Inverter/Power Conversion Expert/Engineer, Solar (and Storage) Technology

Company: DNV
Location: Medford
Posted on: May 28, 2023

Job Description:

Local Unit & Position DescriptionWould you like to influence the solar industry and have the opportunity to grow and thrive as a thought leader? Are you committed to address climate change and positively impact society and the planet? Do you enjoy collaborating with colleagues and clients, and thrive in a dynamic and respectful environment?Then a position on our Solar Independent Engineering and Technology Team is a great fit for you!DNV - Energy's Renewables & Power Grids Advisory group is seeking an Inverter/ Power Conversion Engineer to join our solar technology team. DNV is the world's leading renewable energy consultant, and our respected staff is viewed as thought leaders in the industry. DNV's Solar IE and Technology team holds a substantial market position in North America as a provider of independent engineering and bankability services to support the financing and construction of solar and storage energy projects. In this role, our team provides technical consulting and due diligence on behalf of project developers, financial institutions, and investors who rely on our reports in making investment and risk assessment decisions. This solar technology team also takes a leading role in conference participation, participation in codes/standards committees, and establishing internal and industry guidance on assessing technology risk for our teams in North America and globally. Our team is a high-performing, innovative team that strives for equity, respect, and diversity.As a member of the Solar Technology team, the successful candidate will provide technical advisory and other consulting services associated with inverters used in solar and storage projects. The work will include technical due diligence of inverter systems for use in pre-construction, construction, and operational projects on behalf of lenders and investors. This position will also provide technical support and advisory services to project developers and product manufacturers, including bankability studies, failure analysis, support for RFPs, and technical specifications, among others. The role will include working with product manufacturers to opine on product design and expected reliability and managing relationships with applicable manufacturers and other stakeholders.Performing technical reviews will require candidates who can assess detailed aspects of inverter design, including design of the power conversion stack, modeling of thermal behavior, modeling of control algorithms, and the ability to make recommendations on testing to validate product performance. The technical review will include an evaluation with respect to relevant codes and standards. The successful candidate should be familiar with the major suppliers of power conversion equipment in the solar, wind, and storage industry and with the primary technical differences between products and market segments.This position may be based in any of our Renewables Advisory DNV North American offices including Oakbrook, IL (Chicago); San Diego, CA; Oakland, CA; Chalfont, PA; Portland, OR; Austin, TX; Houston, TX, Portland, OR; Seattle, WA; or Medford, MA.What You'll Do

