Design Engineer (Mechanical Engineering)

About 1st Avenue Power:

 At 1st Avenue Power, we are on a mission to deliver simple, fast-to-deploy, customer-centric and intelligent power systems leveraging the abundance of solar to provide inexpensive and reliable clean energy to global customers from data centers to energy starved communities around the world. We envision a future where every community, business, and nation thrives on the limitless potential of clean energy, united in a shared commitment to a sustainable and equitable world.

You will be working with Dr. Tom Buttgenbach, one of the most successful clean energy technology innovators and entrepreneur who has been a driving force in making solar-based energy solutions the cheapest and most reliable energy option. Tom founded and led Avantus (formerly known as “8minute Solar Energy“), to become one of the largest and most profitable solar and energy storage companies in the United States and the largest in California, including delivering over 17% of Los Angeles’ power.  When Tom sold his interest in Avantus’ development business  to KKR in mid-2024, it had delivered over $1 billion in profit and secured over $10 Billion in power purchase agreements and project financings with a pipeline of over 30 GW of solar and 90 GWh of energy storage, capable of powering the homes of more than 20 million Americans day and night. Tom’s family office investment firm, 1st Avenue Capital, is building teams for the next generation of advanced solar power system architecture and AI to aggressively drive down the cost of and equitable access to clean and reliable energy.[1] 1st Avenue’s advanced large scale power systems are addressing the increasing inadequacy of the grid to meet the massively growing power demands of the digital economy, while its intelligent distributed solar utilities are leapfrogging the grid to provide equitable access to inexpensive, clean and reliable power to underserved communities around the world.

About the Role:

Join a groundbreaking team of proven leaders at the forefront of the clean energy transition. We are building a future where sustainable energy is accessible to all. The Design Engineer will serve as the Lead Engineer on multiple product development initiatives, combining technical precision with creative problem-solving to deliver reliable, bankable, and innovative solar energy solutions. This role will oversee design, validation, and certification of solar PV systems and related products, ensuring compliance with codes and standards while optimizing performance, constructability, and cost-effectiveness.

What Makes This Job Unique:

• Leadership Impact: As Design Engineer you will have significant influence on key strategic decisions and play a vital role in shaping the future of 1st Avenue Power' energy strategy.
• Growth Potential: 1st Avenue Power and the project pipeline is in high growth mode, offering excellent opportunities for career growth and professional development.
• Co-Founder Mindset: This is an opportunity for a passionate and driven individual to join a groundbreaking team and contribute significantly to our mission. We encourage candidates who bring a co-founder mindset, with a focus on ownership, innovation, and a deep commitment to building a sustainable and equitable energy future.

Job Responsibilities:

• Define and apply structural product load requirements, including data interpretation from wind tunnel testing.
• Provide structural engineering support or act as a technical resource for internal projects.
• Support full product development lifecycle, including:
• Design cycles and initiatives
• Prototyping and iterative design improvements
• CAD design, drafting, and optimization
• Testing support (lab, field, and performance validation)
• Field validation and troubleshooting
• Sourcing and procurement support
• Certifications and compliance documentation
• Prepare preliminary and detailed site layouts, system designs, and electrical schematics for utility-scale PV projects.
• Collaborate with cross-functional teams across development, finance, procurement, and EPC.
• Stay current with industry standards, regulations, and certification practices including UL-2703
• Product load testing and production of testing reports as needed.
• Field testing on construction sites.
• Perform other engineering-related tasks as assigned.
• Other duties as assigned 

Minimum Qualifications:

• Current California Structural Civil PE with active stamp.
• Proficient in AutoCAD with ability to create site layouts, plans, and detailed design drawings.
• Bachelor’s degree in Civil, Structural, Electrical, Mechanical, or Renewable Energy Engineering.
• Strong communication and organizational skills with ability to lead cross-disciplinary teams.

Preferred Qualifications:

• Bachelors or Masters degree  in Mechanical Engineering (or similar discipline) 
• Proficiency with  Solidworks of similar CAD software 
• Proven track record of strong mechanical design capabilities 
• Comfortable working in a high-paced startup environment 
• Computer and Workplace software proficiency 

Compensation & Benefits:

• Competitive Compensation Package
• Remote Flexibility with 5-15% travel to sites as needed
• Health Insurance: We offer 100% coverage of employee premiums under a Gold-level PPO plan. Dental & Vision Insurance: 50% of employee premiums are covered.
• Retirement Plan: A 401(k) plan with a 6% employer match.

1AI Energy, the employing entity for 1st Avenue Power, and 1st Avenue Power are committed to a policy of Equal Employment Opportunity and will not discriminate against an applicant or employee based on race (inclusive of traits associated with race, including hair texture and protective hairstyles), color, religion, religious creed, national origin, ancestry, sex (including pregnancy, childbirth, and breastfeeding), age, veteran or military status, marital status, physical or mental disability, medical condition, genetic information, gender, gender identity, gender expression, sexual orientation, reproductive decision-making, or any other legally recognized protected class under federal, state, or local law.  We also consider qualified applicants regardless of criminal histories, consistent with legal requirements.. Applicants with disabilities may be entitled to reasonable accommodation under the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), the California Fair Employment and Housing Act (FEHA), and local laws. A reasonable accommodation is a change in the way things are normally done which will ensure an equal employment opportunity without imposing undue hardship on 1AI Energy or 1st Avenue Power. Please inform the company's personnel representative if you need assistance completing an application or to otherwise participate in the application process. 

Join our team and make a real difference in the world.

[1: Additionally, 1st Avenue is in the business of acquiring projects where there has been a final notice-to-proceed or financial close.]