PV Performance Engineer

Intersect; United States; On-site; USD 188,500 - 201,500; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Unlimited PTO

100% medical coverage

Monthly food stipend

Parental leave benefits

Job summary

A leading clean energy company in the United States is seeking a talented engineer to lead PV module technology and energy modeling efforts. You will manage consultants and handle performance estimates for solar projects while contributing to innovative energy solutions. The ideal candidate has a BS in Engineering, at least 6 years of experience in utility-scale PV systems, and a strong background in material science. This position supports a fully flexible work culture emphasizing team collaboration and growth.

Qualifications

• Minimum of 6 years of technical experience with PV systems.
• Expertise in thin-film, CdTe PV technology.
• Experience in procurement processes for PV modules.

Responsibilities

• Lead ownership of PV module technology.
• Analyze PV production data to identify performance issues.
• Create energy models for projects.

Skills

Engineering

PV performance analysis

Material science

Project management

Technical diligence

Programming languages (VBA, Matlab, Python)

Education

BS in Engineering

MS or PhD in Engineering

Tools

PVSyst

Plant Predict

Job description

We’re a team of friends bound together by a mission to preserve our planet for future generations through innovative energy solutions and modern infrastructure. In December 2025, Google announced an agreement to acquire Intersect, to enable more data center and generation capacity to come online faster while accelerating energy development and innovation. After close, we’ll continue doing exactly what we were built to do - develop, construct, and operate the most ambitious power and data infrastructure in the country.

Intersect’s operations will remain separate from Alphabet and Google under the Intersect brand. We’re on an aggressive growth trajectory and looking for people hungry to tackle the largest energy challenges on the planet.

Location & Team Gatherings

Intersect has been a fully flexible workplace since its founding in 2016. We’ve been very intentional about the way we do things. We are not work-from-home, hybrid, or in-office - we are any and all of those options! Deepening social connections and offering shared experiences is a cornerstone of the way we work. We connect as a team at our Team Week experiences four times a year and at our recently established Hub locations - SF Bay Area, NYC Metro Area, NY; Denver, CO; Houston, TX; Calgary, AB; and Toronto, ON.

We are currently looking for candidates located within 60 miles of any of the listed hubs to foster more in-person connections while maintaining our flexible remote culture.

About This Position

The person in this role will lead and be accountable for the PV module technology, energy modeling, performance and production estimates, as well as managing engineering consultants, Independent Engineers final deliverables for PV Solar projects. This role is for a sole contributor and does not have direct reports at this time. It may change as the PV team grows with time.

What You’ll Do

Engineering

• Lead and maintain ownership of the thin-film, CdTe PV module technology, including: Qualification testing (performance, degradation, hail, etc); Develop test programs to predict behavior of PV modules based on power plant operation, including accelerated life test protocols; Manage test programs with partner labs and periodically report out results that could guide the business
• Lead and maintain ownership over the technical design and documentation (system sizing, equipment selection, electrical modeling, and balance of system) to ensure performance over the life of the system meets the required contractual offtake agreements and financial model expectations
• Ownership of technology and product selection: Tracker systems/DC collection and wire management system
• Lead and manage the IE, IE's scope, and the diligence process during project financing
• Lead cross functional design and PV optimization efforts accountable for targeting the lowest LCOE
• Responsible for development and ownership of technical specifications and exhibits (EPC technical exhibits, energy capacity/ performance testing protocols, vendor specifications, etc.)
• Lead the technical aspects of energy estimation on PPA negotiations, accountable for meeting the offtake requirements with a cost-optimized and constructible solution
• Aid in EPC RFP and commercial supply agreements to ensure technical requirements are accurately defined and reflected while ensuring lower LCOE
• Work cross functionally between development, land, and engineering teams
• Interface, communicate, and establish relationships with vendors and suppliers in direct support of the Procurement team
• Ensure timely and cost-effective resolutions for regulatory, permitting, and technical issues associated with the execution and delivery of PV facilities, collaborating with other internal teams.
• Ensure the highest level of environmental health and safety standards in all engineering with aspects of the facility

Operations

• Power plant historian data mining to analyze PV module performance and determine root cause of production shortfalls.
• Maintain as built models to study long term effects of PV module degradation, BOS failure rate, mismatch rates etc.