• Provide written and oral technical advice to customers including commenting on design, reliability, and cost aspects of solar PV inverters, and reviewing and commenting on engineering documentation relating to:
  • Design and reliability aspects of power inverters/converters
  • Grid connection contracts including all technical specifications and grid codes
  • Manufacture and installation of power inverters/converters and associated equipment
  • Electrical documentation relating to:
    • Power converter design
    • Testing of converter equipment
    • Field and reliability data
    • Operation and maintenance documents
    • Produce detailed reports which review the feasibility of power conversion equipment used in solar/wind/energy storage projects
    • Provide recommendations for product improvements and risk mitigation
    • Manage stakeholder relationships to develop new business opportunities and promote complementary services from other parts of DNV
      • Activities will include development of proposal for product reviews, contributions to conference calls with new clients, and updates to internal sales and project tracking software applications
      • Provide electrical guidance concerning power conversion and electrical distribution equipment across the functions of design, test, and manufacture
      • Provide guidance regarding electrical codes and grid standards as related to solar/wind/energy storage design and field operation
      • Assess product design including aspects of power conversion, thermal design, and control strategies (which may involve bespoke calculations and/or simulations)
      • Review manufacturing facilities for compliance with quality/safety procedures and practices
      • Travel to engineering/manufacturing facilities to review product design and manufacture, and to field sites to review installation, operation, and maintenance
      • Relate the results of inverter technical reviews to broader technical due diligence scopes by making recommendations regarding commercial and technical risk mitigation and financial model assumptionsPosition QualificationsWhat is Required
        • Bachelor's degree in electrical engineering with a focus in power systems or power electronics from an accredited university
        • Minimum of 2 years of relevant engineering experience in the operation, testing, deployment or product support of solar and/or storage power conversion technologies
        • Familiarity designing or evaluating products for compliance with UL 1741, IEEE 1547, IEC 62109
        • Familiarity designing or evaluating products for compliance with North American standards, including NEC Knowledge of equivalent international standards for power converters associated electrical equipment
        • General PV system design and factors that impact safety, and performance
        • The generation of reports for external clients is a primary function for this position
        • Exceptional candidates with additional years of experience, will be considered for senior / principal level roles
        • Excellent written and verbal English communication skills
        • We conduct pre-employment drug and background screeningWhat is Preferred
          • A graduate degree
          • 2 years of experience in the design and/or testing of power conversion equipment used in solar, wind, or energy storage applications
          • Professional Engineer (PE) license
          • Experience with simulation tools such as PSLF, PSSE, CYME, Spice, MATLAB/Simulink
          • Willingness and ability to travel, up to 15% of the time, domestically and internationally
          • Familiarity developing or implementing safety policies related to product design and testing
          • Additional preferred skills and experience include:
            • Familiarity with simulation tools/libraries such as PVsyst, SAM, PVLib
            • Familiarity with R, Python, or other programming languages
            • Some background in uncertainty, probability, and statistics
            • Familiarity reviewing EPC and O&M contracts
            • Familiarity with operational solar PV and/or storage assets and system reliability What We Offer
              • Generous Paid Time Off (Vacation, Company Holidays, Parental Leave, Sick, and Disability)
              • Multiple Medical, Dental, and Vision Benefit Plans to choose from
              • Spending Accounts - FSA, Dependent Care, Commuter Benefits, Company-Seeded HSA401(K) with company match
              • Company provided life insurance, short-term, and long-term disability benefits
              • Education reimbursement program
              • Employer-Paid, therapist-led, virtual care services through Talkspace
              • Flexible work schedule with hybrid/remote opportunities**Benefits vary based on position, tenure, location, and employee election**How We Do ItWe Care, We Dare, We ShareDNV is a proud equal opportunity employer committed to building an inclusive and diverse workforce. All employment is decided on the basis of qualifications, merit or business need, without regard to race, color, religion, age, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability or protected veteran status.DNV is committed to ensuring equal employment opportunity, including providing reasonable accommodations to individuals with a disability. US applicants with a physical or mental disability who require a reasonable accommodation for any part of the application or hiring process may contact the North America Recruitment department (hrrecruitment.northamerica@dnv.com). Information received relating to accommodations will be addressed confidentially.DNV is proud to announce being named one of Houston's best places to work in the 2022 Houston Business Journal - Best Places to Work competition. For more information https://www.eeoc.gov/know-your-rights-workplace-discrimination-illegal-posterRead more here Diversity at DNV Meet our EmployeesAbout DNVCareers in DNVPlease visit our website at www.dnv.comAs required by the Colorado Equal Pay Transparency Act and New York City Salary Transparency Law, DNV provides a reasonable range of compensation for roles that may be hired in Colorado or New York City. Actual compensation is influenced by a wide array of factors including but not limited to skill set, level of experience, and specific office location. For the state of Colorado and New York City, NY only, the range of starting yearly salary for this role is $110,000- $170,000Company & Business Area DescriptionDNV is the independent expert in assurance and risk management, operating in more than 100 countries. Through our broad experience and deep expertise we advance safety and sustainable performance, set industry benchmarks, and inspire and invent solutions. -We provide assurance to the entire energy value chain through our advisory, monitoring, verification, and certification services. As the world's leading resource of independent energy experts and technical advisors, we help industries and governments to navigate the many complex, interrelated transitions taking place globally and regionally, in the energy industry. We are committed to realizing the goals of the Paris Agreement, and support all stakeholders to transition faster to a deeply decarbonized energy system.

Keywords: DNV, Medford , Inverter/Power Conversion Expert/Engineer, Solar (and Storage) Technology, IT / Software / Systems , Medford, Massachusetts