Manager or Sr. Manager, Optimization Engineering

Avantus; San Diego (CA); On-site; USD 136,000 - 175,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

401(k) matching

Medical and dental plan options

Flexible PTO

Job summary

Avantus seeks a Manager or Senior Manager of Optimization Engineering to lead technical diligence, EPC considerations, and design optimization across the full development lifecycle of utility-scale solar plus storage projects.

You will align with IE, EPC, Origination, and Energy Markets teams, model production and merchant revenue, and drive strategies for the lowest LCOE while managing schedule and risk.

Qualifications

• Must have 5+ years in project/optimization engineering and 5+ years in renewable energy and solar development.
• Experience leading IE process and technical diligence for non-recourse financings of utility-scale solar projects.
• Strong PV production modeling experience (PVsyst, SAM, pvlib) and battery storage modeling tools.

Responsibilities

• Lead technical diligence through IE and project financing.
• Manage EPC contract technical exhibits and translate constraints into EPC requirements.
• Lead design optimization and trade-off analyses to improve LCOE.
• Coordinate bid preparation and model merchant revenue with Energy Markets team.

Skills

Project/Optimization Engineering

Renewable energy

IE process leadership

PV production modeling

Battery storage modeling

PV systems knowledge

Excel data analysis

Python

Version control

Communication skills

Tools

PVsyst

SAM

pvlib

Excel

Python

Git

Job description

About Avantus

Avantus develops, owns and operates utility-scale clean energy projects across California and the Desert Southwest. Our development pipeline of solar with integrated storage will generate enough dispatchable power to serve more than 10 million Americans, day and night. Backed by strategic investment from KKR and EIG, and building on more than a decade of industry leadership, Avantus is growing its position as an independent power producer, delivering affordable, reliable clean energy solutions to meet America’s growing energy demand.

About Avantus

Avantus develops, owns and operates utility-scale clean energy projects across California and the Desert Southwest. Our development pipeline of solar with integrated storage will generate enough dispatchable power to serve more than 10 million Americans, day and night. Backed by strategic investment from KKR and EIG, and building on more than a decade of industry leadership, Avantus is growing its position as an independent power producer, delivering affordable, reliable clean energy solutions to meet America’s growing energy demand.

About The Position

The Manager or Sr. Manager, Optimization Engineering demonstrates sound industry knowledge, superior communications, and leadership ability. This is seen as a critical role to deliver on our current mid- to late-stage projects, and to support a full project pipeline. The person in this role supports technical diligence, EPC contracting, Origination contracting, and design optimization throughout the full development process.

Essential Functions And Responsibilities

Technical Diligence Through Project Financing

• Technical lead through IE diligence and project financing
• Manage expectations with IEs and financing counterparties to meet project schedule while maximizing valuations
• Assess cost benefit trade-offs to support negotiations with financing counterparties
• Responsible for timely delivery of IE report, including leading internal review and communication with the IE

EPC RFP and Value Engineering

• Manage EPC contract technical exhibits in collaboration with Procurement Leads
• Translate project specific constraints and risks into actionable EPC requirements
• Support EPC Procurement Leads in identifying value engineering opportunities and optimal equipment
• Review EPC designs and translate design details to energy production models
  • Lead internal performance testing of projects during commissioning and review and approve contractor performance submittals

Project Optimization Efforts

• Be fully responsible for managing design aspects of individual projects, including trade-offs between production, construction costs, land and permitting constraints
• Guide and train other team members in decisions related to project design optimization

PPA bid/Competitiveness

• Review technical terms of offtake agreements and propose preferred terms for negotiations with counterparties
• Lead cross functional design optimization efforts targeted at lowest LCOE/LCOS
• Work cross-functionally between development, land, engineering, estimating and procurement teams
  • Lead technical bid preparation and ensure team deliverables meet bid requirements
  • Collaborate with Energy Markets team to model merchant revenue streams for financial settlement offtake opportunities

Required Skills And Qualifications

• 5+ years’ experience in project or optimization engineering
• 5+ years’ experience with renewable energy and solar development
• Experience leading IE process and technical diligence for non-recourse financings of utility-scale solar projects
• Familiarity with IE and EPC community
• Strong communicator with ability to explain technical concepts
• Commercially minded engineer focused on LCOE
• Strong PV production modeling experience (PVsyst, SAM, and/or pvlib)
• Strong experience with battery storage performance modeling tools and parameters
• Understanding of PV and BESS EPC cost stack and key cost drivers
• Understanding of the full solar development process
• Understanding of energy market mechanics and revenue structures
• Technical background in modules, inverters and/or battery technology a plus
• Strong experience using Excel for data analysis and tool building
• Proficient working in python and using version control software

Avantus offers competitive compensation with an excellent benefits package, including 401(k) matching; comprehensive medical and dental plan options; and flexible PTO. We are an equal-opportunity employer.

The base salary range for this full-time position is listed below (plus bonus and benefits). Our salary ranges are determined by role, level, and location. The range displayed on each job posting reflects the minimum and maximum target for new hire salaries for the position in California. Within the range, individual pay is determined by work location and additional factors, including job-related skills, experience, and relevant education or training. Your recruiter can share more about the specific salary range for the applicable location during the hiring process. Please note that the compensation details listed reflect the base salary only, and do not include bonus and benefits.

Pay Range

$136,000—$175,000 USD