Staff Solar Performance Engineer - Solar (Multiple Locations)

Burns & McDonnell’s Power global practice delivers comprehensive power generation solutions, from project siting and permitting through turnkey construction, startup, and commissioning. Our expertise spans renewable power technologies, including utility-scale solar, battery storage, hydrogen, carbon capture, and nuclear plant services.

About the role

We are seeking an experienced Solar Performance Engineer to support our active utility-scale solar EPC projects through preconstruction, commissioning, testing, and project turnover. This role focuses on solar energy modeling, performance guarantee support, and performance testing for projects typically ranging from 65 MWdc to 400 MWdc. The engineer will serve as a technical resource across project phases, establishing expected plant performance during preconstruction and validating actual performance during commissioning and testing prior to substantial completion.

Responsibilities

• Develop and maintain project energy models for utility-scale solar projects using PVsyst to support preconstruction, proposal development, technical reviews, and performance guarantee assumptions.
• Review design inputs and assumptions affecting modeled energy and performance, including meteorological data, equipment selection, loss assumptions, clipping, module soiling, and module degradation.
• Support the technical review of performance guarantee exhibits, contracts, and test requirements, identifying commercial and technical risks during contract negotiations and project execution.
• Develop capacity and availability test procedures aligned with contract requirements, project design, and industry-accepted performance methodologies.
• Perform capacity and availability test analyses to validate plant performance, determine pass/fail results, and write technical reports to support substantial completion.
• Analyze SCADA, inverter, tracker, and MET station data to validate plant behavior, identify underperformance drivers, and support troubleshooting during commissioning and performance testing.
• Validate equipment and plant-level performance by comparing measured field results to modeled expectations and design intent.
• Coordinate with engineering, construction, startup and commissioning, and project management teams to prepare projects for successful performance testing and final turnover.
• Support development of data collection requirements, instrumentation checks, and MET station validation needed for accurate performance testing.
• Prepare technical memoranda, performance analyses, and test reports that clearly communicate assumptions, results, risks, and recommended corrective actions.
• Perform on-site commissioning, test execution, punch list resolution, and substantial completion support.
• Contribute to continuous improvement of Burns & McDonnell’s performance modeling, testing procedures, templates, and best practices across the solar EPC portfolio by staying up-to-date on industry trends, modeling methodology, and applicable codes or standards.
• Comply with all company policies and standards, including promoting a strong safety culture.
• Support other duties as assigned to drive successful completion and closeout of EPC solar projects.

Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree in Electrical Engineering or related degree from an ABET-accredited program.
• 3+ years of professional electrical engineering experience, with solar EPC consulting experience preferred.
• Experience with PVsyst for utility-scale solar energy modeling highly preferred.
• Experience developing and/or executing capacity test and availability test procedures and analyses for solar projects is preferred.
• Experience analyzing SCADA and MET data to evaluate plant and equipment performance, including inverters, trackers, and met stations is preferred.
• Strong knowledge of standard engineering techniques and procedures.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills.
• Ability to work methodically and analytically in a quantitative problem-solving environment with demonstrated critical thinking skills.
• Proficiency in standard engineering techniques and procedures, including AutoCAD, MicroStation, 2D and 3D rendering programs, and other analysis tools.
• Strong attention to detail, facilitation, team building, collaboration, organization, and problem-solving skills.
• Familiarity with battery energy storage systems or hybrid plant performance is a plus.
• Engineer in Training (EIT) Certification preferred.

Pay

$110,000.00 - $175,000.00 yearly. The expected compensation range is based on individual education, qualifications, prior work experience, and work location. The total annual compensation package includes a base salary and eligibility to participate in a discretionary year-end incentive bonus program.

Benefits

• Comprehensive insurance and disability coverage.
• Time off and wellness programs.
• Employee Stock Ownership Plan (ESOP) for eligible employees.
• 401(k) retirement program.

Schedule

Full-time. Travel required: up to 25%.