Manager Operations Solar & BESS Engineering (m/w/d)

Job Description

The Solar & BESS Engineering Manager is responsible for leading Operations Engineering support for Clearway solar photovoltaic (PV) and Battery Energy Storage System (BESS) assets. This role manages day-to-day technical support, reliability improvement, root cause analysis, operational readiness, and performance optimization for solar and storage facilities across the operating fleet.

The manager provides technical leadership for solar modules, inverters, trackers, and battery energy management systems. The role also develops engineering standards, strengthens technical knowledge management, reviews new project construction and acquisitions, and mentors engineers and technical contributors to assure safe, reliable, efficient, and cost-effective operation.

Our Scottsdale office is the preferred location for this hybrid position. If you don't meet 100% of the qualifications but see yourself contributing, please submit your resume.

What You'll Be Doing

Fleet Technical Leadership

• Lead Operations Engineering support for Solar PV and BESS throughout the Clearway operating fleet.
• Direct reliability improvements, corrective action development, and root cause analysis for Solar and BESS systems.
• Oversee systems testing (Capacity, Round-Trip Efficiency, etc) to ensure plants meet offtake requirements.
• Recommend, prioritize, and drive solutions that maximize reliability, availability, production, safety, and lifecycle value of Solar and BESS equipment.
• Provide technical leadership for solar modules, inverters, trackers, BESS controls, and battery energy management systems.
• Partner with O&M, Asset Management, Performance Analytics, Real-time Performance Monitoring Center, NERC/Compliance, Construction, Procurement, Warranty, Insurance, and external vendors to resolve issues and implement fleetwide lessons learned.

Engineering Standards, Programs, and Knowledge Management

• Develop, maintain, and improve internal Solar/BESS technical specifications, operational procedures, testing and operational readiness checklists, lessons-learned, and engineering knowledge databases.
• Establish consistent practices for solar module performance analysis, inverter issue resolution, BESS capacity test support, battery augmentation planning, equipment obsolescence reviews, and repowering evaluations.
• Review drawings, single-line diagrams, site layouts, technical manuals, test reports, and vendor documentation to support safe and effective operations.
• Support training programs for site personnel and internal stakeholders by translating technical findings into practical inspection, maintenance, troubleshooting, and operating guidance.

Project, Vendor, and Lifecycle Support

• Support new project construction and acquisition integration by identifying technical risks and gaps and ensuring preparedness for turnover to operations.
• Provide technical support for warranties, insurance claims, vendor performance discussions, equipment replacements, product issues, and corrective action plans.
• Manage technical workstreams, cross-functional action plans, consultant scopes, and vendor deliverables related to Solar and BESS reliability, performance, and lifecycle management.
• Assess equipment obsolescence, repowering, augmentation, retrofit, and performance-improvement opportunities for existing solar and storage plants.

People Leadership and Team Development

• Manage, coach, and develop Solar/BESS engineering staff and technical contributors, including goal setting, prioritization, work planning, technical review, and professional development.
• Balance urgent fleet support with longer-term reliability, standards, documentation, and improvement initiatives.
• Promote a strong safety culture, disciplined technical decision-making, clear communication, and practical engineering solutions that support operational excellence.

What You'll Bring

• B.S. in Electrical Engineering, Power Engineering, Energy Systems, Engineering Technology, or a related engineering field.
• 7+ years of experience related to renewable energy, energy storage, power distribution, power systems, plant operations, equipment reliability, or related industry experience.
• Prior experience leading engineers, managing technical programs, or coordinating cross-functional technical workstreams.
• Demonstrated ability to identify and implement detailed solutions to complex technical problems and to convert lessons learned into practical standards and fleet procedures.
• Excellent written and oral communication skills with the ability to communicate effectively with site teams, executives, internal stakeholders, customers, owners, contractors, consultants, OEMs, integrators, and external partners.
• Advanced knowledge of Solar PV and BESS operation, maintenance, controls, performance, and reliability requirements.
• Experienced understanding of electrical power generation, plant operations, maintenance practices, inverter systems, BESS controls, and hybrid ESS + PV configurations.
• Able to read and interpret electrical drawings, technical manuals, test reports, control diagrams, communication drawings, and plant layouts.
• Knowledgeable in real and reactive power support and load flow analysis.
• Knowledgeable in applicable technical standards, including UL1703, UL1741, UL9540, UL9540A, NFPA 68, NFPA 69, NFPA 70, NFPA 72, and NFPA 855.
• Must successfully function as both a technical leader and a member of a cross-functional team.
• Must be able to maintain a professional and positive company image and constructive relationships with owners, customers, internal contractors, and external contractors.
• Must be able to communicate clearly, prioritize effectively, and drive closure on technical issues with appropriate urgency and documentation discipline.
• May be required to work flexible hours at times to support fleet events or urgent operational issues.
• Position is located in Scottsdale, Arizona, where several Operations Engineers, the Real-time Performance Monitoring Center, Procurement, and Construction are prevalent.
• Ability to travel up to 40%.

