Grid Connection Engineer

Department: Development

Employment Type: Full Time

Location: Sydney

Description

The Grid Connection Engineer is a key member of the technical team that works collaboratively with, and provides grid and electrical engineering support, to Cubico's project development, origination and execution, and asset management teams to deliver on the assessment, development, acquisition and transition to execution (Financial Close), of renewable energy projects in Australia aligned with the business plan. This will include renewable energy projects ranging from onshore wind, solar, solar storage, BESS and other medium to long term storage technologies.

The candidate should have experience in the Australian renewable energy or transmission/distribution sector and an understanding of the NEM across wind, solar and BESS technologies. The role will require a high degree of flexibility, autonomy, and the ability to manage multiple different workstreams across multiple projects concurrently.

The role will involve engaging with internal and external stakeholders, consultants, network service providers, AEMO and equipment suppliers. The role will involve engagement with industry bodies (such as AEMC, CEC, State governments) to remain up to date on areas such as policy, NER consultations and changes, and REZ development, and to provide communication to the impacted Cubico teams.

The successful candidate will be based in Sydney or Melbourne, Australia, and at times will be required to travel to meet project requirements. The candidate must be a team player and adopt an open, constructive, and collaborative approach to the role.

Key Responsibilities

• As part of the project feasibility and development phases, progress projects through the generator connection application process from connection enquiry to generator registration of renewable energy projects (onshore wind, solar, BESS).
• As part of the project execution phase, progress projects through the generator registration and commissioning processes.
• As part of the project operational phase, assist the asset management team in ensuring that the assets maintain compliance with the GPS, Connection Agreement and NEM obligations while optimising generation performance.
• Provide electrical engineering support to the Origination and Execution team, including assisting in due diligence reviews of project acquisition opportunities, supporting debt and equity financing for major projects, fatal flaws assessment, engineering input into bid documentation, and engaging supporting resources as needed to support commercial decisions.
• Provide engineering support and input into business decision gate documents and submissions.
• Support the technical aspects of any negotiations with OEM and EPC contractors in order to achieve timely financial close.
• Keep the teams updated as to key schedule, technical and cost risks associated with engineering any of the above engineering activities.
• Engage with the communication and consultation processes of industry bodies (such as AEMO, AEMC, CEC, State governments) to remain up to date on areas such as policy, NER consultations and changes, and REZ development; and disseminate information as appropriate to the relevant Cubico teams.
• Involvement in lessons learnt processes to ensure that feasibility and development projects can benefit from learnings gained on construction and operational projects.
• Work collaboratively with contractors, suppliers, internal group resources and external consultants to deliver items required for the above tasks.
• Provide engineering support to initiatives aimed at reducing the levelized cost of energy for projects.

• Australia Country Head.
• Australia Technical Team Lead / Grid Connection Manager.
• Australia Development Team.
• Australia Origination and Execution Team.
• Australia analyst team.
• Global Technical Team members.
• Other functional departments including Legal, Finance, and project delivery teams.

• You hold an Electrical Engineering Degree, or other relevant degree in a similar discipline, with proven experience in the renewable energy industry and/or transmission and distribution sectors in Australia.
• Some experience in power engineering and understanding of steady state and dynamic power system analysis processes (using platforms including PSCAD, PSS/e and Powerfactory).
• Experience across the feasibility and development phases of renewable energy projects.
• Experience in the technical design and specification development of wind / solar / battery projects, and transmission and distribution assets, is desirable.
• Understanding of the Network Connection process in the NEM, from Connection Enquiry to Registration.
• Experienced in undertaking due diligence reviews of renewable energy projects.
• Understanding of project risk assessment and management frameworks.
• You are reliable, organised, team focused, rigorous and analytical, with a capacity to work under pressure.
• Your English is fluent (written and spoken).