Senior Project Developer - Renewable Fuels
Focus: Developing Countries - Africa, Asia, LATAM
YOUR ROLE
Your heart beats for climate protection and decarbonized fuels, you have a solid technical and commercial background, and you want to be part of the solution? Then Solarbelt is the right place for you Join us as a Senior 'Project Developer - Renewable Fuels.'
YOUR RESPONSIBILITIES
- Identify, evaluate, and develop new renewable fuel projects in Africa, Asia, and Latin America, focusing on Power-to-Liquid (PtL) and Biomass-to-Liquid (BtL) pathways for producing green/clean hydrogen, e-methanol, synthetic hydrocarbons, and sustainable aviation fuel (SAF).
- Drive projects from ideation through feasibility studies, FEED, detailed design, and implementation.
- Support the structuring of locally led, stakeholder-driven projects to ensure technical, environmental, and economic viability from feedstock supply through to fuel production, handling, and delivery.
- Work directly with technology providers, EPC contractors, and local developers to define plant design parameters and estimate total capital expenditure (CAPEX), operating costs (OPEX), and expected performance for systems such as electrolysis, CO₂ capture, fuel synthesis, and fuel handling infrastructure.
- Develop dynamic technical and financial models to estimate production volumes, costs, revenues, and financial returns (LCO analysis, discounted cash-flow modeling, IRRs).
- Analyze emerging technologies and assess scalability through pilot-to-commercial demonstrations.
- Translate complex results into concise technical-commercial presentations and concept notes for partners, investors, funders, ministries, and regulators.
- Support certification schemes, financing applications, and offtake negotiations with public and private stakeholders.
- Collaborate with international project partners, conduct on-site visits in Germany and abroad, and attend conferences.
- Report directly to the Managing Director / CEO.
YOUR PROFILE
- You are passionate about climate protection, eager to make an impact, and not afraid to step outside your comfort zone into new areas. You bring:
- An above-average university degree in process engineering, chemical or industrial engineering, natural sciences, or a comparable discipline.
- 7–10 years of experience in project development or project engineering in the renewable energy, chemical, or petroleum industries, ideally with exposure to renewable fuels (SAF) from feedstock procurement through final fuel delivery.
- Proven experience in leading Pre-FEED or FEED studies and supporting detailed engineering and EPC execution, including environmental and permitting aspects of industrial/process plant projects.
- Comprehensive understanding of the entire project lifecycle — from concept and feasibility through FEED, detailed engineering, procurement, construction, and commissioning — ideally in renewable fuels or petrochemicals.
- Familiarity with standard technical documentation such as PFDs, P&IDs, equipment data sheets, layout drawings, and mass-energy balances.
- Experience coordinating EPCs, technology licensors, and technical consultants to align scope, schedule, and budget.
- Strong analytical and techno-economic modeling skills (LCO calculations, discounted cash flow, IRRs) and the ability to link technical results to project economics.
- Understanding of EU regulations for RFNBOs and renewable fuels, and their implications for certification and compliance.
- Initiative, independence, and self-driven work style.
- Fluent German and English (spoken and written).
WHAT WE OFFER
- The opportunity to develop pioneering renewable-fuel projects with real impact on climate and society.
- Diverse responsibilities in a pioneering field of climate protection, with broad creative freedom.
- Meaningful work contributing to CO₂-neutral aviation, combining technical, commercial, and strategic development.
- 30 days of annual leave.
- Friendly, committed colleagues in a non-profit organization with flat hierarchies.
- A two-year initial contract with the intention to extend.
- Access to a high-level expert and decision-maker network in the climate-protection field.
- A bright, attractive Berlin-Neukölln office with a kitchen, foosball, and table tennis.
- Discounted meals at the delicious courtyard canteen.
- Fresh fruit, tea, and fair-trade coffee.
- Regular social activities with colleagues — at the foosball table, table tennis, or outside the office.
- Salaries are aligned with public-sector pay scales, ensuring fair compensation while reflecting that our primary measure is impact and resource use in the Global South.
HOW TO APPLY - NEXT STEPS
Please submit your application directly via our website, through the existing active job advert:
- Application deadline: open until the right candidate is found.
- Invitation to Candidate Day at our Berlin office, including a business-case exercise.
- Final decision and contract signing.
For questions, contact:
ABOUT US
Solarbelt FairFuel gGmbH
To meet the Paris Climate Agreement's aviation goals, we need clean decarbonized fuels, like green hydrogen, eMethanol, SAF and more.
Founded in 2019 out of sister company atmosfair, Solarbelt is a non-profit climate-protection company. With the world's first PtL e-kerosene production plant developed in Werlte, Germany, we are pioneers in renewable fuel development (German Sustainability Award The plant demonstrated technical feasibility, certification, commercialization, and production of e-kerosene - underpinned by the jointly developed atmosfair fairfuel standard. Now we're leveraging this experience and our interest to develop other fuels, to deploy production plants in the Southern Hemisphere with local partners.
We cooperate with technology manufacturers and renowned institutes and universities, and have an exceptional network across the Southern Hemisphere. Some of our project ambitions are located in countries and regions like Indonesia, Kenya, India, South America, and more.
There's a lot to do on the path toward cleaner fuels - and we look forward to having you with us