Senior Director, Operations Engineering

Manufacturing & Operationsposted 11mo ago

Aypa Power, a Blackstone portfolio company, is a leading developer, owner, and operator of utility-scale energy storage and hybrid renewable projects that power our communities and cities. Our mission is to responsibly decarbonize the grid and make North American energy markets more affordable, sustainable, and efficient. Aypa is well-capitalized and uniquely positioned to lean forward on projects with well-suited deal structures to meet our customers’ needs. We have been at the forefront of energy storage development since our first energy storage project came online in 2018. As a leader in our industry, we have over 22 GW of utility-scale energy storage and hybrid renewable energy projects in development and 33 projects in operation or construction across North America.

The Senior Director - Operations Engineering position is a strategic leadership role responsible for overseeing engineering operations across utility-scale renewable energy projects such as battery energy storage systems (BESS) and solar. The Senior Director will possess deep technical knowledge, strong leadership capabilities, and a passion for driving the energy transition, enabling them to lead the technical operations, optimization, and performance management of Aypa’s energy assets, with a strong focus on Battery Energy Storage Systems (BESS). This position ensures technical excellence, operational efficiency, and alignment with organizational goals, reporting directly to EVP, Asset Management.

Responsibilities:

Lead the Operations Engineering team supporting utility-scale BESS and solar assets across their lifecycle – from commissioning to decommissioning;
Develop and implement operational strategies to maximize energy production, asset availability, and safety;
Collaborate with senior leadership on long-term operational planning, budgeting, and technology roadmap development;
Lead root cause analysis (RCA) and continuous improvement initiatives to enhance system reliability and reduce downtime;
Oversee Operation Technology (OT) engineering team for SCADA and network design, configuration, management and commissioning on multiple projects;
Oversee performance analysis of BESS and renewable energy systems using SCADA, EMS, and data analytics platforms;
Provide technical oversight for troubleshooting complex system issues, including inverter performance, substation operations, battery degradation, and thermal management;
Guide engineering teams in evaluating asset performance KPIs and implementing predictive maintenance protocols;
Ensure safe and compliant operations in accordance with regulatory, OEM, and environmental standards;
Assist in conducting regular internal compliance audits and risk assessments, ensuring adherence to all NERC Standards and CIP requirements and other applicable regulations;
Support the transition of new projects from EPC to operations, ensuring operability, documentation, and training readiness;
Interface with project development, design, and EPC teams to ensure operational requirements are considered in design phases;
Other duties as required or assigned.

Key Qualifications:

10+ years of experience in Operations Engineering of utility-scale renewable energy projects;
Bachelor’s Degree – Mechanical or Electrical Engineering, Master’s Degree a plus
Strong leadership and team management skills;
Hands-on experience with SCADA, EMS, substation/transmission systems, and regulatory compliance;
Experience transitioning projects from EPC to operations;
Ability to lead root cause analysis (RCA) and implement continuous improvement initiatives;
Strong cross-functional collaboration skills.

Compensation and Location:

Salary: A base salary commensurate with experience;
Bonus: An annual bonus will be awarded based on individual performance and the overall success of the business;
Benefits: Aypa offers an attractive benefits package with excellent health care/dental/vision, 401k matching, unlimited vacation, paid parental leave, and other health/wellness benefits;
Location: Remote (USA). The ability to work in the United States is a requirement;
Travel: 20%

At Aypa, we nurture and support a highly diverse team and actively seek to advance fair and inclusive practices in all aspects of what we do. We hire passionate, dedicated, and forward-thinking individuals from different backgrounds and value unique perspectives and experiences. With a focus on belonging, we are committed to providing an inclusive environment for all.

Please note: We kindly request that recruiting companies and agencies refrain from contacting us regarding this job posting. We appreciate your understanding and cooperation in respecting our hiring process. Thank you.