Job Description
Description The BESS Engineering Manager will be part of Cubico´s corporate Engineering function based in London, UK or Madrid, Spain. The Engineering function provides a centre of expertise in the business for technology, engineering and asset integrity, across all phases of an asset lifecycle, to ensure that throughout the acquisition, development, construction and operation of BESS assets, appropriate engineering decisions are taken to ensure asset design, technology selection, quality assurance, contracts, lifetime O&M strategies and associated technical assumptions align with best practice and serve to mitigate risk and maximise value. The BESS Engineering Manager will provide support to local project teams and corporate business assurance across all issues related to BESS asset engineering and technology. The BESS Engineering Manager activities are focussed on both corporate business assurance and project support in following areas: 1. Development and construction: • Oversee engineering aspects for Utility Scale BESS projects, including AC/DC circuit design. • Support development projects to assess grid connections, suitability, and designs to make recommendations for optimisation. • Defining and assuring best practice for project delivery in relation to equipment selection, installation, and commissioning. • Act as technical lead for defining relevant requirements and agreeing scope and specification for EPC/supply and install agreement, and operation and maintenance. 2. Operations: Once BESS assets reach operational phase, assist Cubico’s asset management team providing advice and resolutions to electrical safety and asset integrity issues. 3. Business Growth: Participate in technical due diligence, identify risk and opportunities related to engineering, asset condition, and operational strategies for potential acquisitions. 4. As an electrical engineering subject matter expert drive continuous improvement across the business. Key relationships • Works with regional Development teams • Works with regional Asset Management teams. • Works with the Development and Construction Team. • Works with Performance and Energy Analysis Team • Works with Procurement Manager • Works with O&E Teams Key Responsibilities • Provide support to country and corporate teams on technical matters related to BESS engineering and technology for assets in different stages with focus on supporting the project during development, pre -construction and construction. • Carry out engineering and technical due diligence on potential acquisition projects, both in development and in operation, working proactively with country teams to develop solutions for mitigating risks and adding value. Subject to experience, act as a technical coordinator within the corporate technical team managing external services providers. • Develop and/or lead early-stage engineering designs for utility scale BESS assets, including layouts, SLDs and equipment selection. Undertake LCOE optimisation and analysis for new projects. • Maintain knowledge of current BESS technologies and technology developments, assessing technology risk and opportunity at both corporate and project level. • Review project designs, suitability for site specifics and make recommendations for optimisation for safe and reliable expected operational life, for development assets, pre construction assets and during implementation of design for construction assets. • Support Cubico’s development projects by contributing to major equipment specification and selection. Defining minimum requirements and specifications in tender packages, reviewing agreements and technical annexes, and participating in negotiations. • Similarly, support projects activities in defining EPC and O&M contractor obligations, requirements, and technical specifications, reviewing agreements and technical annexes and participating in negotiations. Participate in the development of EPC and O&M technical appendices. • Support Project Manager on technical matters during construction, mechanical completion, PAC and FAC, including specifying and/ or carrying out QAQC protocols, acceptance testing, site inspections, and End of Warranty inspections, and supporting the Project Manager on follow-up and resolution of identified issues and negotiate with contractors and suppliers on the outcome of such inspections. • Support the development, implementation and maintenance of best practice management processes, guidance and standards related to BESS engineering that embed lessons learned and knowledge gained for the benefit of the whole company. Support in assuring understanding of, and adherence, to such processes. • Participate or lead projects to investigate RCA of performance issues, resolve defects, equipment failures and incidents on site to minimise downtime. • Support on asset life assessments and lifecycle management strategies for utility scale BESS assets. • Attend site visits and factory acceptance tests as required. • Develop and maintain tools to support the assessment of DEVEX, CAPEX and OPEX assumptions. Skills, Knowledge and Expertise Candidate Requirements, Skills and Competencies • Bachelor’s Degree in engineering (electrical) or other relevant engineering discipline. • Experience of field engineering, preferably in the building of large power stations or PV or other utility-scale power projects. • BESS project experience. • Depth of knowledge of BESS technology and subsystems, including expert knowledge of the factors affecting BESS plant performance. • Detailed knowledge of major component suppliers. • Experience in EPC, O&M and equipment supply agreements technical specifications / annexes drafting, proposals evaluation and negotiations. • An ability to understand the technical implications of commercial objectives, identifying the right course of action for long term asset value. • Ability to collaborate and lead/participate in multi-disciplinary teams. • Problem-solver with the creativity to identify solutions and the drive to implement them. • Excellent communication skills, including building relationships with colleagues and suppliers in numerous countries and cultures and to translate complex technical problems clearly to non-technical audiences. • Ability to work with several projects at the same time. • Flexibility: openness to different and new ways of doing things; willingness to modify one’s preferred way of doing things. • Strong drive for results, setting challenging goals and exceeding them. • Strong project management skills. • Professional and diligent attitude. • Fluent English speaker. Spanish in addition is an advantage. • Willingness to travel internationally locally and internationally. Behavioural Competencies The ideal profile of an individual within the Engineering team is open and outward-looking, self motivated, with well-rounded interpersonal skills and able to work across different cultures. The candidate will be technically focused with an ability to think independently and demonstrate initiative. While technical experience as described above is required, an ability to understand the commercial drivers of the support to the teams is of much value. Engineering team members are happy working in a flat, flexible team able to support regional and central offices as required and are internationally mobile. Benefits This is a great opportunity to work with an ambitious and fast-growing global company supporting the clean energy transition across several countries in a multicultural and fun team. This role offers competitive salary subject to skills and experience, along with our comprehensive benefits package as follows: • Additional bonus incentive • Hybrid working arrangements • 25 days annual leave • Private health insurance • Time off for life’s special events Established in 2015, Cubico Sustainable Investments (Cubico), a London-headquartered firm, is one of the world’s leaders in providing renewable energy across the Americas, Europe and Australia. Owned equally by Ontario Teachers’ Pension Plan and PSP Investments, two of the world’s largest pension funds with over USD300 bn under management, Cubico is committed to a long-term growth strategy designed to make it one of the largest and best in class renewable energy investors in the world. Cubico holds a portfolio of around 9 GW, with assets across the wind, solar PV, solar thermal and transmission line technologies. Covering the whole energy chain from development and construction to operation, the company’s portfolio is located across 9 countries: Colombia, Mexico, Uruguay, the United States (USA), Greece, Italy, Spain, the United Kingdom (UK) and Australia. Cubico is driven by six core values: Diversity, Respect, Integrity, Value Creation and Excellence, which make up the final value DRIVE. These values encourage employees to take pride and satisfaction in their work, strive to achieve their goals and go the extra mile to attain outstanding results. Cubico’s employees are central to its success and, as a result, the company looks for people who believe in its purpose, will take full account of its impact and are motivated to make a positive contribution to communities and the environment and build a better future. As part of Cubico culture and values, we embrace diversity and equal opportunity. We are committed to building talented teams that represents a variety of backgrounds, perspectives, and skills. The more inclusive we are, the better our work will be. We particularly encourage applications from under-represented minority groups.