The Technical Sales Engineer works in a highly demanding environment that requires organizational and communication skills.
• Advantages:
The role enables interacting with customers and educating them about the technical aspects of solar projects. There is also a lot of support available from both sales and projects team to help innovate solutions for different customers. Working with multiple teams also leads to gaining insights about various industries and using this to better target clients.
• Challenges:
Precise estimation of projects is a major challenge that can play a crucial role in winning a project. A thorough understanding of the technicalities of the execution and operation of a solar plant will also be required in order to educate and clarify customer concerns.
Educating the sales team about the solar lease offer and the design aspects of solar plants is a constant process in order to enable them to pass on the same information to their clients.
Activities
Technical Sales Engineer responsibilities:
Conduct feasibility studies, preliminary solar designs, CAPEX/OPEX estimation and solar plant performance simulations.
Assess site characteristics, constraints and analyze consumption demands of the customer during prospection phase.
Prepare technical offers and presenting them to potential clients, support the sales team in the negotiation with clients
Take part the preparation of Investment Committee Dossiers & investment committee presentations
Preparing hand over dossier from Sales / Business Development to Project Development team.
Technical support and contribution to 50 to 60MW awarded per year
Project Development Support:
Analyze EPCs and contractors offers in terms of quality, HSE, cost and schedule
Negotiate price and shortlisting contractors for awarded projects
Prepare and update engineering tools and templates
Coordinate with design team to prepare and follow-up local approvals and regulatory obligations.
Cost analysis:
Carry out cost benchmarks on the past projects carried out
Ensure the project costs are aligned with the market trends
Develop tools of Project CAPEX assessment
Project Management Support:
Assist Project Managers (when needed) on Solar DG project under construction in terms of quality control, project timeline, HSE standards, material procurement, contractors’ daily activities, and client expectations
Support on reviewing and approving material submission forms, MSRAs, project activities, and engineering drawings and studies
Take part or conduct weekly meetings and on-site visits with main stakeholders for project updates
Coordinate with engineering, HSE, and project teams during development, design, permitting, construction, and commissioning of the projects
Candidate Profile
Minimum 3 years of experience related to design, construction, technical sales of rooftop, ground-mount, and carport distrusted generation solar projects
Graduate from a premier university with an engineering degree in electrical, mechanical, and/or renewable energies. A double engineering specialty is a plus.
Experience with maintaining functional specification, commissioning checklists, and standard operating practices for solar projects.
Aptitude to swiftly adapt to a multi-cultural and multinational working environment and understanding international markets
Academic knowledge of international business strategies, brand management, operations management of international markets and Cross-culture management skills
Working experience of the West African context in electrical norms, renewable energy regulations, construction codes
Experience in customer facing roles
Good Knowledge and use experience of sales, engineering and solar specific software such as AutoCAD, PVSyst, Meteonorm, SolarGIS, Helioscope, Sketchup, MS Project etc.