Director: Solar Engineering

About Mulilo

Since its establishment in 2008, Mulilo has grown into one of South Africa’s leading Independent Power Producers (IPP). Mulilo is majority owned by Copenhagen Infrastructure Partners (CIP), with Norfund holding an additional investment through the Norwegian Climate Investment Fund.

Mulilo develops, constructs and operates utility scale wind, solar PV and battery energy storage projects across South Africa. The company currently operates 450 MW of wind and solar capacity, with a further 765 MW under construction. A portfolio exceeding 2 GW is advancing toward financial close, while the long-term development pipeline exceeds 30 GW.

Mulilo has concluded power purchase agreements under the South African government’s Renewable Energy Independent Power Producer Procurement Programme (REIPPPP), as well as private offtake agreements with several large corporate energy users.

Mulilo places significant emphasis on its people and recognises that successful infrastructure delivery depends on capable and committed teams. The company prides itself on providing a world-class working environment, with a clear focus on career progression and personal growth. Grounded in its values, Mulilo fosters a culture of accountability, collaboration and purpose, while remaining committed to its environmental, social and governance responsibilities.

About this role

Mulilo is seeking an experienced Director: Solar Engineering to join our growing Engineering team. In this role, you will lead the technical development, optimisation, and engineering design of Solar PV energy projects, providing hands-on support through all phases including development, design, construction, commissioning, and project closeout. A key aspect of the role also includes delivering technical expertise for Mulilo’s operational portfolio and occasional site-based activities.

This position offers the opportunity to leverage your experience in building and guiding high-performing engineering teams and managing the full lifecycle of Solar PV projects, with a focus on project implementation. As part of the EPC department, Mulilo's Engineering team supports all facets of the company’s business divisions, with collaboration across multidisciplinary teams as a cornerstone of our culture.

Reporting to the Head of Engineering, the Director: Solar Engineering will work closely with the Directors of Wind and BESS Engineering to deliver innovative, industry-leading projects across multiple renewable energy technologies. This is a unique opportunity to drive impactful work within a dynamic and rapidly expanding organization.

Duties and responsibilities

Team Leadership and Development

• Manage and oversee the Solar Engineering team within the broader Engineering department.
• Foster a culture of collaboration, professional development, and technical excellence, ensuring alignment with the company’s strategic goals and the implementation of best practices concerning the Engineering discipline.
• Define performance contracts for team members, monitor performance regularly, and implement interventions to address performance challenges while building a high-performance team.
• Identify and develop necessary skills within the engineering team to meet project demands, agreeing on and implementing personal development plans.
• Contribute to the development of pragmatic and implementable workflows and processes within the Engineering team with the specific objective of improving the team’s operational efficiency.
• Create a work environment that promotes productivity, individual creativity, and job satisfaction.

Technical Expertise and Innovation

• Oversee all engineering aspects of utility-scale solar energy projects, from development and bidding through to financial close, construction, commissioning, and operations.
• Lead internal engineering efforts or manage external consultancy services based on the team’s resources and capacity.
• Support the Development department by conceptualizing projects and conducting system modelling using specialized tools and software.
• Develop accurate long-term energy yield forecasts using PVSyst models and proprietary tools for optimizing project designs.
• Use advanced design software to create system diagrams and analyse project sites for utility-scale solar installations.
• Work together with the Procurement department by contributing to technical deliverables such as Request for Proposals (RFPs), Employer Requirements (ERs), and contract technical schedules for key equipment and Balance of Plant (BoP) contractors or suppliers.
• Interface with external stakeholders to source technical inputs and proposals and provide technical analysis support for equipment and contractor selection.
• Lead technical negotiations with stakeholders, including equipment manufacturers, BoP suppliers, EPC contractors, and regulatory officials, implementing a robust due diligence framework.
• Drive innovation in project design and internal processes to maintain Mulilo’s competitive edge in the market while keeping abreast of industry best practices.

Stakeholder and Relationship Management

• Build and maintain strong relationships with suppliers, contractors, and internal stakeholders, including development, procurements, construction, and project management teams.
• Act as a key interface between discipline engineers and project staff, facilitating smooth collaboration and resolving any interface issues.
• Regularly engage with project stakeholders to strengthen relationships between site and office-based teams and ensure alignment on project objectives.

Quality and Compliance

• Manage internal and external design reviews, ensuring compliance with internal quality programs, project-specific technical specifications, and standardised design preferences.
• Work together with the Construction department by ensuring that construction activities match designs and technical specifications.
• Respond to site technical queries.
• Standardise technical documentation, training programs, and quality policies to drive continuous improvement and foster a culture of technical excellence.

Mentorship and Training

• Mentor engineers-in-training, engineers, and senior engineers by providing guidance and support in their professional development.
• Offer detailed feedback on design outputs and assignments, facilitating knowledge transfer and skill enhancement across the team.
• Encourage site-based experience for team members to broaden their practical expertise.

Continuous Improvement and Lessons Learned

• Actively participate in continuous improvement initiatives by documenting lessons learned and incorporating them into internal templates, processes, and specifications.
• Drive innovation in both project execution and the ways of working, ensuring that Environmental, Health, and Safety (EHS) considerations are integrated into all engineering and design activities.

Operational Support

• Collaborate with the Operations and Maintenance (O&M) and Asset Management teams to provide technical input as required.
• Recommend engineering or manufacturing changes to address project objectives or resolve technical challenges effectively.

Required skills and education background

• Bachelor’s or master’s degree in electrical or electro-mechanical engineering preferred, but other fields will be considered.
• 10+ years professional work experience with design of solar Power Systems for utility installations. Experience with hybrid plants and/or Battery Energy Storage Systems is beneficial.
• Experience in Engineering, Procurement and Construction (EPC) and split contracts for Solar, High Voltage Systems, Balance of Plant, Eskom Self Build or Conventional Power Generation.
• Utility scale PV project design experience, project system design, electrical engineering, and specialist photovoltaic sciences.
• Professional certification may be desired i.e. Pr. Eng / PVSyst certified / 3rd party training.
• Proficiency in advanced computer design software, AutoCAD, PVSyst, Rated Power PV Design, PVCase, GIS tools and developing proprietary modelling tools for energy forecasts.
• Experience in managing and building a team of engineers and specialists.
• Familiarity with applicable Eskom standards, NERSA grid codes, SANS standards, IEC standards and regulations used in South Africa.
• Ability to manage several projects with time-sensitive project deliverables simultaneously and deliver them on time and budget.
• Excellent interpersonal skills with the ability to work with contractors, advisors, consultants, and staff in a team environment.

Desirable attributes

The ideal candidate will have a genuine passion for the Renewable Energy sector and a strong desire to contribute to a fast-growing company at the forefront of a rapidly evolving power industry. They should demonstrate key personality traits such as diligence, determination, resilience, and adaptability, making them well-suited to thrive in a dynamic and fast-paced environment.

Mulilo is an employer of choice and is offering an extremely competitive total remuneration package for this position.

Additional Information

• Able to work overtime according to operational needs.
• The position is based at the offices of the company, but travel may be required occasionally.