Director of Engineering & Grid Solutions - OPEA (f/m/d)

Director of Engineering & Grid Solutions (f/m/d)

Location(s): Essen, NW, DE, 45141 Swindon, Wiltshire, GB, SN5 6PB London, City of London, GB, EC2R 8HP Hamburg, HH, DE, 20354

RWE Renewables Europe & Australia GmbH To start as soon as possible, full time, permanent

As Director of Engineering, you will provide technical strategic leadership and governance across the full renewable portfolio — Onshore Wind, Solar PV, and Battery Energy Storage. In addition you are accountable to set-up and drive OPEA’s Grid Management covering grid strategy as well as execution. As a member of the OPEA Senior Management Team, you will ensure that engineering excellence, grid integration, innovation, and technical assurance underpin all investment and portfolio decisions. The role combines strategic influence (Board and Investment Committee engagement, portfolio governance, partner alignment) with technical accountability (standards, design, and grid connection), ensuring RWE’s assets are designed, built, and operated following the existing safety and sustainability standards with the focus on full life cycle cost optimization.

Your Tasks

• Lead the overall engineering strategy, governance, and delivery framework for all Onshore, Solar PV and BESS technologies in Europe and Australia
• Ensure engineering delivery excellence across the full lifecycle—from development through construction, commissioning, and operations
• Define and maintain engineering standards, processes, and tools that ensure safety, quality, lifecycle cost optimisation through design
• Ensure efficient quality management of equipment installed at OPEA’s future build projects by supplier prequalification and non-conformity management for OPEA’s construction projects
• Drive grid strategy and delivery, ensuring early identification and influencing of grid-related regulatory developments, evaluation of related impact to OPEA Business, early engagement with TSOs/DSOs as well as forward looking input to support development pipeline steering considering grid linked market changes, optimal connection design, and effective integration of assets into the wider system.
• Provide executive technical and grid guidance to investment decisions, partnerships, and divestments, ensuring robust technical due Diligence
• Lead and develop a diverse, high-performing engineering & grid solutions team, promoting inclusion and continuous improvement
• Represent Engineering and Grid Strategy at Board and executive reviews, clearly communicating risks, opportunities, and recommendations
• Drive continuous improvement through benchmarking, lessons learned, and best-practice sharing across markets

Your Profile

• Degree in Engineering or relevant Business related topic
• 12–15+ years of senior leadership in renewables, energy, or infrastructure
• Strong record in building collaboration across departments and engagement with boards and committees
• Proven experience in grid connection strategy and delivery at a portfolio level
• Track record of leading large, diverse teams across geographies and technologies
• Skilled in managing senior internal & external stakeholders, joint ventures, and strategic partnerships
• Fluent in English; additional European language(s) advantageous
• Proven track record in leading teams through transitional industry environments
• Willingness to travel regularly across Europe

We aim to make your time with us as rewarding as possible by fostering a supportive and inclusive environment. Alongside competitive pay and opportunities for growth, we care about your well-being and the balance between work and life. Our benefits include:

• Flexible and hybrid working, enabling a balance between remote work and in-office collaboration
• Company pension scheme to help secure your future
• Employee stock programme giving you a stake in our success
• Access to fitness centres or membership discounts to keep you active and energised
• Employee Assistance Programme offering confidential guidance and support
• Employer-subsidised canteen with fresh, high-quality meals

Any questions? Contact HR: Richard Bateson,

We look forward to meeting you. Of course, you can find us on LinkedIn, Instagram, Facebook, YouTube and Xing, too.

We value diversity and therefore welcome all applications - regardless of gender, disability, nationality, ethnic and social origin, religion/belief, age, sexual orientation, and identity. #inclusionmatters

RWE Renewables Europe & Australia is a leading player in the renewable energy sector with over 30 years of experience. We operate onshore wind farms as well as solar plants and battery storage systems with more than 5 gigawatts installed capacity in our core markets in Europe and Australia. Supported by a workforce of around 2,000 employees, the company is steadily expanding its renewable generation capacity in a value‑accretive way. Our expertise spans the entire project lifecycle: we develop, plan, finance, build and operate wind and solar farms as well as battery storage systems. Our well‑filled project pipeline is generating added value for all. Together with communities and for their future.