Optimization Manager Jobs

About Avantus

Avantus (formerly 8minute) is shaping the future by making reliable, accessible clean energy a global reality. Our legacy of leadership in next generation solar energy includes developing the nation’s largest solar cluster and the first plant to beat fossil fuel prices. 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 30 million people with low-cost, 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. For more information, please visit www.avantus.com and follow Avantus on Twitter and LinkedIn.

About The Position

We are seeking a highly motivated and organized candidate for an Optimization Engineering Manager position. The successful candidate will demonstrate sound industry knowledge, superior communications, and leadership ability. This role reports to the Senior Director of Optimization Engineering. This is seen as an immediate, critical role to deliver on our current mid- to late-stage projects, and to support a full project pipeline. The ideal candidate would support technical diligence, EPC contracting, early-stage risk assessment and design optimization throughout the full development process.

Essential Function And Responsibilities

Technical Diligence through project financing

• Manage expectations with IEs and financing counterparties to meet project schedule while maximizing valuations
• Technical lead though IE diligence and project financing
• Review and coordinate edits and responses to IE reports and diligence questions
• Assess cost benefit trade-offs to support negotiations with financing counterparties

EPC RFP and Value Engineering

• Translate project specific constraints and risks into actionable EPC requirements
• Support EPC Project Directors in identifying value engineering opportunities
• Collaborate with Procurement team to understand optimal equipment selection based on overall value created
• Review EPC designs and translate design details to energy production models
• Collaborate with cross functional internal team and EPC partners to realize value through creative engineering solutions
• Manage EPC contract technical exhibits in collaboration with Project Director
• Lead internal performance testing of projects during commissioning and review and approve contractor performance submittals

Project Optimization Efforts

• Be fully responsible for managing design aspects of individual projects, including trade-offs between production, construction costs, land and permitting constraints

PPA bid/Competitiveness

• Support creation of new PV+S products to meet off-taker needs as markets evolve
• Present and explain technical deliverables to commercial team in support of bids
• Lead cross functional design optimization efforts targeted at lowest LCOE/LCOS
• Work cross functionally between development, land, engineering, estimating and procurement teams
• Lead technical bid preparation and ensure team deliverables meet bid requirements
• P50, P90, P99 and hedge type production assessments
• Review technical requirements of PPA to guide negotiation and project risks
• Review finance-ability of new product offerings, and quantify risks associated with new structures
• Analyze and deeply understand technical drivers that impact value of PV+S projects, based on project specific conditions and constraints

Prospecting/Siting

• Train new team members to assess early-stage design trade-offs for site specific and regional guidance(considering factors such as DC/AC loading, GCR, equipment, land cost, expected COD year, )

Required Skills And Qualifications

• Technical background in modules, inverters and/or battery technology a plus
• 5+ years’ experience with renewable energy and solar development
• Basic python and version control software experience (More extensive Python experience for data analysis and performance modeling not required but a plus)
• Strong experience using Excel for data analysis and tool building
• Strong PV production modeling experience (PVsyst, SAM, and/or pvlib)
• Experience supporting non-recourse financings of multiple utility-scale solar projects
• 5+ years’ experience in project or optimization engineering
• Understanding of the full solar development process
• Familiarity with IE and EPC community
• Commercially minded engineer focused on LCOE
• Thrive in cross functional environment, able to guide discussion and identify dependencies between design, production, cost, land use, LCOE
• Experience with battery storage performance modeling tools and parameters
• Ability to quantify risk and opportunities around unknowns in design and technology
• Strong communicator with ability to explain technical concepts
• Understanding of basic EPC cost stack, and key cost drivers

Avantus offers competitive compensation with an excellent benefits package, including 401(k) matching; comprehensive medical and dental plan options; and flexible PTO. We are an equal-opportunity employer.

The typical US base salary range for this full-time position is listed below (plus bonus, equity, and benefits). Our salary ranges are determined by role, level, and location. The range displayed on each job posting reflects the minimum and maximum target for new hire salaries for the position across all US locations. Within the range, individual pay is determined by work location and additional factors, including job-related skills, experience, and relevant education or training. Your recruiter can share more about the specific salary range for your preferred location during the hiring process. Please note that the compensation details listed in US role postings reflect the base salary only, and do not include bonus, equity, or benefits.

Pay Range

$150,000—$170,000 USD