Development Engineer-Wind, Solar, BESS

SET; Cape Town; On-site; ZAR 900,000 - 1,300,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Market-related remuneration

Medical aid

Retirement contributions

Group risk insurance

Short-term incentive opportunities

Professional development

Career growth

Opportunity to contribute to major RED

Job summary

SET in Cape Town, Western Cape, seeks an experienced Development Engineer to lead wind, solar PV and Battery Energy Storage System (BESS) project development from early stage through construction readiness.

You will conduct wind resource assessments, size BESS, model energy production and support commercial pricing, financial modelling and offtake negotiations. This role requires strong analytical skills, Python/Excel, and travel to project sites.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's Degree in Engineering (BEng or BSc)
• Proven wind resource assessment and energy yield modelling experience
• Strong analytical skills; proficient in Excel and Python
• Ability to interpret complex data and develop practical engineering solutions
• Strong planning, communication and stakeholder management
• Willingness to travel to project sites and work flexible hours

Responsibilities

• Conduct wind resource assessments, develop turbine layouts and energy yield estimates across renewable energy projects.
• Lead BESS sizing, dispatch modelling and optimisation for standalone storage and hybrid wind/solar PV projects.
• Optimise battery storage configurations for energy arbitrage, ancillary services and corporate PPAs.
• Develop hourly, monthly and annual energy production profiles for pricing, modelling and offtake negotiations.
• Collaborate with lenders and technical advisers to meet bankability requirements.
• Support hybrid renewable energy developments, grid integration and curtailment mitigation strategies.
• Provide technical input into financial models (efficiency, degradation, operating costs).
• Coordinate site assessments, wind monitoring campaigns and engineering activities.
• Provide GIS mapping and technical support for development and permitting.
• Work with Business Development on tariff modelling and commercial energy solutions.
• Engage with technology suppliers to evaluate equipment specs and guarantees.
• Support technical due diligence and strategic development initiatives.

Skills

Wind resource assessment

Energy yield modelling

Analytical capabilities

Excel

Python

Stakeholder management

Education

Bachelor's Degree in Engineering

Tools

Excel

Python

GIS software

Job description

Introduction

Renewable Energy IPP.

Description

Development Engineer – Wind, Solar PV & BESS
Location: Cape Town, Western Cape
Industry: Renewable Energy
Remuneration: Market Related

About the Opportunity

We are recruiting for an experienced Development Engineer to join a leading renewable energy developer with a growing portfolio of wind, solar PV and Battery Energy Storage System (BESS) projects.

This position offers an exciting opportunity for a technically strong engineer to play a key role in the development, optimisation and commercial viability of renewable energy projects, from early-stage development through to construction readiness. The successful candidate will combine strong wind energy assessment expertise with advanced analytical capabilities and an understanding of energy storage technologies.

• Conduct wind resource assessments, develop turbine layouts and prepare energy yield estimates across renewable energy projects.

• Lead BESS sizing, dispatch modelling and optimisation for standalone storage and hybrid wind/solar PV projects.

• Optimise battery storage configurations against multiple revenue streams, including energy arbitrage, ancillary services and corporate PPA requirements.

• Develop hourly, monthly and annual energy production profiles to support commercial pricing, financial modelling and offtake negotiations.

• Collaborate with technical advisers and lenders to ensure energy assessments and project assumptions meet bankability requirements.

• Support the development of hybrid renewable energy projects, including grid integration and curtailment mitigation strategies.

• Provide technical inputs into financial models, including system efficiency, degradation, operating costs and battery augmentation requirements.

• Coordinate site assessments, wind monitoring campaigns and relevant engineering activities.

• Provide GIS mapping and technical support for project development and permitting activities.

• Work closely with Business Development teams on tariff modelling, wheeling calculations and commercial energy solutions.

• Engage with technology suppliers, OEMs and technical consultants to evaluate equipment specifications and performance guarantees.

• Support technical due diligence, project feasibility assessments and strategic development initiatives.

Minimum Requirements

• Bachelor's Degree in Engineering (BEng or BSc Engineering).

• Proven experience in wind resource assessment and energy yield modelling – essential.

• Strong analytical capabilities, including proficiency in Excel and Python.

• Demonstrated ability to interpret complex technical data and develop practical engineering solutions.

• Strong planning, communication and stakeholder management skills.

• Willingness to travel frequently to project sites and work flexible hours when required.

Highly Advantageous

• Experience in BESS modelling, sizing, dispatch optimisation and revenue modelling.

• Understanding of the South African electricity market, including WEPS, Megaflex tariffs and electricity wheeling frameworks.

• Exposure to hybrid renewable energy developments (Wind + BESS / Solar PV + BESS).

• Experience with GIS software and spatial data analysis.

• Understanding of renewable energy project economics, energy trading and corporate PPAs.

• Experience engaging with technical advisers, lenders, OEMs and project development teams.

Ideal Candidate Profile

We are looking for a commercially minded and technically capable engineer who thrives in a dynamic project development environment. The ideal candidate is analytical, proactive, detail-oriented and capable of working independently while collaborating effectively with multidisciplinary teams. A genuine passion for renewable energy, strong problem-solving abilities and the willingness to take ownership of complex engineering challenges will be essential.

What's on Offer?

• Market-related remuneration package.

• Medical aid and retirement contributions.

• Group risk insurance cover.

• Short-term incentive opportunities.

• Professional development and career growth.

• Opportunity to contribute to major renewable energy developments.