Director of Engineering

Position Summary

AMPYR Energy USA (AMPYR) is seeking a Director of Engineering to join our team in North America focusing on the rapidly growing renewable energy sector.

The Director of Engineering will lead all front-end engineering activities for utility-scale solar and solar-plus-storage projects across multiple U.S. markets. This role requires deep technical expertise in civil engineering, site design, and performance engineering combined with strong leadership capabilities. The Director will be responsible for driving project viability from early-stage development through pre-construction, ensuring all engineering deliverables meet utility, permitting, interconnection, and financial requirements.

The ideal candidate has a strong background in civil/site engineering, PV system design, energy modeling, and BESS integration, as well as proven experience managing multi-disciplinary engineering teams and external consultants.

Responsibilities

Duties include but are not limited to the following:

1. Technical Leadership

- Lead all engineering functions for solar and solar-plus-storage projects from early-stage development through NTP and support in operation.

- Oversee site evaluations, civil design concepts, grading plans, erosion control, stormwater management, road layout, drainage analysis, and geotechnical investigations.

- Provide technical oversight for PV system design, array layout, DC/AC sizing, inverter selection, tracker configuration, and balance-of-system assumptions.

- Lead performance engineering including energy modeling (PVSyst), loss assumptions, PR analysis, shading evaluation, and degradation modeling.

2. Project Development Support

- Develop engineering design criteria, technical memos, and site feasibility studies to support land acquisition, permitting, and interconnection filings.

- Review survey data, topography, geotechnical reports, hydrology studies, and environmental constraints to ensure technical viability.

3. Cross-Functional Collaboration

- Partner closely with Development, Procurement, and Construction teams to align technical assumptions with commercial strategy.

- Support procurement of major equipment such as modules, inverters, BESS, GSU transformers, and MV/HV gear.

- Coordinate with Independent Engineers (DNV, UL, Black & Veatch), Owner’s Engineers, EPC firms, and permitting authorities.

4. Project Controls & Quality

- Establish engineering standards, QA/QC processes, and best-practice design guidelines for all projects.

- Prepare and manage engineering budgets, schedules, and work scopes for external consultants and EPC partners.

- Review and approve design packages, including 10%, 30%, IFC, and as-built documentation.

- Oversee third-party engineering firms and ensure deliverables meet contractual, technical, and schedule expectations.

- Create a culture of technical excellence, accountability, and continuous improvement.

Qualifications, Education and Experience

- Bachelor’s degree in civil engineering or related engineering field

- 10+ years of engineering experience in utility-scale solar or solar-plus-storage.

- Strong understanding of PV system design, site grading, hydrology, road networks, drainage requirements, and structural considerations.

- Deep experience with performance modeling tools (PVSyst, PVCase, Helioscope, or equivalent).

- Proven experience managing internal stakeholders and external consultants.

- Strong understanding of NEC, IEEE, AHJ design standards, and utility interconnection requirements.

- Familiarity with permitting, AHJ coordination, and environmental constraints.

Preferred

- PE license (Civil or Electrical).

- Experience with BESS sizing, thermal modeling, augmentation strategies, and performance guarantees.

- Experience with EPC contracting, RFP development, engineering reviews, and construction interfaces.

- Experience in development of projects in ISO/RTO markets (CAISO, ERCOT, PJM, etc.).

- Familiarity with IRA/Domestic Content requirements and safe-harbor strategies.

Competencies

- Strong analytical and problem-solving skills

- Excellent communication and technical writing abilities

- Ability to manage multiple projects and priorities simultaneously

- Leader who can collaborate across development, procurement, finance, and construction

- High attention to detail with a mindset for risk mitigation and project optimization