Director of Development Engineering

Director of Development Engineering

Reports to: Chief Executive Officer

Location: New York City, Durham, NC or Remote

Job Description

The Director of Development Engineering will be responsible for leading Advantage Renewables' engineering, procurement, and pre-construction strategy and execution to ensure the company's renewable energy projects are designed, costed, permitted and advanced to a ready-for-sale state. This role is critical for ensuring technical excellence, disciplined cost forecasting, and rigorous evaluation of project sites.

The Director of Development Engineering will oversee a small but highly capable team and manage a broad range of vendor, consultant, and engineering firm relationships. This individual will bring deep technical and management experience in solar, storage, and hybrid project design (100–300 MW), cost estimation, and pre-construction planning. The role requires strong leadership, cross-market insight, and the ability to anticipate and navigate complex engineering and regulatory challenges across multiple U.S. markets.

Key Responsibilities
Management and Leadership

• Lead and mentor a high-performing engineering team, ensuring professional development, accountability, and impact across the organization.
• Oversee vendor and consultant relationships, ensuring the timely delivery and quality of key deliverables (e.g., site plans, purchase orders, interconnection applications, and design packages).
• Establish and maintain processes for evaluating, selecting, and managing engineering partners and firms across multiple states.
• Manage engineering-related budgets and forecasts, ensuring cost accuracy and accountability.

Site Evaluation and Design

• Evaluate early-stage designs and sites for both greenfield and M&A opportunities, providing feedback on technical and constructability considerations.
• Ensure that critical site data (e.g., ALTA surveys, environmental studies, geotechnical data) are integrated into design and planning processes early and efficiently.
• Provide senior technical review and guidance on civil and electrical layouts, interconnection drawings, and site-specific design parameters.
• Apply regional and state-level design practices and land-use requirements to meet permitting and regulatory expectations.
• Lead the development of preliminary site layouts, detailed PVSyst models, and single-line diagrams, ensuring high-quality early-stage design deliverables that inform project feasibility and strategy. 
• Drive due-diligence through detailed site evaluations and fatal flaw analyses, delivering data-driven recommendations to support site acquisition. 

Cost Estimation and Procurement

• Develop and maintain robust cost estimation models across markets to inform Advantage Renewables' financial models and investment decisions.
• Leverage industry relationships to benchmark cost assumptions and maintain a strong network of EPC and vendor contacts.
• Lead and support procurement and safe harboring strategies, ensuring compliance with evolving federal tax credit requirements.
• Direct the preparation, issuance and management of RFPs for high-voltage equipment procurement, ensuring technical specifications, cost and delivery requirements align with project objectives.
• Collaborate with internal teams and external advisors to determine procurement needs and timing prior to project sale.
• Maintain and establish relationships with Tier 1 PV module and battery energy storage system vendors to ensure up-to-date designs are in lockstep with the latest technology.

Interconnection and Construction Timeline Planning

•  Forecast timelines between interconnection agreement (IA) execution and commercial operation date (COD) to inform project development schedules and valuation models.
• Provide informed input on construction sequencing, permitting milestones, and utility coordination to enhance schedule predictability.

Engineering Oversight and Technical Diligence

• Provide proactive technical review and direction on deliverables that influence site design, title verification, and engineering quality.
• Evaluate and integrate data from regional technical sources (e.g., mining, O&G wells, pipelines, hydrology, and environmental databases) to improve project diligence and risk management.
• Demonstrate initiative in developing and managing contracts with engineering firms and subject-matter experts to support project development across multiple states.
• Actively participate in developing effective permitting strategies at local, state, and federal levels to accelerate project timelines and reduce costs.

Strategic Input and Continuous Improvement

• Contribute to the company's overall development strategy by identifying emerging technologies, materials, and processes that improve efficiency, cost, and performance.
• Ensure engineering assumptions in financial models reflect current and forward-looking industry trends, including technology advancements and supply chain dynamics.
• Engage with industry peers and attend key conferences to stay ahead of market developments and inform Advantage Renewables' strategic direction.
• Foster collaboration across teams to ensure alignment between Engineering, Development, Finance, and M&A functions.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in engineering (civil, electrical, or mechanical), construction management, or a related field; master's degree preferred.
• 10+ years of progressive experience in engineering, procurement, and pre-construction engineering within the renewable energy industry, with direct exposure to solar, storage, and hybrid projects.
• Demonstrated success managing people, budgets, and multi-market design portfolios.
• Proven ability to build and maintain relationships with vendors, consultants, and utilities across multiple regions.
• Strong understanding of cost estimation, value engineering, and construction risk mitigation.
• Demonstrated experience managing third-party engineering firms from early-stage design through construction readiness.
• Strong communication and leadership skills, with the ability to collaborate effectively across internal and external teams.
• Creative and flexible thinker who can anticipate technology trends, adapt design strategies, and identify upside opportunities for long-term projects.
• Inquisitive and proactive, with a passion for continuous learning, networking, and staying current with rapidly evolving industry practices.
• Experience with construction execution or oversight is a plus, particularly in identifying pitfalls in early-stage design assumptions.

About Advantage Renewables

Advantage Renewables is a leading renewable energy developer focused on advancing the clean energy transition through innovation, technical excellence, and disciplined project development. The Company's success depends on a strong culture of collaboration, integrity, and commitment to quality across every stage of the project lifecycle.

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