Application Guide

How to Apply for Manager, Design & Engineering

at Haven Energy

🏢 About Haven Energy

Haven Energy is uniquely positioned at the intersection of climate technology and grid resilience, specifically accelerating the deployment of residential solar and storage systems. Unlike generic solar companies, they focus on creating a stable, climate-resilient electric grid through scalable solutions. Candidates are drawn to their mission-driven approach and remote-first culture that values technical excellence in renewable energy infrastructure.

About This Role

This Manager, Design & Engineering role owns the entire residential solar + storage design lifecycle from site survey validation to construction-ready designs, serving as the final design authority. It's impactful because you'll balance technical integrity with installability while managing vendor performance and evolving engineering standards to support Haven's rapid scaling across regions. You'll directly influence project quality, cost efficiency, and the company's ability to meet deployment targets.

💡 A Day in the Life

A typical day involves reviewing design quality audits, analyzing performance metrics like cycle times and redesign rates, and providing structured feedback to third-party design vendors. You might partner with Field Quality Engineering to address design-field discrepancies, update Haven's design standards based on installer feedback, and balance throughput demands across different regional programs while maintaining technical integrity.

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Interview Prep

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🎯 Who Haven Energy Is Looking For

  • Has 7+ years specifically in residential solar/storage with hands-on experience in system design, quality management, and vendor management at scale
  • Proficient with design tools like Aurora, Scanifly, or CAD platforms and deeply understands NEC, utility requirements, and interconnection considerations
  • Demonstrates experience managing third-party design vendors with proven ability to optimize SLAs for turnaround time, quality, and rework rates
  • Can balance technical precision with practical installability while evolving design standards through collaboration with installers and utilities

📝 Tips for Applying to Haven Energy

1

Quantify your experience managing design vendors—include specific metrics you improved (e.g., 'reduced redesign rates by X%' or 'improved SLA compliance by Y%')

2

Highlight specific residential solar/storage projects where you balanced NEC compliance, utility requirements, and installability constraints

3

Mention your proficiency with Haven's mentioned tools (Aurora, Scanifly, Company Cam, CAD) and how you've used them in design lifecycle management

4

Demonstrate understanding of the 'design-to-field' feedback loop by describing how you've partnered with field teams to improve design assumptions

5

Tailor your resume to show both technical design expertise AND vendor management experience—Haven needs someone who can do both at scale

✉️ What to Emphasize in Your Cover Letter

['Your experience owning end-to-end design lifecycles for residential solar+storage projects and serving as final design authority', 'Specific examples of managing third-party design vendors and improving SLAs for turnaround time, quality, and rework rates', "How you've balanced technical standards (NEC, utility requirements) with practical installability and cost considerations", 'Your approach to evolving design standards through collaboration with installers, utilities, and field quality teams']

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🔍 Research Before Applying

To stand out, make sure you've researched:

  • → Haven Energy's specific programs and regions they operate in—understand their scaling challenges
  • → Recent utility interconnection requirements and NEC updates affecting residential solar+storage design
  • → The competitive landscape for residential solar design vendors and common industry SLAs
  • → Haven's public mission statements about grid resilience and climate technology to align your responses

💬 Prepare for These Interview Topics

Based on this role, you may be asked about:

1 Walk through your process for quality auditing site surveys and designs against NEC, utility, and internal standards
2 Describe a time you had to optimize vendor performance—what metrics did you track and what corrective actions did you implement?
3 How do you balance throughput, quality, and cost when scaling design operations across multiple regions or programs?
4 Discuss your experience closing the loop between design assumptions and field realities with Field Quality Engineering teams
5 How would you evolve Haven's design standards based on installer feedback and changing utility requirements?
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⚠️ Common Mistakes to Avoid

  • Focusing only on commercial solar experience without emphasizing residential solar/storage design specifically
  • Vague descriptions of vendor management—failing to provide specific metrics, SLAs, or scale examples
  • Overemphasizing pure engineering without demonstrating understanding of installability and field execution constraints

📅 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 Haven Energy!

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