Senior Director, Operations Engineering

The Senior Director - Operations Engineering position is a strategic leadership role responsible for overseeing engineering operations across utility-scale renewable energy projects such as battery energy storage systems (BESS) and solar. The Senior Director will possess deep technical knowledge, strong leadership capabilities, and a passion for driving the energy transition, enabling them to lead the technical operations, optimization, and performance management of Aypa’s energy assets, with a strong focus on Battery Energy Storage Systems (BESS). This position ensures technical excellence, operational efficiency, and alignment with organizational goals, reporting directly to EVP, Asset Management.

Responsibilities:

Lead the Operations Engineering team supporting utility-scale BESS and solar assets across their lifecycle – from commissioning to decommissioning;

Develop and implement operational strategies to maximize energy production, asset availability, and safety;

Collaborate with senior leadership on long-term operational planning, budgeting, and technology roadmap development;

Lead root cause analysis (RCA) and continuous improvement initiatives to enhance system reliability and reduce downtime;

Oversee Operation Technology (OT) engineering team for SCADA and network design, configuration, management and commissioning on multiple projects;

Oversee performance analysis of BESS and renewable energy systems using SCADA, EMS, and data analytics platforms;

Provide technical oversight for troubleshooting complex system issues, including inverter performance, substation operations, battery degradation, and thermal management;

Guide engineering teams in evaluating asset performance KPIs and implementing predictive maintenance protocols;

Ensure safe and compliant operations in accordance with regulatory, OEM, and environmental standards;

Assist in conducting regular internal compliance audits and risk assessments, ensuring adherence to all NERC Standards and CIP requirements and other applicable regulations;

Support the transition of new projects from EPC to operations, ensuring operability, documentation, and training readiness;

Interface with project development, design, and EPC teams to ensure operational requirements are considered in design phases;

Other duties as required or assigned.

Key Qualifications:

10+ years of experience in Operations Engineering of utility-scale renewable energy projects;

Bachelor’s Degree – Mechanical or Electrical Engineering, Master’s Degree a plus

Strong leadership and team management skills;

Hands-on experience with SCADA, EMS, substation/transmission systems, and regulatory compliance;

Experience transitioning projects from EPC to operations;

Ability to lead root cause analysis (RCA) and implement continuous improvement initiatives;

Strong cross-functional collaboration skills.

Compensation and Location:

Salary: A base salary commensurate with experience;

Bonus: An annual bonus will be awarded based on individual performance and the overall success of the business;

Benefits: Aypa offers an attractive benefits package with excellent health care/dental/vision, 401k matching, unlimited vacation, paid parental leave, and other health/wellness benefits;

Location: Remote (USA). The ability to work in the United States is a requirement;

Travel: 20%