Renewable Senior Performance Engineer

Description

This position is based on a hybrid work schedule and will require in-office work 3 days per week.

Sargent & Lundy's Consulting group is seeking a senior performance engineer with experience performing solar PV energy yield assessments on utility-scale solar projects. Candidate will specialize in solar PV and battery energy storage performance modeling while getting the opportunity to expand their expertise across CSP, wind, geothermal, simple- and combined-cycle gas, RICE, and fuel cell projects-building client-facing experience with utilities, developers, IPPs, and data center developers on complex, high-visibility consulting engagements.

This position in Sargent & Lundy's Consulting group will require you to do the following:

• Perform solar resource assessments considering both satellite-based and ground-based data

• Analyze operational production and performance data and climatic data from solar projects

• Lead and mentor a team of performance engineers responsible for modeling, design review, and technical optimization across the solar, wind and battery energy storage projects.

• Conduct long-term solar PV energy production assessments using PVsyst and Excel-based post-processing tools.

• Primarily focus on utility-scale solar assessments but support work across all scales including residential, commercial, and industrial

• Predict energy production

• Perform uncertainty analysis to determine probabilities of exceedance (e.g., P90, P95, P99)

• Conduct statistical uncertainty analyses, clipping adjusted degradation analysis

• Participate in energy yield assessment process improvement initiatives and process validation

• Write technical due diligence reports and communicate results to clients and key stakeholders including developers and financiers

• Incorporate appropriate PV modeling assumptions and inputs into simulation

• Communicate with clients to answer technical questions with regard to solar resource and energy yield

In addition to performing PV energy yield assessments, candidate will be expected to support S&L's independent engineering and technical due diligence services for project financing or asset acquisition of new solar projects. Common tasks include:

• Evaluating solar equipment selections / technologies

• Evaluating project execution plans from EPC contractors

• Reviewing project contracts including PPA, EPC, and O&M agreements

• Reviewing project CAPEX, OPEX, and performance parameters in financial models

Other job duties may also include:

• Preparing and reviewing engineering deliverables such as reports, studies, and calculations

• Knowledge of NEC, IEEE, UL, and IEC standards related to solar design and performance

• Collaborating with teammates to define project execution plans

• Monitoring project schedules and budgets

• Supporting multiple projects simultaneously while ensuring a high quality standard is met

• Interfacing with clients to understand requests and confirm successful project execution

• Familiarity with inverter/load ratio strategies, bifacial gain considerations, and soiling/loss estimation

• Preparing proposals for new business development opportunities

• Traveling occasionally to visit project locations and client offices.

Qualifications

We do not sponsor employees for work authorization in the U.S. for this position.

This position requires a Bachelor's degree in engineering or a science discipline such as chemistry, physics, materials science, or a related field and a comprehensive understanding of solar resource assessment and energy yield prediction methodology.

In order to qualify, it is important that you have 10+ years of experience in the energy industry, including one or more of the following:

• Experience in design of utility-scale solar projects

• Previous experience as a renewable energy consultant

• Experience performing renewable due diligence services

• Experience performing uncertainty and statistical data analysis

• Proficiency working with data analysis tools

• Familiarity with renewable energy project execution and finance

• Experience with statistical modeling and data analytics

Also extremely important are:

• Excellent verbal/written communication skills

• Experience in writing technical reports and proposals

• Solid interpersonal skills and ability to work with and guide others

• Project planning and leadership skills

AI & Automation at Sargent & Lundy

In this role, we expect people to be willing or able to lead others who use modern tools:

• You are expected to lead others in taking engineering problems from issue to solution by setting expectations for using data and modern tools such as automation and AI to improve workflows, reduce rework, and deliver cost-effective designs.

• Leaders in these roles often direct automation and process-improvement work, for example, how teams automate calculations, summarize technical documents, or generate design documentation and guiding when and how AI or agentic AI tools are used while ensuring results are checked.

• Overseeing engineers who program or script (e.g., Python, MATLAB, advanced Excel) to automate engineering tasks, with review of automated outputs, is valued but not required.

• We also value additional learning, such as a minor, certificate, or other experience in Computer Science, Artificial Intelligence, Software Engineering, or related fields that enables effective oversight of automation and agentic AI-enabled engineering workflows.

Award-Winning Benefits

At Sargent & Lundy, we care about the health and well-being of our employees. Our commitment extends beyond the workplace, offering comprehensive healthcare plans and generous paid time off to support our team members in every aspect of their lives. We understand the importance of work-life balance, which is why we are proud to provide competitive, award-winning benefits. Our dedication to employee satisfaction has earned us the prestigious Top Workplaces Culture Excellence Award for compensation and benefits in 2022, 2023, and 2024.

Health & Wellness Financial Benefits Work-Life Balance

• Health Plans: Medical, Dental, Vision

• Life & Accident Insurance

• Disability Coverage

• Employee Assistance Program (EAP)

• Back-Up Daycare

• FSA & HSA

• 401(k)

• Pre-Tax Commuter Account

• Merit Scholarship Program

• Employee Discount Program

• Corporate Charitable Giving Program

• Tuition Assistance

• First Professional Licensure Bonus

• Employee Referral Bonus

• Paid Annual Personal/Sick Time (PST)

• Paid Vacation

• Paid Holidays

• Paid Parental Leave

• Paid Bereavement Leave

• Flexible Work Arrangements

Compensation Range

$118,023 - $180,313

Transparency Statement

Sargent & Lundy discloses compensation ranges that comply with all local and state regulations. The total compensation package for eligible positions will include a base salary or an hourly rate and a comprehensive benefits package, reflecting our commitment to rewarding performance and supporting the overall well-being of our employees. Individuals may also be eligible to participate in our yearly discretionary bonus.

Awards & Recognition

Equal Opportunity

Sargent & Lundy is an equal opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, national origin, disability status, protected veteran status, or any protected status as defined by applicable law.

CityChicago

StateIL

CountryUnited States

Area of InterestConsulting

TypeFull Time - Regular

Job ID2026-23828

Business GroupConsulting Group

DepartmentRenewable Energy