What Would Be Nice

• Advanced degree or professional engineering credentials are preferred.
• Working familiarity with software tools such as ETAP, PSCAD, LabVIEW, or similar platforms is a bonus.

Clearway will not sponsor non-immigrant visas for this position (H-1B, TN, E-3, etc.).

The pay rate for the successful candidate will depend on geographic location, skills, relevant and demonstrated experience, education, training and certifications, and other factors permitted by law. This role is eligible to earn an annual cash bonus, subject to personal and company performance goals.

Salary Range Across all U.S. Locations

$150,000 - $170,000 USD

Clearway Energy Group is leading the transition to a world powered by clean energy. Along with our public affiliate Clearway Energy, Inc., our portfolio comprises approximately 11.6 GW of gross generating capacity in 26 states, including 9.1 GW of wind, solar, and battery energy storage assets, and over 2.5 GW of conventional dispatchable power generation providing critical grid reliability services. As we develop a nationwide pipeline of new energy projects for the future, Clearway's operating fleet generates enough reliable electricity to power more than 3 million homes today. Clearway Energy Group is headquartered in San Francisco with offices in Denver, Houston, Phoenix, Princeton, and San Diego. For more information, visit clearwayenergygroup.com.

Our Commitment to Diversity, Equity, & Inclusion Clearway Energy Group's vision is a world powered by clean energy. Along with our public affiliate Clearway Energy, Inc., our portfolio comprises approximately 11.8 GW of gross generating capacity in 26 states, including 9.1 GW of wind, solar, and battery energy storage assets, and over 2.8 GW of flexible dispatchable power generation providing critical grid reliability services. As we develop a nationwide pipeline of new energy projects for the future, Clearway's operating fleet generates enough reliable electricity to power more than 2 million homes today. Clearway Energy Group is headquartered in San Francisco with offices in Denver, Houston, Phoenix, Princeton, and San Diego. For more information, visit clearwayenergygroup.com.

Working at Clearway, Hybrid Together Here at Clearway, we're committed to balancing flexibility while fostering strong relationships with our teammates. We do this by prioritizing corporate new hires based near one of our offices in San Francisco, San Diego, Scottsdale, Houston, Denver, & Princeton. Our office-based employees typically work together from fabulous spaces on Tuesdays & Thursdays to collaborate & learn, build community, get to know one another, & enjoy company-provided meals & events. Our site-based employees collaborate in-person daily to keep our locations operating safely and efficiently while fostering strong relationships within their local communities.

Clearway Energy is an equal opportunity employer that values a broad diversity of talent, knowledge, experience & expertise. We intentionally foster a culture of inclusion that empowers our employees to deliver superior performance to the communities we serve. We encourage minorities, women, individuals with disabilities & protected veterans to join the team. Clearway is a proud promoter of employment opportunities for our Military & Veterans.

What We Provide Clearway offers all eligible employees working 20+ hours per week a comprehensive menu of benefits: generous PTO, medical, dental & vision care, HSAs with company contributions, health FSAs, dependent daycare FSAs, commuter benefits, relocation, & a 401(k) plan with employer match, a variety of life & accident insurances, fertility programs, adoption assistance, generous parental leave, tuition reimbursement, & benefits for employees in same-sex marriages, civil unions & domestic partnerships. For more on Clearway benefits, visit our Benefits Website.

Notice to Applicants Clearway Energy is strongly committed to a philosophy of equal opportunity and fully complies with equal employment laws, ordinances, and regulations for all applicants and employees. We will make reasonable accommodations to enable individuals with disabilities to apply and compete for employment opportunities for which they are qualified. If you need a reasonable accommodation because of a disability for any part of the employment process, please send an e-mail to [email protected] and let us know the nature of your request and your contact information.

All official communication regarding this position will come only from an email address ending with @clearwayenergy.com. If you receive outreach from any other email address claiming to represent Clearway Energy, please do not respond, as it is fraudulent.