ESCO Project Engineer at CrossBoundary Energy (CBE)

CrossBoundary Energy (CBE) is the leading provider of clean, renewable, reliable, and affordable electricity directly to businesses. According to World Bank data, access to reliable and affordable electricity is the most significant constraint on economic growth on the continent. CBE addresses this challenge by providing corporates with fully financed renewable power. Through this approach, we are building a disruptive, distributed, renewable utility that can unlock sustainable growth.

We are already making rapid progress towards our vision. CBE is currently delivering a portfolio of over $200M of solar, wind, and storage projects for businesses across Africa. Our clients include Actis, Diageo, Heineken, Rio Tinto, Syrah Resources, Unilever, and other leading regional companies.

We are recruiting to fill the position below:

Job Title: ESCO Project Engineer

Location: Lagos
Employment Type: Full-Time
Department: CrossBoundary Energy
Experience Level: Mid Level

Job Description

• We are recruiting an ESCo Project Engineer for the development and implementation of it Telecom Energy as a Service Company (TESCo) activities in Africa.
• We are actively pursuing opportunities to provide Energy Services to integrate solar PV and storage solutions with telecom customers who rely on diesel generators to provide power to their operations.
• Working with our engineering team, EHS team, operations team, business development team, finance team and external consultants and EPC contractors, the ESCo Project Engineer will be responsible for supporting technical development activities as well as contracting and management of EPC contractors and general oversight support for projects through development and implementation.
• Other activities could integrate support with the development of our ESCo product, from equipment sourcing to creation of an asset management tool, and technical support during operations.
• CBE is not an EPC or a pure developer, as we seek to build a portfolio of long-term, high-performing assets.
• CBE will look to you for practical insights on how to make discrete business decisions that will directly affect our financial outcomes.

Primary Responsibilities

• Provide engineering expertise during project design, construction, commissioning, representing the interests of CBE’s customer and our interests as the asset owner
• Conduct hybrid sizing, configuration and design including optimal configuration of solar, thermal and storage seeking to optimize for LCoE
• Produce preliminary design documentation including layouts, Interconnection strategy, SLD’s, BoQ’s, PVSyst analysis, etc.;
• Provide ongoing technical support and design review throughout project implementation, network integration and commissioning
• Carry out site and situation analysis of projects and effectively drive the technical development to address high risk and critical path workstreams.
• Support data gathering from customers and associated 3rd parties as required to effectively carry out studies and associated development activities
• Support or drive the development of an asset management tool
• Support the early-stage technical analysis of projects including the engagement with third party consultants and specialists as may be required to carry out specialist studies
• Support with the EPC engagement, contracting, configuration optimization and review of EPC detailed designs
• Support the business development team with technical inputs for pricing, proposal materials and customer engagement
• Provide technical support during Energy as a Service (EaaS) contract drafting and negotiations
• Support with project management through implementation including:
• Support during Kickoff meeting and ongoing stakeholder engagement
• Project progress and quality reviews
• Support with EaaS and EPC contracts
• Support the CBE technical team on an adhoc basis on projects across the full CBE ESCo portfolio.

Required Skills and Qualifications

• Bachelor's Degree in Engineering (Mechanical / Electrical / Electronic)
• 2+ years work experience in either power systems engineering, electrical transmission/distribution networks, building electrical engineering, or electrical generation
• Hybrid sizing, configuring and modelling experience – HOMER (or similar) and/or self-built models
• Understanding of the key components that form part of a hybrid solution:
  • Solar PV
  • Battery storage (including understanding different storage technologies and the associated tradeoffs)
  • Thermal/baseload generation – diesel generators
  • Strong understanding of AC/DC Electrical Power Systems, Power Electronics, and/or Solar Energy
• Demonstrated interest in renewable energy systems
• Work experience or demonstrated familiarity with solar PV installations
• Bachelor’s degree in a relevant engineering field
• Demonstrated ability to independently supervise multi-stakeholder projects
• Clear effective communicator across diverse audiences
• Writes clearly, professionally, and without grammatical errors.

Qualifications:
Ideal candidate will have the following skills and qualifications:

• 3+ years relevant working experience
• 2+ year work experience in solar PV, SHS, minigrids or nanogrid construction with a top-tier firm
• Experience designing a small scale solar/storage/thermal hybrid project including minigrids and nanogrids
• Working knowledge of battery storage technologies and design of storage solutions
• Background in designing and implementing EHS policies for construction projects
• Undergone some project management training
• Experience working in Africa
• Good commercial understanding of the solar IPP model including an understanding of project finance
• Interest and understanding of the telecom world
• Experience with monitoring and control systems

Who You Are:

• Self-starter who is passionate about clean energy and its potential to transform fragile states and frontier markets in Africa
• Entrepreneurial mind who is not afraid of exploring how new technologies can be used to optimize our work and enable us to create robust products
• Capable of applying engineering principles to complex, bespoke problems that require creative thinking
• Comfortable with ambiguity; you are effective in a fast-moving and complex environment that does not have a fixed rule book.
• A practical thinker known for choosing the simple, robust solution where more complicated approaches would deliver the same results
• A open-minded learner who is not afraid to take on new challenges head on
• Eager and willing to train up contractors to consistently deliver excellent work
• A systematic and highly organized project manager; takes personal accountability for tracking numerous activities across workstreams and driving them all to successful conclusion
• Sound commercial judgement; independently assesses the most economical interventions
• Considers the long-term view when evaluating the costs and benefits of a potential solution
• A creative problem-solver not afraid to get their hands dirty to untangle a complex issue.

Application Closing Date
Not Specified.

Method of Application
Interested and qualified candidates should:
Click here to apply online

Note

• CrossBoundary is an equal opportunity employer.
• If you need assistance and/or reasonable accommodation due to a disability during the application or the recruiting process, please send a request to human.resources@crossboundary.com