and performance recommendations to Engineering leadership and, as needed, to ownership.

Qualifications and Experience

• Bachelor’s degree in electrical, mechanical, energy, or systems engineering, or an equivalent quantitative discipline; advanced degree a plus.
• 8+ years in renewable energy, with hands-on experience designing and optimizing utility-scale solar and demonstrated BESS experience (sizing, dispatch optimization, degradation, or performance modeling).
• 3+ years leading and developing technical teams, with a track record of setting vision and delivering results.
• Deep fluency in PV performance modeling (PVSyst or equivalent), including P50/P90 yield estimation and loss/availability analysis.
• Strong PV and BESS electrical engineering foundation: inverters and DC/AC conversion, EMS configuration, state-of-charge limits, and round-trip efficiency.
• Working command of dispatch/arbitrage optimization (linear programming or comparable methods) and the data analytics behind battery control strategies.
• Proven ability to translate models and data into prioritized, economically grounded recommendations for engineers, executives, and owners.
• Preferred: Python (SciPy or similar solvers), MATLAB, and SQL; SCADA/EMS and OT data architecture experience; familiarity with BESS warranty and capacity-guarantee structures; working knowledge of interconnection and market context (PPA structures, curtailment, ancillary services); PE license a plus.
• Ability to travel occasionally to project sites and the Bay Area office.

Benefits Package

• 401(k) plan with company matching contribution
• Competitive health, vision, and dental benefits
• Attractive personal time off and company holiday package
• Work-from-home policy
• Salary commensurate with experience

Note

Qualified candidates only. No search firms. Adapture Renewables, Inc. is committed to equal employment opportunity.

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