Senior Development & Construction Engineer

Senior Development & Construction Engineer at 38 Degrees North

Location: Sausalito, CA (on-site); remote considered.

Founded in 2015 and based in Sausalito, California, 38 Degrees North, (38DN) is an established platform focused on advancing distributed renewables solutions, serving as a development partner, asset owner, and operator. The founders have a track record of over 4GW and $8.5B of capital formation prior to forming 38DN.

With a depth of experience in energy transition capital partnerships, the company specializes in community solar, distributed generation and battery storage, while opportunistically evaluating other sustainable infrastructure assets. Its approach is geared toward cultivating lasting relationships and designing dependable and flexible solutions that provide clear visibility into portfolio value creation.

In January 2024, 38 Degrees North announced a growth equity investment from S2G Ventures, a leading multi-stage investment firm focused on the energy transition, food, agriculture, and oceans. With the investment from S2G, 38DN looks to accelerate its growth by partnering with local communities, customers, and community and distributed solar and storage developers to deploy capital into assets across the development spectrum.

Job Description:

We are seeking a proactive, self-driven professional experienced in engineering and construction of solar and battery storage projects at various stages of maturity, including early development, pre-construction/NTP, and construction. This role is tailored to engineering professionals that would like to gain broader experience in development and construction project management, are excited to work in an entrepreneurial setting and are comfortable with a breadth of functional responsibilities.

In this capacity, you will:

• Lead design and engineering of solar and battery projects during early and mid-stage development and in support of acquisitions from other developers, including initial layouts and energy estimates using PVSyst or alternatives, and design packages for interconnection and permitting submissions.
• Manage the selection process for contractors and equipment vendors, conducting comprehensive due diligence, including assessment of modules, inverters, racking, and medium-voltage equipment.
• Negotiate and administer construction and supply agreements, encompassing official notices, change orders, RFIs, pay applications, construction updates, safety procedures, milestones, certificates, and commissioning.
• Lead the development of energy models, including layout and design iterations to maximize value.
• Manage review of detailed construction drawings prepared by the EPC contractor.
• Manage project budgets, construction oversight, and EPC contract milestone payments, including internal reporting and forecasting.
• Lead weekly project progress meetings and coordinate on-site visits with contractors to ensure alignment with project design and schedule (visits completed directly or by local, third party Owner’s reps).
• Identify and monitor risks and issues, and effectively communicate updates to the company and external partners.
• Lead after-action reviews to cultivate continuous improvement and contribute to the evolution of internal operating policies and standards.
• Following completion of construction, support project handover to 38DN Asset Management.
• Collaborate closely with developers, consultants, engineers, and other external and internal stakeholders; foster and manage relationships to ensure consistent engagement and alignment with project objectives.
• Uphold the company's safety program standards, ensuring all projects comply with established safety protocols.

Qualifications:

• 3-5+ years of experience in solar project development engineering.
• Experience with solar project modeling and engineering software such as PVsyst, PVcase, Helioscope, Energy Toolbase, and CAD.
• Experience with the project development process, including interconnection and permitting designs, production analysis.
• Experience with contract negotiation and overseeing technical due diligence processes.
• Previous renewable project construction (EPC) management experience a plus.
• Relevant bachelor's degree preferred, advanced degree in a related field is valued but not mandatory.
• Exceptional analytical skills, with a history of managing financial, technical, and contractual aspects of development engineering projects.
• Quick to adapt and eager to grow within a thriving, fast-paced environment.
• Well-organized, vigilant, and competent in juggling multiple project details.
• Proficient in working under pressure, adhering to deadlines, and embracing additional responsibilities proactively.
• Outstanding communication abilities, both written and verbal, with proficiency in preparing detailed reports and presentations.
• Collaborative spirit, a good sense of humor, and a driven, mission-oriented approach.

Employment:

• Full time salaried position with competitive compensation (base & bonus).
• In addition to base salary, this position is eligible for equity compensation.
• Ability to participate in 401(k), company Defined Benefit Plan, and company provided health insurance.

To Apply:

Applicants are highly encouraged to submit a resume and brief description of why the role interests them to info@38degreesn.com.