Solar and Battery Storage Specialist

GDS Associates, Inc. is a Multi-Service Consulting & Engineering Firm. Formed in 1986, GDS now employs a staff of more than 175 people in locations across U.S. Our expertise includes electric, gas, water and wastewater utilities. 

Solar and Battery Storage Specialist Job Description

GDS has an opportunity for an experienced professional with specialized experience in Renewable Solar and Battery Energy Storage Systems (BESS) to join our renewable consulting team. The ideal candidate would have at least seven years of experience in the industry and be familiar with both utility-scale and commercial project assessments, procurements, and implementations. 

This individual will provide consulting services to clients and should advise them based on familiarity and expertise in various areas, including evaluation of system use cases, solar and storage system design, system siting and output, system Operations & Maintenance (O&M) plans. Familiarity with the following areas is a plus, including solar and storage construction oversight, system safety considerations, system commissioning, performance monitoring and testing as well as solar and storage asset management. 

The Power Supply Department works with publicly owned and privately-owned utilities, cooperatives, industrial and large commercial companies, municipalities, government agencies and solar and storage development companies on a variety of unique and challenging renewable supply planning and clean energy resource plans.? In addition, our team is involved from coast-to-coast in structured and unstructured power markets creating sustainable planning solutions. 

Location:

• Preference for Marietta, GA, Kirkland, WA, Portland, OR, or Austin, TX or Remote in CA.

Responsibilities

Specific Responsibilities Include:

• Evaluating utility-scale solar and storage site options to identify “best fit” locations. 
• Creating of solar system layouts for fixed tilt, single-axis tracking, rooftop and parking canopy systems. 
• Estimating solar energy system output based on various module, inverter and racking types, Inverter Loading Ratios (ILR), Ground Coverage Ratios (GCR), and other standard design aspects. 
• Developing storage system designs based on specific client use cases. 
• Reviewing and/or developing requirements for solar and battery storage interconnection to utility distribution systems or residential/commercial/industrial applications. 
• Assisting in evaluating solar and storage proposals made to client base. 
• Assisting in negotiating key contractual requirements for solar and storage systems. 
• Assisting in development of utility clean energy “Integrated Resource Plans”. 
• Monitoring market developments on matters related to solar and battery storage integration, including emerging technologies, market design, resource adequacy, and regulation/frequency control. 
• Business development opportunities in our consulting practice for renewable solar and storage development companies and utilities. 

Qualifications

Required Experience:

• Bachelor’s degree in Engineering, Statistics, Accounting, Finance, or similar energy industry-related field.
• Master’s degree preferred. 
• 5-7 years directly related work experience in the electric renewable power industry. 
• Experience in regional transmission organizations (PJM, MISO, SPP, ERCOT, CAISO) and knowledge of power market regulation affecting solar and storage is a plus. 
• Experience in solar energy generation modeling software (such as PVSyst), mapping tools, and solar layout design software tools (such as Helioscope). 
• Solid problem-solving, judgment and decision-making skills. 
• Detail-oriented and strong organizational skills. 
• Demonstrated effective verbal and written communication skills. 
• Strong working knowledge of MS Office Software (Excel, Word, and PowerPoint).
• Advanced Excel skills preferred.

GDS is an Equal Opportunity Employer. GDS does not sponsor employees for work authorization in the U.S. for this position.