Operations Engineer

Operations Engineer – Renewable Energy

Location: Austin, Texas, USA

Employment Type: Full-Time

Industry: Renewable Energy (Solar & Battery Energy Storage Systems)

Work Arrangement: Office and Field Travel as Required

Overview

An exciting opportunity is available for an experienced Operations Engineer to support the operation and performance of a growing portfolio of distributed solar and battery energy storage assets across the United States.

This role combines engineering expertise, operational leadership, asset management, and vendor oversight to maximise system reliability, availability, and long-term asset performance. The successful candidate will serve as the technical authority for operational engineering, supporting projects from pre-commercial operation through long-term asset management.

Key Responsibilities

Operations & Technical Leadership

• Act as the technical subject matter expert for solar photovoltaic and battery energy storage operations
• Provide engineering support for operational issues across a nationwide renewable energy portfolio
• Lead troubleshooting and resolution of complex technical and performance issues
• Support engineering decisions throughout the operational lifecycle of renewable energy assets

Safety, Compliance & Quality

• Ensure compliance with health, safety, environmental, and operational requirements
• Review and maintain site-specific maintenance and operational procedures
• Monitor contractor safety performance and support continuous improvement initiatives
• Develop and maintain quality assurance processes across asset operations

Reliability & Performance Improvement

• Lead root cause investigations and corrective action programmes for equipment failures
• Analyse operational and performance data to improve reliability and asset availability
• Identify opportunities to optimise performance, reduce downtime, and extend equipment life
• Coordinate with utilities regarding protection systems and operational requirements

Operations Strategy & Vendor Management

• Develop operational maintenance strategies for outsourced service providers
• Support procurement activities including scope development, vendor qualification, and contract evaluations
• Participate in contractor selection, negotiations, and performance management
• Monitor contractor compliance with contractual and operational requirements

Asset Transition & Lifecycle Support

• Support transition of new assets from construction into commercial operations
• Participate in pre-operational readiness reviews and commissioning handovers
• Assist with warranty claims and technical quality investigations
• Define maintenance requirements and operational standards for new assets

Stakeholder Management

• Collaborate with engineering teams, asset managers, contractors, equipment manufacturers, and customers
• Support technical reporting, operational reviews, and performance presentations
• Provide engineering input into operational planning and strategic decision-making

Requirements

• Bachelor's degree in Engineering or a related technical discipline
• Experience supporting renewable energy, power generation, utilities, or industrial operations
• Strong understanding of solar photovoltaic systems and/or battery energy storage systems
• Experience with operations, maintenance, and asset reliability programmes
• Knowledge of engineering standards, safety regulations, and operational best practices
• Experience managing contractors and third-party service providers
• Strong analytical and troubleshooting skills
• Experience conducting root cause analysis and implementing corrective actions
• Excellent communication and stakeholder management skills
• Ability to manage multiple priorities across geographically dispersed assets

Preferred Experience

• Experience with utility-scale or distributed generation renewable energy projects
• Knowledge of commissioning, asset handover, and warranty management processes
• Experience with SCADA systems, performance monitoring, or asset management platforms
• Familiarity with procurement processes, vendor management, and contract administration