Business Development

• Support energy modeling for the BD team for data center or other load projects
• Create simplified energy models for clean electron to green molecule production

What You’ll Bring

• BS in Engineering required; MS or PhD in Engineering preferred.
• Minimum of 6 years of technical experience with ownership of PV performance and production estimates on utility scale PV systems, through these 4 phases: Development, Design, Contracting EPC/Modules/’Balance of plant’ components, and Construction
• Material science based research/ development on PV module technology
• Experience managing scope and deliverables of an Independent Engineer (IE) through one successful financing or more
• Experience in leading technical diligence and advising the procurement team in the purchase of PV modules from a Tier 1 supplier for one procurement deal, 100MW or greater, OR in aggregate, supported more than 200 MW across multiple deals.
• Experience in leading technical diligence and advising the procurement team in the purchase of single-axis trackers from a Tier 1 supplier for one procurement deal each 100MW or greater, OR in aggregate, supported more than 200 MW across multiple deals.
• Experience in advanced techniques of performance and facility design optimization
• Solid material science background in thin-film, CdTe PV technology.
• Project engineering, effective time management and ability to prioritize tasks via solid project management skills
• Technical background in utility scale power conversion, transformers, inverters and battery technology.
• Working knowledge and practical understanding of the relevant codes and standards for PV modules, DC collection and PV inverters (NEC, IBC, IFC, NFPA, UL, IEC, ISO/TSP requirements for grid following/ forming PV plants e.g. ERCOT/CAISO) and how they are applied to the various life cycles of permitting, design, construction, and operation
• Deep understanding of the photovoltaic technology, trackers, and inverters; advantages and trade-offs of the different technologies, system design, optimization levers, cost drivers, contracting pitfalls, construction challenges, life-cycle use and challenges
• Experience in working with PVSyst and Plant Predict or a similar tool
• Must have knowledge and understanding of scripting languages to automate engineering calculations e.g. VBA, Matlab, Python

Bonus Points

• Commercially minded engineer focused on LCOE/LCOS
• Possesses the ability to quantify risk and opportunities around unknowns in design and technology
• Understands PV and ESS development processes
• Thrives in a cross functional environment, able to guide discussion and identify dependencies between design, production, cost, land use, and LCOE

Total Rewards

At Intersect, we care about your well-being, growth, and balance. Here’s how we support you:

Total Compensation: $188,500 - $201,500 (total compensation includes base salary + bonus in USD)

Health & Wellness: 100% premium coverage for you and your dependents on medical, dental, and vision

Time to Recharge: Unlimited PTO, plus two company-wide breaks (Fourth of July & end of year)

Family Support: Up to 12 weeks of fully paid parental leave, plus 6 additional weeks for birth parents; access to family planning support via Carrot and Maven

Mental Health: Free access to Spring Health which includes 5 free Therapy & psychiatry sessions, plus a Headspace account for mindfulness and meditation through our physical health vendor, Wellhub+

Retirement: 3% non-elective employer contribution to your 401k or RRSP, ensuring your financial future is on the right track

Perks & Extras: $150 monthly food stipend, $150 monthly reimbursement for cell phone/ internet, pet insurance allowance, full home office setup and free access to UrbanSitter with $625 in quarterly paid company credits, ActiveHero, and One Medical

Ready to help build the next generation of clean, reliable, and flexible energy solutions? Apply now and join Intersect in accelerating the energy transition while shaping your own impact in the industry.

Intersect maintains a work environment free from discrimination, one where all employees are treated with dignity and respect. All employees share in the responsibility for fulfilling Intersect's commitment to equal employment opportunity. Intersect does not discriminate against any employee or applicant on the basis of age, ancestry, citizenship, color, family or medical care leave, gender identity or expression, genetic information, immigration status, marital status, medical condition, national origin, physical or mental disability, political affiliation, protected veteran or military status, race, ethnicity, religion, sex (including pregnancy), sexual orientation, or any other characteristic protected by and consistent with applicable local laws, regulations and ordinances. We adhere to these principles in all aspects of employment, including recruitment, hiring, training, compensation, promotion, benefits, social and recreational programs, and discipline.