Project Development Engineer

Ameresco•Phoenix, AZ

1d•Remote

About The Position

Ameresco, Inc. is a leading energy solutions provider focused on helping customers reduce costs, enhance resilience, and decarbonize to net zero. The company develops, constructs, and operates smart energy efficiency solutions, distributed energy resources, and infrastructure upgrades. This remote Project Development Engineer position, based in the Phoenix, AZ area, supports the Renewable Energy team in developing behind-the-meter and front-of-meter solar PV, battery energy storage (BESS), microgrid, and EV charging infrastructure projects for various clients across the U.S. The role serves as the technical backbone of the project development process, from early feasibility through construction handoff and support to operations. The ideal candidate possesses deep renewable energy engineering knowledge, strong analytical skills, and the ability to clearly communicate complex technical concepts to customers and project teams. Customer interaction is primarily in a technical advisory capacity, involving site assessments, technical Q&A, and credible solution communication.

Requirements

Bachelor’s degree in Electrical Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, Civil Engineering, Construction Engineering, or related discipline.
Minimum of 3 years of relevant experience in renewable energy project development, engineering design, or related field.
Demonstrated experience with solar PV and/or battery energy storage project development.
Familiarity with utility interconnection processes and permitting for distributed generation.

Nice To Haves

NABCEP PV Installation Professional or PV Technical Sales certification strongly preferred.
Professional Engineering (PE) license, Certified Energy Manager (CEM), or LEED AP not required but considered a plus.
Experience with microgrid design, islanding configurations, and/or grid services a significant plus.
Knowledge of federal and state incentive programs including ITC, IRA adders, SGIP, USDA REAP, and net metering tariffs.
Experience with energy storage incentive programs and dispatch optimization modeling.
Proficiency with solar and storage design/modeling software: PVSyst, Helioscope, Aurora, Energy Toolbase, Xendee, and/or HOMER Pro.
Excellent verbal, written, and presentation communication skills; ability to convey complex technical solutions clearly to non-technical audiences.
Comfortable working alongside Sales Executives in customer meetings, site walks, and proposal presentations in a technical support capacity.
Ability to analyze utility rate structures and model bill savings and financial returns (NPV, IRR, simple payback).
Proficient in Microsoft Office Suite (Word, Excel, PowerPoint); experience with project scheduling tools a plus.
Ability to travel up to 25% of the time for site visits and customer meetings.

Responsibilities

Partner with Sales Executives to provide technical expertise throughout the project pursuit process, from initial customer inquiry through proposal submission.
Participate in customer site visits and meetings in a technical role, assessing project feasibility and presenting proposed solutions.
Translate complex technical designs, system configurations, and financial models into clear, accessible language for customer-facing presentations and proposals.
Prepare and review technical content for proposals, including system descriptions, energy production estimates, equipment specifications, and project schedules.
Respond to customer technical questions and requests for information (RFIs) in coordination with the Sales team.
Support Sales in understanding applicable incentive programs (ITC, IRA adders, SGIP, USDA REAP, net metering) and their impact on project economics.
Lead technical development of solar PV, battery energy storage, microgrid, and EV charging projects from early-stage feasibility through construction handoff, support construction and project management teams through to project completion.
Evaluate system layout and design options based on customer site information, as-built drawings, and load profiles.
Perform energy modeling, battery dispatch modeling, and utility cost/rate analysis to size and optimize systems.
Assess microgrid configurations including islanding capabilities, resiliency design, and grid services potential.
Visit customer sites to investigate project feasibility, electrical infrastructure, and interconnection methods.
Coordinate onsite engineering and investigative activities with utilities, outside engineers, surveyors, and vendors.
Make equipment selections based on project needs, technology performance, material availability, and costs.
Develop and maintain financial models and project pricing during the development phase.
Generate project budgets and schedules in conjunction with the Pre-Construction team.
Provide technical support to Pre-Construction in the preparation of requests for bids.
Manage utility interconnection submittals (NEM, SGIP, Rule 21, or applicable tariffs) and serve as primary point of contact with the utility.
Oversee AHJ permitting submittals and coordinate responses through approvals.
Monitor interconnection queue status and proactively manage schedule impacts.
Identify applicable incentive programs including ITC, IRA adders, SGIP, USDA REAP, and state/local programs, and support their incorporation into project financial models.
Consolidate and review project deliverables and technical documents generated by outside engineering and vendors.
Support the Project Management team on material procurement and technical guidance during construction.
Manage technical components of commissioning and project closeout following construction completion.
Perform and/or review energy production, savings calculations, and financial evaluations of completed projects.
Perform other duties as required.