Senior Development Engineer

Join Zelestra: Powering a Carbon-Free Future

Position Summary

Industry:  Utility-Scale Renewable Energy  
Location: U.S. 
Job Type: Remote l Full-Time | Permanent 
Role Reports To: VP of Engineering 

Position Snapshot

Position Qualifications

• Minimum of 5 years of engineering experience, including at least 2 years in utility-scale renewable energy.
• Bachelor's degree in Civil, Mechanical, Electrical Engineering, or a related engineering field required; master's degree in an engineering field desirable.
• Deep understanding of 10% / 30% / 60% / IFC design drawings and development-to-construction design processes for solar and energy storage projects.
• Experience supporting development, engineering, procurement, construction, permitting, project finance, and/or M&A diligence for utility-scale renewable projects.
• Demonstrated ability to lead technical workstreams, influence cross-functional teams, and provide guidance to peers without direct reporting authority.
• Knowledge of renewable energy technical standards and practices, with ability to stay current with changing technologies, regulations, and trends.
• Experience with Microsoft Office, Bluebeam, PV design tools, production modeling tools, and related engineering software required.
• Existing professional relationships with renewable energy technical providers preferred.
• Daily AI user experienced in generative AI, prompt engineering, automation, research, content creation, and data-driven insights to boost productivity and outcomes.

Position Responsibility

• Lead and conduct solar production modeling for internal financial scenarios and independent engineering assessments.
• Serve as a subject matter expert in solar production modeling using PVSyst and post-processing models.
• Lead the development and review of engineering timelines to achieve stated project milestones.
• Create, review, and approve engineering scopes of work for design, hydrology, geotechnical, environmental, and related technical studies; manage timelines to ensure delivery within schedule and budget.
• Lead and support technical assessments of solar PV, energy storage, and wind projects, including constraint analysis, constructability reviews, desktop analysis, and due diligence.
• Lead, support, and perform technical activities for utility-scale solar, wind, and energy storage projects from site identification through late-stage development and early construction readiness.
• Conduct and review site studies for fatal flaws, including geotechnical, hydrology, environmental surveys, and related development risks.
• Engage with cross-functional teams to support land acquisition, environmental, permitting, site layout, long-lead procurement, transmission, and interconnection activities.
• Lead and conduct site visits to evaluate technical aspects of projects, define site characteristics, assess constructability, and develop relationships with local stakeholders.
• Utilize AI in day-to-day activities to increase efficiency and productivity for assigned tasks.

Compensation and Benefits

The anticipated starting salary range for this role is $120,000 - $150,000 annually.  Actual pay may vary depending on job-related factors, such as the candidate’s experience and qualifications.

Additionally, Zelestra offers a comprehensive benefits package, including medical, dental, and vision coverage, an Employee Assistance Program, flexible spending accounts, life insurance, holiday pay, paid time off, and a competitive bonus program.