Leap29 · 8 hours ago
Director of Development and Project Engineering - Renewables
Santa Clara, CA
Full-time
Onsite
Director/Executive
8+ years expLeap29 is seeking an experienced Director of Development & Project Engineering to lead the development and technical execution of a growing portfolio of solar PV and battery energy storage projects. The role involves overseeing project development from early-stage origination through construction handoff, ensuring technical diligence, permitting, and system design while coordinating with various internal and external teams.
EmploymentRecruitingStaffing Agency
Hiring Manager
Simon Howard
Responsibilities
Lead the development of solar PV, BESS, and hybrid solar-plus-storage projects from site control through NTP
Define and manage project development plans, schedules, budgets, and risk mitigation strategies
Oversee land agreements, entitlement strategy, environmental review, and local permitting processes
Serve as a senior point of contact with utilities, regulators, municipalities, and community stakeholders
Direct preliminary and detailed engineering efforts, including system design, equipment selection, and layout optimization
Oversee interconnection applications, studies, and negotiations with utilities and independent system operators
Ensure technical designs align with market rules, utility requirements, constructability, and long-term operability
Review and approve engineering deliverables, technical reports, and EPC scopes of work
Partner closely with construction, procurement, and operations teams to ensure smooth project handoff and execution
Support finance and commercial teams with technical inputs for project valuation, cost estimates, and diligence
Manage external engineering firms, consultants, and EPC partners to ensure quality, schedule adherence, and cost control
Build, mentor, and lead development and engineering team members as the portfolio scales
Establish and improve development and engineering standards, workflows, and best practices
Identify opportunities to standardize designs and reduce cost and execution risk across the portfolio
Qualification
Required
Bachelor's degree in Engineering (Electrical preferred), Renewable Energy, or a related technical field
8+ years of experience in renewable energy project development and/or project engineering
Proven track record delivering solar PV and energy storage projects through late-stage development
Strong understanding of interconnection processes, utility requirements, and distributed generation markets
Experience managing permitting and entitlement processes at the local and state level
Ability to lead multidisciplinary teams and manage multiple projects simultaneously
Excellent communication skills with both technical and non-technical stakeholders
Preferred
Experience with community solar, microgrids, or resilience-focused energy projects
Familiarity with California or other complex distributed generation markets
Experience supporting project financing, lender technical due diligence, or EPC contracting
Advanced degree or professional engineering licensure
Benefits
Competitive compensation and leadership-level benefits.
The opportunity to shape and scale a portfolio of impactful solar and storage projects.
A collaborative, mission-driven culture focused on local clean energy, resilience, and community value.
Meaningful ownership and influence over project outcomes from concept to operation.
Company
Leap29
Leap29 is a recruitment agency that provides PEO, reliable recruitment and employment management support.
51-200 employees
Funding
Current Stage
Growth StageCompany data provided by crunchbase