Project Development Engineer

Project Development Engineer

Ameresco, Inc. is a leading energy solutions provider dedicated to helping customers reduce costs, enhance resilience, and decarbonize to net zero in the global energy transition. We are a trusted, full-service partner to public sector and government entities, K-12 schools, higher education, utilities, and healthcare customers across the U.S., Canada, the U.K., and Europe.

Ameresco is seeking a Project Development Engineer to join our growing Renewable Energy team. This is a remote position joining a largely remote team with home office based in the Phoenix, AZ area. This position supports the development of behind-the-meter and front-of-meter solar PV, battery energy storage (BESS), microgrid, and EV charging infrastructure projects for commercial, industrial, governmental, municipal, and institutional clients across the country.

Working in close partnership with dedicated Sales Executives, this role is the technical backbone of the project development process – from early feasibility through construction handoff, construction support, and through handoff to operations. The ideal candidate brings deep renewable energy engineering knowledge, strong analytical skills, and the ability to translate complex technical concepts clearly for customers and project teams. While customer interaction is a regular part of the role, it is primarily in a technical advisory capacity: supporting site assessments, responding to technical questions, and helping Sales communicate solutions credibly and accurately.

Responsibilities:

• Partner with Sales Executives to provide technical expertise throughout the project pursuit process, from initial customer inquiry through proposal submission.
• Participate in customer site visits and meetings in a technical role, assessing project feasibility and presenting proposed solutions.
• Translate complex technical designs, system configurations, and financial models into clear, accessible language for customer-facing presentations and proposals.
• Prepare and review technical content for proposals, including system descriptions, energy production estimates, equipment specifications, and project schedules.
• Respond to customer technical questions and requests for information (RFIs) in coordination with the Sales team.
• Support Sales in understanding applicable incentive programs (ITC, IRA adders, SGIP, USDA REAP, net metering) and their impact on project economics.

• Lead technical development of solar PV, battery energy storage, microgrid, and EV charging projects from early-stage feasibility through construction handoff, support construction and project management teams through to project completion.
• Evaluate system layout and design options based on customer site information, as-built drawings, and load profiles.
• Perform energy modeling, battery dispatch modeling, and utility cost/rate analysis to size and optimize systems.
• Assess microgrid configurations including islanding capabilities, resiliency design, and grid services potential.
• Visit customer sites to investigate project feasibility, electrical infrastructure, and interconnection methods.
• Coordinate onsite engineering and investigative activities with utilities, outside engineers, surveyors, and vendors.
• Make equipment selections based on project needs, technology performance, material availability, and costs.
• Develop and maintain financial models and project pricing during the development phase.
• Generate project budgets and schedules in conjunction with the Pre-Construction team.
• Provide technical support to Pre-Construction in the preparation of requests for bids.

• Manage utility interconnection submittals (NEM, SGIP, Rule 21, or applicable tariffs) and serve as primary point of contact with the utility.
• Oversee AHJ permitting submittals and coordinate responses through approvals.
• Monitor interconnection queue status and proactively manage schedule impacts.
• Identify applicable incentive programs including ITC, IRA adders, SGIP, USDA REAP, and state/local programs, and support their incorporation into project financial models.

• Consolidate and review project deliverables and technical documents generated by outside…