Technical & Engineering Solutions Director (Solar Power

Technical & Engineering Solutions Director (Solar Power)
Location: Riyadh, Saudi Arabia

Job Purpose:

To lead the technical and engineering department of the company, holding full accountability for the assessment, design, and integration of comprehensive solar PV systems across various sectors (Residential, Agricultural, Industrial, and Commercial). The role involves scouting, evaluating, and selecting top-tier global components (Solar Panels, Inverters, Transformers, Cabling, and Thermal/Electrical Protection Systems) to deliver highly efficient, reliable, and cost-effective solar solutions.

Key Responsibilities:

1. Technical Evaluation & Component Selection:

Evaluate and approve technical specifications for cutting-edge solar modules (e.g., N-Type, TOPCon, HJT cells) and monitor commercial conversion efficiency ceilings in the market.

Select and audit solar inverters and Variable Frequency Drives (VFDs) for agricultural water pumping, ensuring maximum MPPT algorithm efficiency under harsh local weather conditions.

Design and implement innovative thermal insulation and cooling enclosures to protect sensitive inverters and battery banks from extreme summer temperatures.

Specify DC/AC cabling parameters, conducting precise voltage drop and power loss calculations to optimize overall plant yield (Performance\text{ }Ratio).

2. System Engineering & PV Design:

Oversee the preparation of detailed electrical and mechanical blueprints for projects ranging from residential rooftops to large-scale industrial and agricultural plants (capacities exceeding 400 kW).

Utilize advanced simulation software to conduct yield assessments, string configuration, shading analysis, and temperature degradation modeling.

Design robust structural mounting systems and galvanized steel foundations capable of withstanding high wind loads and dust accumulation in open or desert environments.

3. Procurement & Vendor Management:

Review, analyze, and technically audit commercial bids submitted by international (Tier 1/Tier 2) and local manufacturers.

Draft precise Technical Specifications and Requests for Proposals (RFPs) for procurement and contract deployment.

Conduct techno-economic feasibility studies, calculating Levelized Cost of Energy (LCOE) and Return on Investment (ROI) to present compelling business cases to industrial, commercial, and agricultural investors.

Educational Requirements:

Core Requirement: Bachelor’s Degree in Renewable Energy Engineering or Electrical Engineering (Power & Energy Systems).

Preferred Qualifications:

Master’s Degree in Sustainable Energy Engineering or Engineering Project Management.

Project Management Professional (PMP) certification.

Globally recognized professional solar certifications (e.g., NABCEP PV Installation Professional or equivalent local regulatory authority certification).

Professional Experience & Skills:

Experience: A minimum of 7 to 10 years of progressive experience in solar PV system design and deployment, with at least 3 years in a leadership or managerial role overseeing large-scale commercial, industrial, or agricultural solar projects.

Technical Competencies:

Deep knowledge of the global solar supply chain, pricing dynamics, and market-leading brands in the tier-one module and inverter categories.

Proven hands-on experience designing off-grid direct solar pumping systems (Solar VFDs) and handling heavy inductive loads (e.g., 200 HP water pumps and above).

Advanced proficiency in industry-standard design and simulation software such as PVSYST, HelioScope, or AutoCAD.

Soft & Leadership Skills:

Strong commercial negotiation skills to audit technical contracts and optimize Balance of System (BOS) costs without compromising quality.

Analytical problem-solving mindset capable of troubleshooting unexpected site issues (e.g., grid-coupling issues or thermal clipping).

Ability to lead, mentor, and align a multidisciplinary team of design engineers and field technicians.