Standard Solar, Inc. Looking for Director of Engineering at Rockville, MD  Full Time

Standard Solar has an opportunity for a Solar Director of Engineering with a passion to support and lean a team of Solar Engineers. We are seeking a creative, intelligent, driven individual with expertise in the large commercial and small utility scale solar industry. The ideal candidate will build, train and lead Engineering Managers and Sr. Project Engineers, support project due diligence, engineering designs and third-party engineer oversight for large scale distributed generation (DG) solar PV projects. This is an exciting opportunity to showcase your talent, lead a growing team, and work for a proven leader in the renewable energy industry.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities:

• Management Duties
  • Manage a team of Senior Engineers, and Engineering Managers performing oversight work
    • Team to include 4-7 direct reports plus 15-25 indirect reports
  • Set objectives, review performance, meet periodically with Managers and Senior Engineers.
  • Support creation of career path and career development plan for direct and indirect reports
  • Review and approve timecards and for direct reports
  • Assign and allocate work to direct reports
  • Update and draft new standard operating procedures pertinent to the job as necessary
  • Reinforce standard operating procedures, proper use of file management and CRM systems.
  • Review deliverables and work product of direct and indirect reports on a continuous basis
  • Teach, train, and advise direct and indirect reports on engineering, work product, and professional development
• Engineering Duties
  • Work with appropriate electric utilities to prepare and process interconnection paperwork; provide technical support and management of the interconnection process.
    • Update status in tracking documents, provide updates to other departments as needed.
    • Guide direct reports on performance of the same duties.
  • Review l technical drawings, specifications of PV systems to ensure that installation and operations conform to standards and customer requirements.
  • Manage and work closely with equipment vendors to identify technical challenges and create new solutions.
  • Work with vendors to obtain and assess bids for major equipment such as PV system racking, inverters, battery energy storage systems, transformers, and LV/MV switchgear.
  • Participate in meetings and technical presentations to customers, investors, and PV technical community.
  • Review specifications for purchases of materials or equipment.
  • Identify appropriate equipment for use in PV systems and perform technical qualification of vendors.
  • Maintain constant communication with key members of construction management, transaction, sales, pre-construction, asset management, finance, and other departments as needed to ensure optimal system designs and organizational coordination.
  • Review and markup necessary deliverables such as complete system designs, single line diagrams, equipment or material specifications, engineering validation, 3-D renderings, interconnection policy and electric tariff analysis, due diligence reports, and energy production estimates.
  • Provide engineering and/or technical input and direction relevant to site evaluation and characterization, permitting, Power Purchase Agreements, Interconnection Agreements, financial modeling, and related project development tasks.
  • Perform detailed energy production modeling calculations, string sizing, PV array to inverter matching, voltage drop, as well as orientation and inter-row spacing analysis.
    • Snow and soling loss calculations
    • 3-D shade modeling
    • Solar resource assessment and analysis
  • Review, markup and approve energy production models developed by others.
  • Develop complete due diligence reports for projects under consideration for acquisition. Identify key project technical and business risks. Recommend viable solutions to mitigate or manage risks.
  • Perform electricity tariff analysis, electricity bill analysis, and load versus energy generation analysis.
  • Review and understand state and local discretionary permitting rules, requirements, setbacks, and limitations.
  • Engage in Request for Proposal (RFP) review, and response coordination
  • Maintain a deep understanding of the National Electrical Code (NEC), the International Building Code (IBC), and the International Fire Code (IFC), National Electrical Safety Code (NESC)
  • Learn to use PVsyst, HelioScope, PVCase, and Microsoft Excel
• Maintain design and proposal requirements, knowledge of codes and standards, design procedures, methods, and process, improve efficiency of project development and project selection process Research new products, design and installation methods and services and evaluate for implementation into company operations with the goal of reducing cost and increasing project quality and efficiency.

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities

• 4-year bachelor’s degree or 2-year master’s degree in mechanical engineering, electrical engineering, civil engineering, environmental engineering, or other related engineering field
• NABCEP PVIP certification is preferred, must be obtained within first two years of employment.
• PE license is a plus
• Minimum 10 years of solar PV project and team leadership experience is required
• Ability to work within a team as well as mentor and manage other team members
• Strong knowledge of the National Electrical Code (NEC)
• Strong knowledge of electrical power systems and PV design, including plant layout and performance modeling, modules, inverters, racking, and DC/AC collection systems
• Strong understanding of project performance and cost drivers
• Strong skills in solar project optimization for performance, cost, and constructability
• Demonstrate the ability to be organized and work on multiple projects and meet deadlines by setting priorities
• Must be able to prepare clear and concise status updates and reports as required
• Strong communication and client relationship skills
• Proven experience in Microsoft Applications (Word, Excel, PowerPoint)
• Must be able to travel to project/client sites as required (approximately 5-10%)
• Ability to meet and/or exceed established performance objectives of assigned duties as defined and communicated by management

Work Environment

This job operates in a professional office environment. This role routinely uses standard office equipment such as computers, phones, photocopiers, filing cabinets and fax machines. Interfaces with customers, vendors, and the public. All employees, including other engineers, Senior and Executive Management, Sales & Finance.

Physical Demands

Conducts work in a professional office setting or off-site at active construction sites or company marketing events and trade shows. Physical working conditions may involve the following:

• Occasional work outdoors in non-ideal weather conditions for duties such as:
  • Field inspections
  • Client visits
  • Pre-construction site assessments
• Must be able to open and inspect non-live electrical gear
  • May require the use of hand tools
• Office environment
  • Daily work
  • Client visits
• Expo halls or conference centers
  • Industry conferences and trade shows

Potential Career Path Upward

• Sr. Director of Engineering
• VP of Engineering
• Chief Technical Officer