Performance Engineer

Urban Grid Solar Projects•Houston, TX

6h•Hybrid

About The Position

Panthera Grid Partners is seeking an experienced Performance Engineer to maximize the operational and financial performance of its utility-scale solar and energy storage assets. The role serves as the technical lead for performance analytics, production forecasting, root cause analysis, and optimization across operating renewable energy facilities. It requires extensive PVsyst modeling experience, knowledge of the inputs needed for P50 energy estimates, and an understanding of PV plant construction and operations. Reporting to the Reliability Engineering Manager, the Performance Engineer will work with Asset Management, Operations & Maintenance, Commercial Operations, Development, Engineering, and third-party service providers. The role focuses on solar and battery storage performance assessment, energy modeling, SCADA analytics, operational troubleshooting, and continuous improvement across the renewable energy portfolio. The position is hybrid in Houston, Texas, with four days in the office and Fridays remote. Applicants must be authorized to work in the United States on a full-time basis; visa sponsorship or transfer visas are not available.

Requirements

Minimum 3 years of renewable industry experience in a performance-related role.
Bachelor’s degree in electrical engineering (preferred), Meteorology, Statistics, Physics, or another quantitative field.
Strong knowledge of PV solar energy systems and Battery Energy Storage Systems (BESS).
Proficiency in data analysis using Excel, Python, MATLAB, Fabric, or related software.
Understanding of inverter operation, power conversion principles, and power electronics.
Advanced understanding of and experience with PVsyst software.
Professional verbal and written communication skills.
Ability to discuss technical and advanced engineering concepts with both expert and non-technical audiences.
Self-motivated, able to work independently with minimal oversight and coordinate with other groups and individuals.
Excellent time management skills and ability to manage multiple tasks and projects, sometimes in a fast-paced environment.
Current authorization to work in the United States on a full-time basis.

Nice To Haves

Experience with utility-scale Battery Energy Storage Systems (BESS).
Experience supporting NERC, ISO, or utility compliance requirements.
Familiarity with SCADA platforms such as AlsoEnergy, Power Factors, OEM monitoring systems, or similar tools.
Experience with performance guarantee testing and ASTM performance testing protocols.
Knowledge of energy markets and renewable asset commercial operations.
Experience with machine learning, predictive analytics, or advanced data science applications in renewable energy.
Experience managing third-party O&M or EPC contractors.

Responsibilities

Monitor and analyze fleet-wide solar plant performance, availability, and energy production against budget, P50 forecasts, and contractual guarantees.
Develop, maintain, and improve performance monitoring dashboards, KPIs, and reporting tools.
Assist with root cause analyses of underperformance events and production losses.
Evaluate SCADA, meteorological, inverter, tracker, and revenue meter data to identify operational issues and optimization opportunities.
Perform daily, monthly, quarterly, and annual performance assessments for operating assets.
Validate expected energy production through statistical analysis and comparison with performance models.
Support asset managers in assessing operational risks and revenue impacts associated with plant performance issues.
Collaborate with O&M providers and internal resources to troubleshoot equipment failures and recurring performance losses.
Analyze inverter, tracker, module, and balance-of-system performance trends and degradation rates.
Lead performance guarantee evaluations, liquidated damages assessments, and contractual performance testing activities.
Review and update production forecasts, weather assumptions, and performance models as operating data becomes available.
Develop and maintain fleet degradation analyses and long-term performance projections.
Identify and quantify opportunities for performance improvements and operational cost reductions.
Support due diligence for project acquisitions, financing activities, and portfolio valuations.
Prepare technical reports, presentations, and executive summaries for internal and external stakeholders.
Stay current with industry standards, technologies, and best practices related to solar PV, BESS, trackers, inverters, and energy analytics.
Develop automation tools, scripts, and analytical workflows using Python, SQL, Power BI, Excel VBA, or similar platforms.
Support incident investigations and recommend corrective actions to improve fleet reliability and performance.
Onboard new assets in performance platforms.