Commissioning Engineer - Solar O&M

Role & responsibilities

The key responsibilities will include the following:

Commissioning of a utility solar power plant is both complex and critical to the successful completion of the project. The overall purpose of this role is to plan, coordinate, and manage the whole process, ensuring that all tasks are completed on time (i.e. planning, switching, permitting, document control, safety compliance, quality, schedule and integration control).

Detailed Work Responsibility:

• Develop site specic commissioning plan.
• Determine resource (persons and equipment) levels to attain schedule milestones and ensure conformance with the commissioning plan.
• Manage and coordinate the commissioning team.
• Develop strong working relationships with various stakeholders, including Eskom Grid Access Unit, the Dx and Tx System Operators, RETEC, GCAC, OEMs, EPC and O&M Contractors, external consultants, and lowners advisers.
• Apply understanding of relevant codes, local and international standards, and design requirements.
• Manage internal engineering team and external resources to ensure delivery of key priorities. ● Monitor the progress of commissioning tasks and address any issues that may arise.
• Verify that the system is operating at optimal efficiency.
• Ensure the commissioning is completed on time and within budget (compile and manage commissioning budget).
• Ensure that all commissioning, testing and handover deliverables are met, as per the applicable contracts/agreements - taking over certificates, as built drawings, manufacturer manuals and instructions, punch lists, test procedures, risk assessment and method statements, permits, LOTO and end of commissioning reports.
• Lead commissioning activities (pre, standalone and integrated) - plans, procedures, checklists and quality control records.
• Prepare, review and approve full end to end commissioning schedule, plans, procedures and inspections for Grid-connected Solar PV plants, in accordance with project drawings, speciation's, schedules, procedures, quality & safety requirements, legislation, standards, OEM recommendations and industry best practice.
• Prepare, perform, prove, witness and accept standalone and integrated power plant functional, performance and compliance tests.
• Oversee O&M training and handover and managing defects liability period issues.
• General technical and engineering work, including regulatory reviews, project planning, grid connection costing, technical design, tender speciation's and review, design reviews, and other aspects of renewable energy project developments.
• Taking over of the systems or subsystems and managing the handing/taking over process between the construction team, commissioning team and O&M team.
• Manage the documentation for electrical commissioning such as taking over certicates, as built drawings, manufacturer manuals and instructions, punch lists, test procedures, risk assessment & method statements, permits, LOTO and end of commissioning reports.

Preferred candidate profile

• B.Eng in Electrical (or Electrical & Electronic) Engineering.
• Work experience in renewable energy, preferably solar PV).
• Renewable energy project commissioning experience, preferable utility scale (Eskom and RETEC)
• Independent and critical thinkers with strong analytical and problem solving ability, and commercial awareness.

Willingness to work onsite for extended periods of time (4-5 months, as example, with R&R as applicable).

The ideal candidate will be passionate about the renewable energy industry and will embody respect and responsibility in the full sense of the word, while enjoying contributing to a team of highly knowledgeable professionals.

Expected:

Technical Qualification & Skill:

• A bachelors degree in mechanical, Electrical, or similar Engineering degree is required as a minimum.
• Ability to work around energized equipment under proper lock-out, tag-out, and other safety procedures (if required when deputed to site for audit).
• Position is based at Site, however candidate should be ready to move/travel in PAN India O&M/Project sites if requirement arises.