Application Guide

How to Apply for Development Engineering Manager

at Leeward Renewable Energy

🏢 About Leeward Renewable Energy

Leeward Renewable Energy is a rapidly growing player in sustainable energy with 2,500 MW of operational renewables and an impressive 20 GW pipeline in development. What makes them unique is their integrated approach from development through execution, allowing for significant impact across the entire project lifecycle. Working here means contributing directly to the energy transformation while being part of a company with substantial growth trajectory and project diversity across wind, solar, and storage technologies.

About This Role

As Development Engineering Manager, you'll lead both managerial oversight and hands-on engineering for wind, solar, and energy storage projects from mid-stage development through handoff to execution teams. This role is impactful because you'll bridge development, origination, estimating, procurement, and engineering teams to ensure efficient processes while building and leading a high-performing engineering team. Your work directly supports permitting, offtake marketing, and project viability through preliminary engineering studies and layouts.

💡 A Day in the Life

Your day typically starts with team coordination on ongoing preliminary engineering studies for multiple projects, then moves to hands-on work with layout optimization tools like PlantPredict or Openwind. You'll spend significant time interfacing with development teams on project requirements and with procurement on technical specifications, while also mentoring engineers and ensuring smooth handoff documentation for projects transitioning to execution.

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🎯 Who Leeward Renewable Energy Is Looking For

  • An engineer with 8+ years in power generation/electrical systems who has spent at least 2 years managing engineering/construction teams specifically on wind, solar, or storage projects
  • Someone proficient with the exact tools mentioned: AutoCAD, PVsyst, PlantPredict, and Openwind for layout optimization and energy estimates
  • A leader who can both manage a team and perform hands-on engineering work, particularly during the critical mid-development through handoff phase
  • A candidate with Professional Engineering registration (highly desirable) who understands the regulatory and technical requirements of renewable energy projects in the Southwest

📝 Tips for Applying to Leeward Renewable Energy

1

Quantify your experience with the specific tools mentioned - include metrics about how you've used AutoCAD, PVsyst, PlantPredict, or Openwind to improve project outcomes

2

Highlight any experience with the 20 GW development pipeline mentioned in their description - show how you've contributed to scaling operations in a high-growth environment

3

Demonstrate your bridge-building skills between development, origination, and execution teams - provide examples of smoothing handoff processes

4

Emphasize your hands-on engineering capability alongside management experience - this role requires both oversight and technical contribution

5

Reference their project diversity (wind, solar, storage) and show experience across multiple technologies rather than specializing in just one

✉️ What to Emphasize in Your Cover Letter

['Your specific experience managing engineering teams through the mid-development to handoff phase for renewable projects', "How you've used the mentioned tools (AutoCAD, PVsyst, PlantPredict, Openwind) to optimize layouts and improve energy estimates", 'Examples of interfacing successfully between development, origination, and execution teams to streamline processes', 'Your approach to building and developing high-performing engineering teams in a growth environment']

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🔍 Research Before Applying

To stand out, make sure you've researched:

  • → Leeward's specific project portfolio in the Southwest - particularly any Arizona or regional projects mentioned in their recent announcements
  • → Their 20 GW development pipeline details - what technologies, regions, and timelines they're targeting
  • → Their corporate structure and how development engineering fits within their overall project lifecycle
  • → Recent news about their growth, partnerships, or technology adoption in wind, solar, or storage

💬 Prepare for These Interview Topics

Based on this role, you may be asked about:

1 Walk us through how you've used PVsyst or PlantPredict to optimize a solar project layout and improve energy estimates
2 Describe your experience managing the handoff process from development engineering to project execution teams
3 How would you approach recruiting and developing an engineering team capable of supporting 20 GW of development pipeline?
4 Tell us about a time you had to interface between development, origination, and procurement teams to resolve a conflict
5 What's your experience with preliminary engineering studies for permitting and offtake marketing support?
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⚠️ Common Mistakes to Avoid

  • Applying with only utility-scale or traditional power experience without renewable energy project examples
  • Focusing solely on management experience without demonstrating hands-on engineering capability with the mentioned tools
  • Presenting as a specialist in only one technology (wind OR solar OR storage) when the role requires all three

📅 Application Timeline

This position is open until filled. However, we recommend applying as soon as possible as roles at mission-driven organizations tend to fill quickly.

Typical hiring timeline:

1

Application Review

1-2 weeks

2

Initial Screening

Phone call or written assessment

3

Interviews

1-2 rounds, usually virtual

✓

Offer

Congratulations!

Ready to Apply?

Good luck with your application to Leeward Renewable Energy!

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