Solar PV Engineer

The Company Solarcentury Africa is a market leader in the development of solar PV and energy storage projects with more than a decade of experience across multiple African countries. Headquartered in the UK, Solarcentury Africa has developed and delivered projects in Namibia, South Africa, Botswana, Zambia, Malawi, Mozambique, Kenya, Nigeria, Ghana, DRC and Eritrea among others. Solarcentury Africa is a vertically integrated developer using cutting edge design, smart technologies, and robust controls to generate clean and economical power for businesses, communities, and investors.

In March 2021, BB Energy acquired Solarcentury’s business in Africa in line with its energy transition. The association between Solarcentury Africa and BB Energy creates valuable synergies with broader capabilities to offer, as well as strong financial backing, ensuring the right solutions for Clients’ specific needs. Solarcentury Africa’s portfolio includes the first 3 merchant PV plants in Southern Africa, which were built in record time for the region and are now trading electricity on the Southern African Power Pool (SAPP). Our pipeline is nearing 700MW of solar PV and BESS projects under development and construction with a combination of grid-connected and island hybrid solar PV + BESS systems.

Our commitment to inclusion: We are committed to fostering an inclusive environment where different experiences and viewpoints strengthen our decision-making and innovation. Solarcentury Africa is committed to building a diverse and inclusive workforce. We believe that a broad range of perspectives strengthens our work and leads to better outcomes for the communities we serve. If you are excited by this role but your experience doesn’t align perfectly with every requirement, we encourage you to apply. We value potential, learning ability and commitment just as much as specific technical experience.

The role: The Engineer will play an important role within Solarcentury Africa’s Engineering team, based in either the UK (London) or Southern Africa (Namibia/Zambia/South Africa). You will collaborate with colleagues across development, engineering, procurement, project management and commercial functions to help deliver high-quality solar PV and battery energy storage (BESS) projects across Africa. This role offers the opportunity to contribute to meaningful renewable energy projects that directly support energy access and sustainability across the continent. Our team values knowledge-sharing, diverse perspectives and continuous professional growth. We welcome applicants whose backgrounds reflect the communities we work with.

Your responsibilities will span the full project lifecycle: from feasibility assessments and early-stage design support, to detailed design review, construction supervision support and performance analysis. You will prepare and review technical and non-technical documentation, collaborate with contractors and suppliers, and support internal teams throughout project development and delivery.

Job Responsibilities:

• Support feasibility assessments for new sites and contribute to early-stage PV plant designs and energy yield assessments.
• Provide technical input to proposals and business development activities, helping shape strong, client-focused solutions.
• Draft, review and issue technical design specifications, including electrical design elements such as SLDs and network architecture.
• Participate in site visits and assessments, including quality checks, audits and commissioning activities, with support from senior engineers.
• Assist in preparing tender documentation, including preliminary SLDs, layouts, Scopes of Work, Employer Requirements and technical specifications.
• Review and coordinate incoming designs, drawings and documentation from contractors and technical partners.
• Liaise with internal teams and external stakeholders during project development and delivery, helping ensure smooth information flow.
• Provide technical support to Development Managers, Project Management and Commercial teams throughout the project lifecycle.
• Review proposals and deliverables from external consultants, including geotechnical, topographical and grid integration studies.
• Support equipment procurement by reviewing supplier offers and assisting the Procurement team with liaison, component selection and logistics.
• Contribute to a positive team culture by sharing knowledge, supporting colleagues and suggesting continuous improvement opportunities.

Qualifications and experience:

• A Bachelor’s degree in a STEM field or an equivalent combination of relevant training and practical engineering experience.
• A minimum of 3 years’ experience in the solar PV and/or BESS sector.
• Experience from design, pre-construction, construction or operational/asset management environments is welcome.
• Confidence reviewing technical drawings and engineering documentation, with willingness to build deeper expertise.
• Understanding of hybrid energy systems (solar PV, BESS, thermal generation) and interest in expanding modelling skills.
• High-level awareness of how PV plants integrate into grid-connected and off-grid systems.

Essential skills:

• Experience using technical engineering software (e.g., AutoCAD) and confidence working with data (e.g., MS Excel).
• Strong proficiency with MS Office productivity tools.
• Ability to work with Python, or willingness to learn with support.
• Familiarity with PVsyst and PVcase (or equivalent tools) for solar PV design.
• Awareness of British and international standards for solar PV design and operations; enthusiasm to deepen this knowledge.
• Strong interpersonal and collaborative skills; you enjoy working with teams and sharing solutions.
• Self‑motivated, curious and proactive in your own learning and professional development.
• Clear communication skills, written and verbal.
• Interest in the renewable energy sector, especially solar PV and battery storage.
• Comfortable following (and helping to improve) engineering processes and organisational protocols.
• Valid driving licence and ability to travel to Southern Africa.

We encourage applicants who meet most of these requirements & skills to apply, even if you do not meet every single point.

Desirable skills:

• Experience working in African energy markets – whether through education, projects, or lived experience – is considered a valuable asset.
• Experience with Power BI or Power Automate.
• Experience reviewing PV plant performance data.
• BESS modelling experience.
• Ability to speak additional languages.