Engineer, Optimization Engineering

ABOUT AVANTUS

Avantus is shaping the future by making reliable, low-cost clean energy a global reality. Our legacy of leadership in next generation solar energy includes developing one of the nation’s largest solar clusters and one of the first projects to beat fossil fuel prices back in 2016. Today, we are expanding the boundaries of existing technologies to build one of the largest portfolios of smart power plants with integrated storage, capable of providing millions of people with affordable, zero-emission energy – day and night. Through our relentless pursuit of better, we are decarbonizing our planet at the gigaton level, and bringing the advantages of clean energy to all of us.

ABOUT THE POSITION

The Engineer, Optimization Engineering plays a critical role to deliver on our current mid to late-stage projects and to support full pipeline. This person supports production and design optimization throughout the full development process.

ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS AND RESPONSIBILITIES: 

PPA Bid/Competitiveness 

• Identify and model site specific conditions such as meteorological data, soiling, shading and other onsite conditions that may impact design and production 
• Lead cross functional design optimization efforts targeted at the lowest LCOE and LCOS 
• Review technical requirements of PPAs to guide negotiation and inform contract terms 
• Work cross functionally between development, land, engineering, and estimating teams to prepare pricing inputs for PPA RFP submittals 

Project Optimization Efforts 

• Diligence new technology with suppliers, EPC and IEs to understand bankability, performance, and design impacts 
• Work on LCOE initiatives around design configuration, land utilization, and equipment. 

EPC RFP and Value Engineering 

• Review EPC design and normalize production as needed 
• Guide and collaborate with the contractor to find site and EPC specific optimized design 
• Own technical exhibits such as performance testing and technical commissioning (with the support of OEs) 

Technical Diligence through project financing 

• Technical lead through IE diligence and project financing 
• Lead production review and answer questions on design, equipment and production to maximize project value 

SME with value-add in-house expertise: 

• PV Production and performance and cost modeling 
• BESS performance and cost modeling 
• Design Optimization for LCOE 

REQUIRED SKILLS AND QUALIFICATIONS: 

• 2+ years’ experience running LCOE models for commercial offtake opportunities
• Ability to quantify risk and opportunities around unknowns in design and technology
• 2-4 years’ PV performance modeling experience, including PVsyst, NREL SAM, or pvlib-python modeling
• 2-4 years’ experience with PV and BESS cost modeling
• Understanding of the full solar and energy storage development process
• Understanding of PV+S design optimization modeling tools and techniques
• Thrive in a cross-functional environment
• Bachelor's degree in engineering, energy systems, or a related field 

NICE TO HAVES: 

• Technical background in modules, inverters and/or battery technology a plus
• Python coding is not required but is a plus 

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