Engineer in Training
Job Description: Junior-level position
Employment: Full-time, permanent
Start Date: May 30, 2022
Location: Halifax, NS
Natural Forces Solar is a turnkey engineering, procurement & construction company specializing in the deployment of renewable energy systems. We are based in Halifax, NS and work on projects across Atlantic Canada. We are seeking to add an Engineer in Training to our growing team. The ideal candidate will have a passion for renewable energy and will support our growing business by working with our team to design new renewable energy systems, provide technical support during installations, and support ongoing operations & maintenance activities. The position will involve any of the following:
Solar site assessments
· Determination of potential solar energy system sizing for both facility-mounted & ground-mounted solar systems by way of remote and on-site assessments
· Modelling of solar energy production using software suites such as PVSyst and Helioscope
· Meeting with stakeholders to discuss different renewable energy system options that fulfill their requirements
· Operating an unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) or drone to gather current site information
· Working alongside third-party contractors to gather detailed structural, civil, geotechnical & electrical information for proposed project sites
Energy storage system assessments
· Modelling of energy storage systems using software suites such as PVSyst, ESyst, ESVT, etc.
· Analysis of project requirements and recommendation of appropriate energy storage technology & optimal energy storage system sizing
System design
· Determination of most appropriate project components for project optimization (ie: modules, inverters, racking, balance of supplies, etc.) based on project requirements, restrictions & client preferences
· Preparation of preliminary solar energy system civil, electrical & mechanical designs, including foundation/mounting plans, racking & module layouts, and single line diagrams
· Preparation of grid interconnection applications and municipal building & development permit applications
· Working with third-party consultants to review preliminary designs & produce final issued-for-construction drawings
· Calculating voltage drops & determining preliminary wires sizes to prepare cable schedules
Permitting & approvals
· Identify and understand existing regulations and zoning policies in various jurisdictions
· Manage the preparation, submission, and processing of permit applications
Proposal preparation
· Compiling production forecasts, system design details and financial metrics to produce professional proposals on behalf of the company for clients, stakeholders, funding partners, etc.
· Calculating environmental benefits of projects (CO2/GHG reductions, equivalencies, etc.)
System commissioning
· Assisting with on-site and remote commissioning of inverters and data managers including configuring high level network parameters through third party interfaces such as SMA SunnyPortal, Fronius Solar Web, and other monitoring systems.
· Completing system quality evaluations throughout construction and as a part of project closeout.
· Preparation of project closeout packages including updated as-built design drawings, modelling reports, shop drawings, and other project documentation.
Operations & maintenance
· Reviewing system monitoring feeds and responding to alerts to ensure nominal system operation.
· Preparation of quarterly performance reports for clients using data compiled from various monitoring systems and modelling programs.
· Providing recommendations for continuous improvement of internal modelling and design processes based on results of O&M program.
· Working with clients, project managers, contractors to coordinate project remediation, warranty claims, or other scopes of work included in the O&M program
Other duties:
· Assisting the design team by staying up to date on new renewable energy products and technologies that are entering the market and helping to determine if they are appropriate for upcoming projects
· Assisting the construction team with procurement logistics, subcontractor management, & client updates
Requirements/asset for the position
· Requirements:
o University degree or college diploma in science, engineering, technology, construction management, or other relevant fields
o Strong communication skills
o Ability to continuously learn & understand new technologies
o Highly organized
o Attention to detail
o Autonomous work with minimal supervision
o Able to travel regularly within Atlantic Canada, as required
· Assets:
o Proficiency with technical & renewable energy specific software (CAD, PVSyst, PVWatts, Helioscope, Aurora, ESyst, ESVT, etc.)
o Previous experience working in the renewable energy and/or conventional power generation sectors
o Previous experience with interpreting and/or preparing mechanical & electrical drawings
o Previous experience working with First Nations
Remuneration
· Annual salary to be based on candidate’s previous experience & qualifications
· Annual bonus to be based on candidate’s performance
· Group benefits including health, dental, AD&D & life insurance as well as RRSP matching available after three-month probationary period
· Twenty-four paid vacation days
· Internal & external professional development opportunities
Job Types: Full-time, Permanent
Salary: $45,000.00-$55,000.00 per year
Additional pay:
Benefits:
- Casual dress
- Dental care
- Disability insurance
- Extended health care
- Flexible schedule
- Life insurance
- On-site parking
- Paid time off
- RRSP match
- Vision care
- Work from home
Schedule:
Education:
- Bachelor's Degree (preferred)
Willingness to travel:
Application deadline: 2022-05-13
Expected start date: 2022-05-30