Performance Engineer I

NovaSource Power Services • Chandler, AZ

3d • $90,000 - $120,000

About The Position

The Performance Engineer analyzes operating data and translates it into clear explanations, prioritized recommendations, and measurable improvements for solar photovoltaic (PV) and battery energy storage system (BESS) assets. The role takes analytical responsibility for an assigned portfolio, with guidance from senior engineers, and proactively investigates underperformance to help customers improve energy production, reliability, and asset value.

The engineer collaborates with Operations, Asset Management, Monitoring, Engineering, Commercial, Contracts, and Technology. Performance Engineering owns analytical quality, recommendations, and benefit verification; Operations is accountable for execution, Asset Management coordinates customer priorities and approvals, and Technology owns digital platforms, configuration, and production automation. The role applies established methods to routine assignments and seeks senior technical review for complex diagnoses, material customer recommendations, contractual interpretations, and performance-test conclusions.

The stated future-state focus is Performance Intelligence & Diagnostics (30%), Asset Value Enhancement (20%), Customer Support (20%), Reporting Assurance & Performance Governance (15%), and Organizational Support & Capability Building (15%). These allocations are subject to baseline validation and may vary with portfolio needs and the transition of routine reporting and technology responsibilities.

Requirements

• A master's degree in engineering, physics, mathematics, data science, or a related technical field; a bachelor's degree with relevant experience may also be considered.
• Relevant coursework, academic projects, internships, or professional experience in energy systems, engineering analysis, or asset performance.
• Foundational knowledge of solar PV and/or BESS systems and willingness to develop capability across both technologies.
• Understanding of expected-versus-actual performance, equipment behavior, environmental effects, sensor and meter quality, and basic measurement uncertainty.
• Demonstrated ability through coursework, projects, internships, or work to analyze operational datasets using Python, MATLAB, SQL, or equivalent tools.
• Strong analytical judgment, attention to detail, and clear written and verbal communication.
• Ability to connect measured trends to physical operating conditions, document assumptions, and explain technical findings and business implications to different audiences.
• Collaborative, customer-focused approach and ability to prioritize concurrent assignments, follow through on recommendations, ask questions, and seek appropriate review.
• Commitment to learning, sound engineering practice, and continuous improvement.

Nice To Haves

• Python is preferred.
• Familiarity with performance-modeling and data-visualization tools is an advantage.

Responsibilities

• Maintain a proactive review cadence for an assigned portfolio and analyze expected versus actual performance, equipment trends, availability, and energy losses.
• Distinguish physical asset issues from data or modeling limitations; apply environmental normalization and assess sensor quality and measurement uncertainty.
• Investigate PV production losses and equipment performance; for BESS, assess availability, charge/discharge efficiency, usable energy capacity, degradation, auxiliary consumption, and operating constraints using approved methods.
• Distinguish equipment limitations from dispatch instructions and contractual requirements; prioritize findings by energy impact, reliability risk, and contractual significance, and escalate material issues with practical next steps.
• Support performance modeling, degradation studies, and loss analysis to identify improvement opportunities.
• Maintain a prioritized opportunity register that documents baselines, estimated recoverable energy, indicative financial benefits, assumptions, and agreed implementation owners.
• Help prepare technical recommendations and business cases, track actions through cross-functional reviews, and verify outcomes using appropriate baselines and operating-condition adjustments.
• Clearly distinguish estimated opportunities from verified energy recovery and realized financial benefits.
• Prepare clear, evidence-based performance narratives for customer meetings and business reviews, and proactively raise material trends, risks, and improvement opportunities.
• Explain technical findings, uncertainties, and recommended actions in terms of production, reliability, asset value, and potential performance-guarantee exposure; coordinate responses with customer-facing teams and obtain technical review before communicating material conclusions.
• Review performance reports and KPIs for accuracy, consistency, and alignment with approved methods and contractual requirements.
• Validate calculations, assumptions, exclusions, and data quality; investigate material exceptions and document limitations or measurement uncertainty.
• Maintain traceable analytical records and escalate recurring data or calculation defects to responsible teams.
• Provide analytical assurance and exception investigation rather than routine manual report production, recurring data repair, or production-system maintenance.
• Contribute to peer reviews, analytical standards, playbooks, templates, and knowledge sharing.
• Support asset onboarding and time-bound hypercare with documented performance baselines, open issues, and agreed handoffs.
• Provide technical input for prioritized tenders, due diligence, performance testing, and revamping or repowering studies under senior guidance.
• Support Commercial and Contracts by reviewing performance definitions, guarantee calculations, exclusions, measurement methods, and data requirements, escalating risks and ambiguities for review rather than independently negotiating commitments.
• Use analytical coding tools for repeatable investigations; define requirements and validate outputs for Technology-delivered tools without owning production software or automation deployment.

Benefits

• Competitive compensation package and paid time off (PTO).
• Comprehensive and affordable medical, dental, and vision plans effective on the first day.
• Flexible Spending and Health Savings Accounts (FSA/HSA).
• On-the-job training with a clear path for advancement.
• Company-paid short-term and long-term disability insurance.
• Access to legal assistance services.
• Employee Assistance Program (EAP) with confidential counseling and support resources.
• 401(k) plan with employer matching contributions.
• Pet insurance and additional employee benefits.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Entry Level