Director of Optimization Engineering

Adapture Renewables

$130K — $180K *
Energy & Utilities
8 - 10 years of experience
Job Overview by Ladders

Qualifications

  • Bachelor's degree in electrical, mechanical, energy, or systems engineering; advanced degree preferred.
  • 8+ years in renewable energy with expertise in utility-scale solar and battery energy storage (BESS).
  • 3+ years of experience in technical team leadership with a proven track record of vision setting and results delivery.
  • Deep fluency in PV performance modeling using tools like PVSyst.
  • Strong foundation in PV and BESS electrical engineering principles including inverters and EMS configuration.
  • Experience in dispatch and arbitrage optimization, including linear programming methods.
  • Ability to translate complex models and data into actionable recommendations.

Responsibilities

  • Own the engineering roadmap for hybrid solar and storage optimization, correlating design choices to yield and financial outcomes.
  • Govern PV performance modeling standards, ensuring accurate production estimates and loss frameworks.
  • Model and optimize combined PV and BESS outputs for large-load customers, integrating front-of-meter and behind-the-meter designs.
  • Set dispatch and energy-arbitrage strategies for batteries, collaborating with Power Marketing.
  • Establish sizing standards and configuration limits for solar/BESS systems.
  • Ensure compliance with utility requirements and SCADA/EMS protocols, coordinating with relevant teams.
  • Direct analysis of underperformance in operations, feeding insights back into design and procurement.
  • Lead the hiring and development of the optimization engineering team.

Benefits

  • 401(k) plan with company matching contribution
  • Competitive health, vision, and dental benefits
  • Generous personal time off and holiday package
  • Flexible work-from-home policy
Full Job Description
Overview

This position will work in our Engineering team and report to the Sr. Director of Engineering. The Director of Optimization Engineering owns the technical strategy for optimizing our hybrid and collocated utility-scale solar and battery energy storage (BESS) systems - driving energy production, capture, storage efficiency, and load-matching across Adapture Renewable's multi-GW development pipeline. This is a builder's seat: the role sets the optimization vision, defines success criteria, and grows a team of engineers to execute against it, partnering closely with Development, Interconnection & Transmission, Asset Management, and Power Marketing. The candidate will ideally be based in the San Francisco Bay Area (hybrid); remote considered for exceptional candidates.

Core Responsibilities

  • Own the engineering roadmap for hybrid solar-plus-storage optimization - from system sizing and configuration through dispatch strategy - and define the KPIs and initiatives that connect design choices to energy yield and financial return.
  • Govern PV performance modeling standards (PVSyst), including P50/P90 production estimates, degradation profiles, and loss/availability frameworks.
  • Model and optimize combined PV and BESS output to serve large-load customers such as data centers, through both front-of-meter and co-located behind-the-meter designs.
  • Set the engineering basis for battery dispatch and energy-arbitrage strategy using linear-programming methods, in coordination with Power Marketing.
  • Establish standards for solar/BESS sizing, EMS configuration, DC/AC ratios, ground coverage ratios, state-of-charge limits, and round-trip efficiency.
  • Ensure designs meet utility and interconnection requirements and SCADA/EMS protocols; partner with Interconnection & Transmission and IT on the underlying data path.
  • Direct root-cause analysis of operating-fleet underperformance (soiling, availability, equipment faults, clipping, degradation, capacity fade) and feed findings back into design and procurement.
  • Hire, develop, and lead the optimization engineering team, including the Manager of Optimization Engineering.
  • Deliver design and performance recommendations to Engineering leadership and, as needed, to ownership.


Qualifications and Experience

  • Bachelor's degree in electrical, mechanical, energy, or systems engineering, or an equivalent quantitative discipline; advanced degree a plus.
  • 8+ years in renewable energy, with hands-on experience designing and optimizing utility-scale solar and demonstrated BESS experience (sizing, dispatch optimization, degradation, or performance modeling).
  • 3+ years leading and developing technical teams, with a track record of setting vision and delivering results.
  • Deep fluency in PV performance modeling (PVSyst or equivalent), including P50/P90 yield estimation and loss/availability analysis.
  • Strong PV and BESS electrical engineering foundation: inverters and DC/AC conversion, EMS configuration, state-of-charge limits, and round-trip efficiency.
  • Working command of dispatch/arbitrage optimization (linear programming or comparable methods) and the data analytics behind battery control strategies.
  • Proven ability to translate models and data into prioritized, economically grounded recommendations for engineers, executives, and owners.
  • Preferred: Python (SciPy or similar solvers), MATLAB, and SQL; SCADA/EMS and OT data architecture experience; familiarity with BESS warranty and capacity-guarantee structures; working knowledge of interconnection and market context (PPA structures, curtailment, ancillary services); PE license a plus.
  • Ability to travel occasionally to project sites and the Bay Area office.


Benefits Package

  • 401(k) plan with company matching contribution
  • Competitive health, vision, and dental benefits
  • Attractive personal time off and company holiday package
  • Work-from-home policy
  • Salary commensurate with experience


Note

Qualified candidates only. No search firms.

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