Overview
A leading U.S.-based clean energy platform backed by a major global infrastructure investor is seeking a Lead Operations Engineer to support the operational performance and reliability of a growing portfolio of utility-scale solar and battery energy storage assets across the United States.
The business owns and operates a rapidly expanding fleet of renewable energy infrastructure projects, supporting the increasing power demands of hyperscalers, data centres, and large commercial energy users. With continued growth across ERCOT and other major U.S. power markets, the company is focused on operational excellence, asset optimisation, and long-term portfolio performance.
This role is based in Dallas, Texas and offers the opportunity to work at the intersection of engineering, operations, and performance analytics within a fast-paced, growth-oriented environment.
Role Overview
The Lead Operations Engineer will be responsible for supporting the operational performance, reliability, and optimisation of a utility-scale renewable energy portfolio. This is a highly technical, hands-on position focused on improving plant availability, resolving operational issues, and driving performance across multiple solar and energy storage sites.
The successful candidate will act as a key escalation point for operational matters, partnering closely with Asset Management, Engineering teams, and third-party O&M providers to ensure assets operate safely, efficiently, and at peak performance.
Key Responsibilities
Operational Leadership
- Lead technical oversight of utility-scale solar and BESS operations across an assigned portfolio
- Serve as the escalation point for site performance issues, outages, and operational incidents
- Coordinate with third-party O&M providers to ensure SLA and performance compliance
- Support commissioning, testing, and operational handover of new assets
Performance & Reliability
- Monitor plant performance metrics and identify optimisation opportunities
- Conduct root cause analysis (RCA) for equipment failures and underperformance events
- Implement corrective actions to improve asset availability and long-term reliability
- Support lifecycle optimisation initiatives across the operating fleet
Day-to-Day Operations
- Analyse SCADA and performance monitoring data to identify inefficiencies and trends
- Support operational decision-making through data-driven analysis and reporting
- Assist with KPI reporting, asset health tracking, and operational performance reviews
- Collaborate cross-functionally with engineering, asset management, and field operations teams
Standardisation & Continuous Improvement
- Support development and implementation of operational best practices across the portfolio
- Contribute to continuous improvement initiatives focused on reliability and efficiency
- Help standardise operational workflows, reporting structures, and performance processes
Stakeholder Coordination
- Support communication and reporting of operational performance to internal stakeholders
- Ensure operational issues are resolved in a timely, structured, and transparent manner
- Maintain strong alignment between field operations and asset management functions
Team Collaboration
- Work closely with O&M providers, engineers, technicians, and asset managers
- Provide technical guidance and operational support across teams
- Act as a key interface between field execution and portfolio-level operational strategy
Required Experience
- 6–10+ years of experience within utility-scale solar, battery energy storage, or power generation operations/engineering
- Strong experience in plant performance analysis, SCADA systems, and operational optimisation
- Experience managing or coordinating third-party O&M providers
- Exposure to ERCOT and/or U.S. utility-scale power markets preferred
Technical Skills & Competencies
- Strong understanding of utility-scale solar PV systems, inverters, and grid-connected infrastructure
- Experience with performance analytics, operational diagnostics, and reliability improvement
- Familiarity with SCADA systems and performance monitoring tools
- Strong analytical and problem-solving capability
- Ability to interpret technical data and translate findings into operational action
- Advanced Excel skills; Python or other data analysis tools considered advantageous
- Excellent communication and cross-functional collaboration skills
Candidate Profile
The ideal candidate will be:
- Direct, decisive, and execution-focused
- Comfortable operating within fast-moving, high-growth environments
- Highly organised with strong attention to detail
- Technically credible with strong operational instincts
- Able to balance field-level execution with portfolio-wide strategic thinking
- Committed to high standards, accountability, and operational excellence