How to apply for Operational Performance Engineering Lead

About Origis Energy

Origis Energy is accelerating the transition to carbon-free energy through innovative renewable and decarbonization solutions, positioning itself at the forefront of the clean energy revolution. What makes Origis unique is its dual focus on both developing its own assets and managing third-party assets, offering a comprehensive view of the renewable energy landscape. Working here means contributing directly to scalable climate solutions while being part of a company that values technical excellence in operational performance.

About the role

As the Operational Performance Engineering Lead, you'll have direct oversight of all performance engineering activities for both Origis-owned and third-party solar assets, making this a strategically critical position. You'll develop and implement technical processes for fleet performance while owning daily/weekly/monthly reporting and Expected Energy definitions. This role is impactful because you'll create the feedback loop that influences equipment selection across design, engineering, and finance teams, directly affecting the company's bottom line and renewable energy output.

A typical day

Your typical day might start with reviewing performance dashboards for Origis's solar fleet, identifying underperforming assets that need investigation. You'd spend time analyzing data in PVsyst to diagnose issues, then collaborate with field operations teams to implement solutions. Throughout the day, you'd work on developing performance reports, mentoring your technical team, and meeting with design and finance colleagues to provide operational insights that influence future equipment selections.

Who Origis Energy is looking for

• An electrical engineer or mathematical scientist with 5+ years specifically in performance engineering/analytics for utility-scale solar (20MW+ plants), not just general energy experience
• Someone who has successfully built and managed a technical team in the renewable energy sector, not just individual contributor experience
• An expert in industry-standard PV modeling software like PVsyst or PlantPredict, with demonstrable experience applying these tools to optimize plant performance
• A strategic thinker who can translate operational data into actionable insights for design, engineering, and finance teams, creating cross-functional impact

Tips for this application

• Quantify your experience with 20MW+ PV plants specifically - mention the total capacity you've worked with and performance improvements achieved
• Highlight any experience managing both owned and third-party assets, as this is explicitly mentioned in the job description
• Demonstrate your PV modeling software expertise by mentioning specific projects where you used PVsyst or PlantPredict to solve performance issues
• Show how you've created feedback loops between operations and other departments (design/engineering/finance) in previous roles
• Tailor your resume to show progression in technical leadership, not just technical skills - emphasize team building and management experience

What to cover in your cover letter

["Your specific experience with 20MW+ PV plant performance engineering and how it prepares you for Origis's scale of operations", "Examples of how you've developed and implemented technical processes for operational fleet performance in previous roles", 'Your approach to building and managing technical teams in the energy sector, with concrete results achieved', "How you've used operational data to influence equipment selection or design decisions in past positions"]

Research before applying

• Origis Energy's current project portfolio and asset mix - understand what types of solar assets they own versus manage for third parties
• The company's recent announcements about decarbonization solutions beyond traditional solar to understand their strategic direction
• Industry challenges specific to large-scale PV performance that Origis might be facing (curtailment, degradation, inverter issues, etc.)
• Origis's leadership team and their backgrounds in renewable energy operations and engineering

Likely interview topics

Based on the job description, expect questions about:

• Walk us through how you would establish the daily/weekly/monthly performance reporting framework for a mixed portfolio of owned and third-party assets
• Describe a time you used PVsyst or PlantPredict to identify and resolve a significant performance issue at a 20MW+ solar plant
• How would you create and manage the feedback loop between operations and design/engineering/finance teams at Origis?
• What strategies have you used to build and develop a high-performing technical team in the renewable energy space?
• How do you define and calculate Expected Energy for solar assets, and how would you handle deviations from expected performance?

Common mistakes to avoid

• Applying with only small-scale residential solar experience when the role explicitly requires 20MW+ plant experience
• Focusing only on technical skills without demonstrating team leadership and management capabilities
• Using generic energy industry experience without specifically addressing solar PV performance engineering