At Zelestra, you'll have the opportunity to:
- Lead engineering for some of the nation's most impactful utility-scale renewable energy projects.
- Mentor and develop a high-performing engineering team.
- Shape the future of clean energy by advancing utility-scale solar, battery energy storage (BESS), and wind projects from concept through development.
- Lead technical evaluations that directly influence project investment, feasibility, and development strategy.
- Collaborate with cross-functional teams across Development, Engineering, Environmental, Real Estate, Transmission, Construction, and Finance.
- Work on innovative, large-scale renewable energy projects that accelerate the global energy transition.
Industry: Utility-Scale Renewable Energy
Location: U.S.
Job Type: Remote l Full-Time | Permanent
Role Reports To: VP of Engineering
Position Snapshot
The Development Engineering Manager leads and develops a team of engineers responsible for advancing utility-scale solar, battery energy storage, and wind projects from site identification through construction readiness. This role provides technical and operational leadership across production modeling, project feasibility, engineering due diligence, site evaluation, risk management, and cross-functional coordination to ensure projects are technically sound, commercially viable, and aligned with business objectives.
Position Qualifications
- Bachelor's degree in Civil, Electrical, Mechanical Engineering, or a related engineering discipline; Master's degree preferred.
- 7+ years of engineering experience supporting utility-scale renewable energy, power generation, utilities, infrastructure, or EPC projects.
- 3+ years of engineering leadership or people management experience.
- Strong understanding of renewable energy project development, including 10%, 30%, 60%, and IFC engineering milestones.
- Experience supporting permitting, interconnection, procurement, project finance, construction, technical due diligence, or M&A activities.
- Demonstrated ability to lead technical workstreams and collaborate across multidisciplinary teams without direct reporting authority.
- Proficiency with Microsoft Office, Bluebeam, PVSyst, PV design software, and other engineering applications.
- Working knowledge of renewable energy engineering standards, codes, and industry best practices.
- Experience leveraging AI tools such as ChatGPT, Microsoft Copilot, Claude, or similar technologies to improve productivity and engineering workflows.
- Lead, mentor, and develop a team of 1–2 Development Engineers while establishing priorities, balancing workloads, and supporting performance and career growth.
- Provide technical leadership for solar production modeling and energy yield assessments using PVSyst and related analytical tools.
- Oversee technical feasibility studies, fatal flaw analyses, constructability reviews, and engineering due diligence for utility-scale solar, battery energy storage, and wind projects.
- Support project development activities across site selection, permitting, land acquisition, transmission, interconnection, and environmental workstreams.
- Develop, review, and manage engineering scopes of work for civil, geotechnical, hydrology, environmental, and other technical studies.
- Manage engineering consultants and coordinate with cross-functional teams to ensure projects remain on schedule and achieve key development milestones.
- Review engineering deliverables, technical studies, and project schedules while identifying opportunities to improve project performance, reduce costs, and mitigate technical risk.
- Conduct site visits to assess constructability, validate technical assumptions, and support internal and external stakeholder engagement.
- Champion the use of AI, automation, and digital engineering tools to improve engineering efficiency, consistency, and technical decision-making.
The anticipated starting salary for this role is $170,000 annual plus a competitve bonus program. Actual pay may vary depending on job-related factors, such as the candidate’s experience and qualifications.
Zelestra offers a comprehensive benefits package including:
- Medical, dental, and vision insurance
- Employee Assistance Program (EAP)
- Flexible Spending Accounts (FSA)
- Life insurance
- Paid holidays and paid time off
- Retirement savings benefits
Development Engineer
- Renewable Energy
- Utility-Scale Solar
- Solar PV
- Battery Energy Storage Systems (BESS)
- Wind Energy
- Production Modeling
- PVSyst
- Project Development
- Technical Due Diligence
- Site Selection
- Fatal Flaw Analysis
- Constructability Reviews
- Interconnection
- Transmission
- Environmental Permitting
- Project Finance
- Land Acquisition
- Civil Engineering
- Electrical Engineering
- Mechanical Engineering
- PVcase
- AutoCAD
- Civil 3D
- ArcGIS
- Bluebeam
- AI
- Microsoft Copilot
- ChatGPT
- Claude
Visit us at zelestra.energy
