Technical Operations Manager Jobs in Naperville, IL

ROLE OVERVIEW
Reporting directly to the Chief Development Officer, you will lead a high-impact department of professionals across three critical pillars: Development Engineering, Project Engineering, and Grid Integration. Your primary objective is designing a technical machine capable of screening and de-risking a 1GW+ annual pipeline to ensure a consistent, high-yield delivery of 300 MW/yr in operational solar and storage assets. You will transform the engineering function from a project-by-project service into a standardized, high-throughput engine. By implementing AI-driven design tools and a Standard Basis of Design (SBoD), you will ensure the team can increase its screening capacity without a linear increase in headcount. You will leverage the Grid Integration team as Pivot's "reconnaissance unit," utilizing predictive modeling and utility relationship management to identify high-probability interconnection nodes before capital is committed to site acquisition. As a senior leader at a Certified B Corporation, you will provide the Board and investors with data-driven transparency into pipeline health, ensuring that every megawatt built delivers on our commitment to a net-positive impact on our planet and communities.
PRIMARY RESPONSIBILITIES

• Development Engineering and Project Engineering: Lead the development engineering and project engineering teams, ensuring close collaboration with development strategy and execution, project delivery, and O&M and Asset Management to ensure Pivot projects are designed to operate optimally for 40+ years. Maximize lifecycle asset value ($/MW) and long-term project IRR, integrating real-world performance data and degradation strategies from operating assets back into the SBoD. Drive organizational efficiency by enforcing standardized designs and equipment specifications to reduce project cycle times and minimize custom engineering hours. Balance internal resource allocation against external partners to ensure the team can flex with pipeline surges without creating engineering bottlenecks. Continuously assess Pivot's project pipeline, proactively managing team resources, and closely monitor industry trends to improve Pivot's SBoD, ensuring compliance with industry and code requirements.
• Grid Integration: Operate the grid integration function as a strategic data asset, utilizing utility relationship management and predictive modeling and analysis to identify high-probability interconnection locations for site acquisition. Ensure interconnection applications are submitted ASAP after gaining site control, to the highest quality standards for each utility to minimize rejections and resubmissions, and work with utilities to develop constructive relationships that reduce study and construction timelines. Evaluate and audit incoming IX studies for accuracy, technically challenging utility upgrade assumptions to unlock congested grid capacity and minimize Pivot's capital expenditure. Develop rigorous technical 'go/no-go' frameworks to quickly de-risk the pipeline and pivot resources away from low-probability interconnection queues.
• Executive Oversight: Develop, monitor, and report on annual team objectives, ensuring alignment with Pivot's top-line annual goals. Develop and report business analytics to drive enhanced decision-making, solutions development, and operational enhancements using Pivot's software solutions. Oversee and direct the team's professional development to ensure industry-leading competencies in solar, solar + storage, and standalone project design and engineering. Prepare and approve annual budget expenditures for all department-related tasks. Work with adjacent engineering functions in the strategy and O&M groups to ensure alignment across all engineering work at Pivot, creating feedback loops and knowledge sharing opportunities for all groups.

REQUIRED COMPETENCIES

• 10+ years of experience in engineering management and/or operations, including team leadership
• 7+ years of experience in solar, project development, utility programs, or other related renewable energy experience
• Demonstrated success leading project engineering across a range of solar project types, including ground-mounted, rooftop, and carport solar projects, from project inception through finance, with experience in construction and operations
• Understanding of electrical distribution, sub-transmission and transmission equipment, and utility design practices, and knowledge of how project design decisions impact project returns
• Extensive knowledge of solar and battery system technologies, specifically utilizing storage to mitigate grid capacity constraints and unlock congested queues
• A high degree of humility and a strong desire to build cross-functional partnerships to achieve collective goals
• Ability to lead the implementation of automated engineering and grid modeling tools to increase pipeline velocity and reduce manual analysis hours
• Exceptional ability to translate complex engineering concepts clearly and concisely to senior leadership, the Board of Directors, and investors
• Bachelor's degree in engineering, P.E. license

PREFERRED COMPETENCIES

• Experience in or passion for designing AI tools to reduce manual work, accelerate analysis, strengthen data integrity, and scale workflows
• NABCEP PV Installation Professional certification

$235,000 - $250,000 a year
COMPENSATION & BENEFITS
The estimated base salary range for this position is $235,000 - $250,000, depending on relevant experience. This position is eligible for Pivot's substantial company-wide bonus plan at a target of 40% of annual salary (pro-rated based on start date in the first year).
Pivot Energy is dedicated to providing a great work experience for all employees, placing an emphasis on company culture, and a focus on our people. To that end, Pivot offers an outstanding benefits package that includes:

• Excellent health/dental/vision insurance benefits with up to 100% of premiums covered by the company
• Four weeks of vacation plus employment milestone bonus vacations
• Company paid life insurance and short- & long-term disability coverage
• Generous parental leave
• 401(k) matching (after vesting period)
• Work from home stipend for new employees
• Public transit reimbursement
• PTO for volunteering in the community
• Charitable donation matching up to $500/year
• Professional development and educational reimbursements

A complete list of all the benefits Pivot offers may be provided upon request.
Recruitment Agency Notice:
We appreciate your interest in partnering with us; however, we are not seeking recruitment agency support for this role.
ABOUT PIVOT
Pivot Energy is a national renewable energy provider that develops, finances, builds, owns, and manages solar and energy storage projects that help decarbonize our nation's electricity, increase equitable access to clean energy for local communities, and provide real cost-savings to American businesses and
families.
We are fiercely dedicated to accelerating the rapid transition taking place in the energy industry to a more decentralized and cleaner approach to power generation. We are committed to positively contributing to the local communities and people we serve with more than clean energy. We believe global warming poses an existential threat to our planet and that we have a responsibility to help mitigate the threat. Our portfolio includes projects that reduce energy burden for income-limited families, create workforce pathways for under-represented groups within the solar industry, and include robust community investment opportunities.
As a Certified B Corporation and one of Denver's "Best Places to Work", we believe that company success is driven by a healthy environment, thriving society, and workplace where all individuals are respected. We evaluate every internal decision on environmental, social, and governance (ESG) factors to determine if our actions will result in a net positive impact on the community, our employees, customers, shareholders, and the environment. Learn more in our annual ESG Report.
At Pivot, our core values guide our work internally and externally:
• Impact - We hold ourselves accountable to having a measurable impact on our people, communities, and the planet
• Balance - Put family first; work hard/have fun
• Determination - Find ways to be successful no matter how difficult the challenge
• Professionalism - Impress everyone we touch, be a team player
• Honesty - Be truthful and transparent, externally and internally
• Kindness - Create an environment where kindness, empathy, and vulnerability are embraced
DIVERSITY, EQUITY, INCLUSION and JUSTICE STATEMENT
At Pivot, we are proactively developing and maintaining an inclusive culture, rooted in mutual respect, that supports a workforce of different generations, races, gender identities, sexual orientations, ability statuses, religions, and cultures to work collaboratively together for greater impact. We seek to build a team that invests in relationship building, celebrates each other's successes, and makes space for the unique contributions and working styles people bring into Pivot.
Pivot invests in company-wide trainings, assessments, and programs to advance internal inclusion and equity practices, such as employee allyship building, cross-cultural communications, and equitable hiring and management protocols to increasingly recognize bias and ensure mutual respect and belonging.
EEO STATEMENT
Pivot Energy is an Equal Opportunity Employer and is committed to increasing the diversity of its workforce. We actively work to cultivate an inclusive culture that welcomes, empowers, and enables equitable career growth for employees regardless of background.