Utility-Scale Solar Subject Matter Expert (SME)

SUBJECT MATTER EXPERT – UTILITY-SCALE SOLAREngineering & Field Operations Consultant Location: Initially Remote-Houston, TXThe OpportunityA global digital consulting organization has been invited to bid on a landmark AI platform program for one of the largest renewable energy companies. To deliver a winning, credible proposal and subsequently build the platforms, the organization requires a solar industry Subject Matter Expert (SME) who brings deep, hands-on process knowledge of how commercial solar farms are designed, built, and operated.This person will be the technical backbone of the response and, upon contract award, the lead domain consultant shaping solution design throughout delivery. This is a rare opportunity for a seasoned solar professional to step into a high-impact advisory role at the intersection of renewable energy and enterprise AI.You will work alongside engineering, data, and AI teams to translate real-world solar workflows into intelligent, scalable software products. Your process expertise will directly shape what gets built and how it gets sold, with the potential for a permanent leadership role if the engagement is won.Role ResponsibilitiesServe as the primary process-knowledge authority for the client bid response.Define engineering and field operations workflows for commercial solar projects and build detailed functional requirements, user journey maps, and process flow diagrams that the solution team can design against.Review and validate proposed AI feature sets against real-world solar EPC and O&M practices; identify gaps, risks, or incorrect assumptions.Participate in and co-lead client-facing workshops, RFP clarification calls, and technical deep-dives with client leadership.Advise on data availability, data quality, and systems-of-record (SAP PM, SCADA, CMMS, ePOD, IFC) that must underpin the platform architectures.Estimate realistic benefit ranges and value-engineering opportunity pools to support the business case in the proposal.Post-Award Delivery PhaseLead domain authority across the product lifecycle of the client solution.Drive process decomposition workshops with client engineering leads (PV, civil, electrical).Define the structured data model for GIS inputs, design parameters, IFB specs, equipment libraries, and cost-estimation logic required by the platforms.Map end-to-end maintenance and major corrective repair workflows including technician task sequencing, work-order close-out logic, and constraint-based scheduling heuristics.Collaborate with AI/ML engineers to validate agentic reasoning chains, prompt designs, and output quality against real solar engineering standards and compliance requirements.Own SME review and sign-off on AI-generated outputs before client demonstrations and release milestones.Develop training materials and onboarding content for end users across PV engineers, civil engineers, electrical engineers, operations engineers, site leads, and field technicians.Act as a thought leader for the broader energy practice, contributing to proposals, whitepapers, and conference appearances in the utility-scale solar domain.Required QualificationsIndustry Experience12+ years of hands-on experience in utility-scale/commercial solar across EPC, IPP, asset ownership, or O&M covering at least two of the following areas: development, engineering design, construction, and ongoing operations.Demonstrated end-to-end EPC project experience, from site feasibility and PV system design through procurement, construction management, commissioning, and handover.Proven experience with large-scale solar farm O&M including preventive maintenance scheduling, corrective repair execution, alarm management, SCADA monitoring, and asset performance optimization.Technical Domain KnowledgePV system design tools: PVSyst, Helioscope, Aurora, PVWatts, or equivalent ability to define tool requirements for an AI-assisted design configurator.Electrical systems design: single-line diagrams, string sizing, inverter and transformer specifications, MV/HV interconnection, NERC CIP compliance.Civil & structural: tracker foundation design, grading, drainage, access roads, geotechnical inputs sufficient to validate AI QA/QC outputs.Value engineering: specification optimization, CapEx/yield/risk trade-off frameworks, equipment standardization.Construction QA/QC: IFC package management, as-built documentation, defect tracking, commissioning checklists, and turnover packages.O&M operations: CMMS/EAM platforms (SAP PM, Maximo, or equivalent), ePOD/digital field tools, work-order lifecycle management, spare-parts and materials inventory.SCADA and monitoring: alarm prioritization logic, remote reset procedures, performance dashboards, KPI frameworks (PR, availability, yield).Scheduling and workforce planning: constraint-based scheduling across technician availability, crane logistics, weather windows, contractor lead times, and risk-weighted NPV prioritization.Consulting and Communication SkillsAbility to articulate complex engineering workflows to non-domain audiences including software engineers, product managers, data scientists, and executive stakeholders.Experience producing structured process documentation including swim lane diagrams, RACI matrices, user stories, and functional specifications.Comfortable in a fast-paced consulting or pre-sales environment, able to produce high-quality artefacts on short deadlines during a competitive bid cycle.Prior experience as a technical advisor, independent consultant, or advisory board member is a strong advantage.Preferred QualificationsExperience with AI, digital twin, or advanced analytics tools applied to solar design or O&M.Exposure to agentic AI or LLM-powered workflow tools in an engineering context.Prior engagement with large utility providers or vertically integrated developers.Knowledge of IFC (Industry Foundation Classes) data formats used for construction handover and as-built validation.PE license in electrical, civil, or mechanical engineering.Experience with U.S. utility-scale solar markets.Mohd Abid RafieNext Level Business Services, Inc.E-mail: