Duties Conduct Production / Performance Estimates for utility-scale solar photovoltaic power plants, including ground mount, fixed tilt, single axis tracker, and roof-mounted projects ranging from a few MW's to over 1 GW, including independent engineering, owner's engineering, and EPC (engineering, procurement, and construction) projects. Assist with solar PV design optimization for cost reduction and performance improvement, including for EPC projects. Analyze weather and solar resources for soiling and met data construction. Utilize general site arrangement and one-line drawings to estimate the array location and distribution, block sizes, system design, and equipment ratings. Analyze project performance using batch simulation by running different variants with different module technologies, including inverters, ground coverage ratios, DC:AC ratios, tilts, and solar resource data to optimize layout and maximize return on investment. Calculate the heights of the external shading objects and losses associated with topography and undulating Terrains. Calculate the potential energy yield gain from smart tracking software technologies. Support the internal electrical engineering team to optimize runs using the best tilt and ground coverage ratio for solar sites. Determine balance of system and costs for solar projects. Create Master Project List database, that includes racking type, module tilt, racking configuration, slope analysis, loss exceptions, and other client requests. Assist clients in selecting solar PV plant components such as modules, inverters, meteorological stations, and trackers. Perform quality assurance reviews and updates for solar energy production estimates prepared by others and provide feedback on current and future projects. Support additional technical analysis for projects including performance assessments of operating projects, performance testing, and feasibility studies. Collaborate closely with various departments throughout the project life cycle, including Project Proposal, Development, Origination, Design, Procurement, Engineering, Construction and Operations. Develop and review performance test protocols and analyze actual plant performance against these protocols. Evaluate and provide risk analysis for EPC performance guarantees. Contribute to business development with key clients including identification of key drivers, scoping, proposal development, and relationship management. Collaborate with other engineers and analysts to contribute to the development of innovative new services and products, improve existing processes, and evaluate new technologies. No hire/fire authority.
Requirements Bachelor's degree in Mechanical Engineering, Electrical Engineering, Energy Engineering, Renewable and Clean Energy Engineering, or related, plus three years of related experience. Must have experience with the following software and tools: PVsyst, Helioscope, SAM, MS Excel, NSRDB, GIS, AutoCAD, Meteonorm, and Google Earth Pro. Must have experience with solar resource data and assessment, as well as designing solar photovoltaic systems with BOS (Balance of System). Must have experience with various codes and standards including NEC and NEMA, and with reviewing local building codes. Must have experience with the fundamentals of photovoltaic systems and its technologies. Telecommuting is permissible within a reasonable commuting distance from the Ann Arbor, MI office. Must have good written and verbal communication skills in English. All applicants must be able to complete pre-employment onboarding requirements (if selected) which may include any/all of the following: criminal/civil background check, drug screen, and motor vehicle records search, in compliance with any applicable laws and regulations. Applicants for this position must have work authorization that does not now or in the future require employer sponsorship of a visa for employment authorization in the United States (i.e., H-1B visa, TN visa, or any other non-immigrant status).
