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Key Responsibilities and Required Skills for Energy Architect

💰 $140,000 - $195,000

EngineeringRenewable EnergySustainabilityTechnologyArchitecture

🎯 Role Definition

Are you a visionary engineer passionate about shaping the future of energy? This role requires a highly skilled and forward-thinking Energy Architect to join our dynamic team. In this pivotal role, you will be the technical cornerstone for designing and implementing complex, integrated energy solutions that drive decarbonization and grid modernization. You will translate client sustainability goals into tangible, high-performance energy systems, encompassing everything from renewable generation and energy storage to microgrid controls and grid-interactive buildings. As the lead technical authority, you will own the solution design from conception through to detailed engineering, ensuring technical excellence, financial viability, and seamless integration.

📈 Career Progression

Typical Career Path

Entry Point From:

  • Senior Energy Engineer
  • Solutions Engineer / Sales Engineer (Energy)
  • Technical Project Manager (Renewable Energy)

Advancement To:

  • Principal Energy Architect
  • Director of Engineering / Head of Solutions
  • Chief Technology Officer (CTO) for an energy-focused company

Lateral Moves:

  • Product Manager (Energy Hardware/Software)
  • Strategy & Innovation Lead (Energy & Sustainability)

Core Responsibilities

Primary Functions

  • Architect and design comprehensive, end-to-end energy solutions, including solar PV, battery energy storage systems (BESS), EV charging infrastructure, and microgrid controls, ensuring technical viability and optimal performance.
  • Lead the technical evaluation of customer sites and facilities, conducting detailed feasibility studies, energy audits, and load profile analysis to identify opportunities for energy efficiency and distributed energy resource (DER) integration.
  • Develop and own the technical scope of work, system specifications, and one-line diagrams for complex, multi-technology energy projects from the conceptual stage through to handoff to the detailed engineering team.
  • Execute complex techno-economic modeling and simulations using industry-standard software (e.g., HOMER Pro, PVSyst, Helioscope) to validate system design, predict energy generation, and forecast financial returns and project ROI.
  • Serve as the primary technical subject matter expert (SME) during the pre-sales cycle, collaborating with business development teams to craft compelling proposals and present sophisticated technical solutions to C-level executives and client engineering teams.
  • Evaluate and select major equipment and technology vendors, maintaining a deep understanding of the competitive landscape, technology roadmaps, and a component's bankability and long-term performance characteristics.
  • Define the control and optimization strategies for integrated energy systems, specifying the operational logic for BESS, microgrid controllers, and building management systems (BMS) to maximize economic value and grid services.
  • Ensure all designed solutions comply with relevant national and local codes and standards (e.g., NEC, NFPA, IEEE 1547) and utility interconnection requirements, navigating complex regulatory and technical hurdles.
  • Develop and maintain standardized design methodologies, engineering tools, and calculation templates to improve the quality, consistency, and efficiency of the solution architecture process.
  • Act as a technical liaison between clients, internal engineering teams, project management, and construction partners to ensure the design intent is successfully implemented throughout the project lifecycle.
  • Lead technical due diligence efforts for project financing, preparing detailed technical reports and documentation packages to support third-party engineering reviews and investor inquiries.
  • Drive innovation by continuously researching, evaluating, and integrating emerging energy technologies, such as green hydrogen, long-duration energy storage, and advanced grid-interactive controls.
  • Provide mentorship and technical guidance to junior engineers and designers, fostering a culture of technical excellence and continuous learning within the organization.
  • Analyze utility tariffs, interconnection policies, and available incentive programs (e.g., ITC, IRA adders) to optimize the financial model and system design for maximum economic benefit.
  • Create detailed system performance models and production guarantees, including degradation analysis and availability assumptions, to backstop project financial projections.
  • Oversee the value engineering process, identifying opportunities to reduce project costs without compromising system performance, safety, or long-term reliability.
  • Develop sophisticated sequence of operations (SOO) and control narratives for building automation and energy management systems to ensure seamless DER integration.
  • Support the commissioning and performance testing phases of projects, providing high-level oversight to verify that systems are operating as designed and meeting performance guarantees.
  • Author technical white papers, case studies, and presentations to establish the company as an industry thought leader in advanced energy solutions.
  • Engage with regulatory bodies and utility commissions on topics related to DER interconnection, grid modernization, and market design to advocate for policies that support project deployment.

Secondary Functions

  • Support ad-hoc data requests and exploratory data analysis to uncover new project opportunities or optimize existing assets.
  • Contribute to the organization's broader technology and data strategy and help define the roadmap for future solution offerings.
  • Collaborate with various business units, including finance and legal, to translate complex technical requirements into contractual language and risk mitigation strategies.
  • Participate in sprint planning and agile ceremonies within the technology and data engineering teams to align on software and control development priorities.

Required Skills & Competencies

Hard Skills (Technical)

  • Energy Modeling Software: Expert-level proficiency in tools like HOMER Pro, PVSyst, Helioscope, and SAM for techno-economic analysis and system simulation.
  • Electrical System Design: Deep knowledge of medium and low-voltage electrical systems, including the creation and interpretation of single-line diagrams (SLDs) and electrical schematics.
  • Battery Storage Systems (BESS): In-depth understanding of various battery chemistries (LFP, NMC), system sizing, augmentation strategies, and associated safety codes (NFPA 855).
  • Grid Interconnection: Comprehensive knowledge of utility interconnection processes and standards, particularly IEEE 1547 and utility-specific technical requirements.
  • National Electrical Code (NEC): Strong command of NEC Articles 690 (Solar), 705 (Interconnected Power Production), and 706 (Energy Storage Systems).
  • Microgrid & Controls: Proficiency in designing microgrid architectures and defining control strategies for islanding, load shedding, and economic dispatch.
  • CAD & Design Software: Familiarity with AutoCAD for reviewing and marking up engineering drawings.
  • Data Analysis: Ability to analyze large datasets (e.g., interval meter data, SCADA logs) using tools like Python or advanced Excel to inform system design.

Soft Skills

  • Stakeholder Communication: Exceptional ability to communicate complex technical concepts clearly and persuasively to both technical and non-technical audiences, from engineers to C-suite executives.
  • Problem-Solving & Critical Thinking: A natural ability to deconstruct complex problems, evaluate options using a data-driven approach, and develop innovative and practical solutions.
  • Leadership & Influence: Proven ability to lead project teams and influence stakeholders without direct authority, acting as a respected technical authority.
  • Business Acumen: Strong understanding of project finance, energy markets, and business case development to ensure solutions are not just technically sound but also commercially viable.
  • Project Management: Excellent organizational skills to manage multiple complex projects simultaneously from conception to completion.
  • Collaborative Spirit: A team-oriented mindset with a history of working effectively across cross-functional teams (sales, engineering, operations).

Education & Experience

Educational Background

Minimum Education:

  • Bachelor of Science (B.S.) in an engineering discipline (e.g., Electrical, Mechanical, Energy) or a related technical field.

Preferred Education:

  • Master of Science (M.S.) in a relevant engineering field.
  • Professional Engineer (PE) license is highly desirable.
  • Certifications such as Certified Energy Manager (CEM).

Relevant Fields of Study:

  • Electrical Engineering
  • Mechanical Engineering
  • Energy Engineering
  • Sustainable / Renewable Energy

Experience Requirements

Typical Experience Range: 8-15+ years of progressive experience in the energy industry, with a significant focus on the design and engineering of distributed energy or utility-scale renewable projects.

Preferred: At least 5 years of direct experience in a solutions architecture, senior design engineering, or technical sales engineering role focused on integrated DER projects (Solar+Storage, Microgrids).

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