Development Engineer

Company Summary 

Recurrent Energy is a wholly owned subsidiary of Canadian Solar Inc. and is one of the world's largest and most geographically diversified utility-scale solar and energy storage project development, ownership, and O&M platforms.  Recurrent Energy is focused on bringing low-cost clean energy and meaningful economic development to communities across the globe. 

With a strong track record of originating, developing, financing, and building nearly 9 GWp of solar and 3 GWh of battery storage power plants across six continents, Recurrent Energy has established a leadership position in both solar and battery storage project development. With a total pipeline of 25 GWp in solar and 47 GWh in battery storage, of which 14 GW and 12 GWh respectively already have interconnections (as of January 31, 2023). In addition, Recurrent Energy’s services business has 6 GW of projects under operations and maintenance contracts, either operational or contracted projects. 

Position Title:Development Engineer 

Department:Engineering, Procurement, & Construction 

Reports To:Senior Manager, Development Engineering 

Location:Priority is given to candidates who can work in a flexible hybrid model from one of our offices in San Francisco, New York, Austin, or Guelph (Canada). In addition, monthly travel may be required to either a project site or our headquarters in Austin. 

Position Summary 

The Development Engineer supports the Development Engineering Managers with projects located across the United States. This position manages the conceptual design of Recurrent Energy’s utility scale photovoltaic (PV) power plants and battery energy storage system (BESS) facilities. This role is involved from early stage site evaluation and diligence through contractor hand-off. Reports to Senior Manager, Development Engineering. 

Responsibilities 

• Manage the conceptual design of a portfolio of PV and BESS projects with the direction from the engineering manager
• Proactively plan and manage the workload of drafting consultants and staff
• Prepare conceptual PV and BESS design layouts and single line drawings
• Perform PV Plant design optimization based on site-specific environmental factors and constraints
• Support site diligence and preliminary design workstreams to ensure project-specific risks are mitigated 
• Create design specifications and coordinate design handoff to the performance and cost estimating teams
• Manage the evolving project Site Constraints Plan from early site diligence through EPC RFP, including a detailed knowledge of all plottable title issues
• Execute site visits to assess land characteristics and identify prioritization of diligence
• Support the procurement of land diligence studies (e.g. geotech, hydro, surveying)
• Support the permitting and real estate teams with analysis and exhibits

Financial & Organizational Scope 

• Manages consultant work orders to ensure scope, schedule, quality, and coordination requirements are met.

Reporting Relationships & Interactions 

• Reports to Director, Development Engineering
• Works cross functionally and collaboratively with all departments

Knowledge, Skills & Abilities 

• Expert skills managing AutoCAD relating to construction drawings:
• multiple evolving survey and environmental x’ref files
• state plane coordinate systems, grid vs ground coordinates
• model vs paper-space, layer & linetype management, version & quality control
• Experience interpreting survey and construction drawings
• Strong knowledge of Excel
• Experience using Google Earth to investigate project sites
• Understanding of land development including civil site issues, hydrology, easements and utility routing
• In-depth engineering experience with construction drawings for land development and/or infrastructure projects
• Excellent organizational and planning skills with ability to prioritize competing deadlines and a portfolio of projects
• Strong verbal and written communication and interpersonal skills. Ability to summarize complex issues and opportunities.
• Detail-oriented with a strong sense of personal responsibility for work products and team success.
• Extensive on-boarding, training, and guidance will be provided.
• Experience reviewing construction cost estimates and schedules a plus

Requirements 

• 4-year Engineering degree from an accredited educational institution.
• B.S.in Civil, Electrical or Mechanical Engineering
• EIT certification a plus
• 2+ years of engineering experience with land development and/or infrastructure project design
• Prior experience in the renewable energy industry preferred but not required.

Recurrent Energy is an Equal Opportunity Employer (EOE). Qualified applicants are considered for employment without regard to age, race, color, religion, sex, national origin, sexual orientation, disability, or veteran status.