Mechanical Engineer

Overview

Mechanical Engineer

Cape Town, South Africa

At Scatec, you get to work on something that matters. We develop, build, own, and operate renewable energy solutions that accelerate access to reliable and affordable clean energy. As part of a global and agile organisation, you will work with skilled colleagues across functions and geographies, take real ownership, and contribute to a company driven by the vision of improving our future.

At the heart of everything we do is our belief that we bring the energy - the energy for change, connection, and growth. It shapes how we collaborate, innovate, and create impact together.

If you are looking for a role where your contribution is visible, your development matters, and your work supports a more sustainable future, Scatec may be the right place for you.

Ready to make an impact?

Why this role matters

As a Mechanical Engineer, you will support senior engineering colleagues in delivering technically compliant renewable energy projects, with a specific focus on mechanical substructures. You will manage or lead allocated design activities, technical assessments and due diligence studies, helping ensure technical and contractual requirements are incorporated from early development through construction, commissioning and operations.

What you’ll be doing

You will support mechanical engineering activities across the project lifecycle, including:

- Assess suitable substructure solutions for greenfield sites, support preliminary energy yield assessments and contribute to technical business cases.

- Calculate project-specific tracker energy losses and gains, including stow and misalignment losses, and develop tools to improve these assessments.

- Develop mechanical base cases and specifications, evaluate technologies and undertake technical due diligence to support sound project decisions.

- Support Supply Chain Management with requests for proposals, supplier evaluations, technical alignment of commercial offers and technical contract schedules.

- Coordinate and review mechanical system designs, ensuring requirements established during project structuring are incorporated into detailed construction designs.

- Engage with lenders’ technical advisers, suppliers, contractors and project teams to resolve technical matters and support Financial Close and execution planning.

- Review design changes, assess construction quality documentation, conduct site visits and support testing, commissioning, commercial operation and technical handover, including substructure commissioning.

- Follow Scatec’s operating system and improve mechanical engineering processes, assessment tools and templates.

Your work will help translate sound mechanical design into reliable, practical renewable energy assets.

What you’ll gain

- Professional growth through ownership, exposure and meaningful contribution from day one.

- Hands-on experience in a role built on learning through doing.

- Broader commercial understanding through close collaboration with cross-functional teams.

- Stronger mechanical engineering and project delivery skills across the renewable energy project lifecycle.

- Practical exposure to solar PV substructures, tracker behaviour, structural analysis and mechanical testing.

- Experience taking mechanical designs from concept and technology selection through construction, commissioning and handover.

What you’ll bring

Experience and qualifications

- A degree in Mechanical, Electromechanical or Mechatronic Engineering.

- At least four years’ relevant engineering experience, including three years in structural analysis and three years in a project environment.

- Experience in AutoCAD, mechanical testing processes, and utility-scale solar photovoltaic (PV) project design and execution.

- Sound engineering design capability, particularly for PV and battery energy storage system (BESS) technologies, with the ability to analyse and simulate energy production from systems using multiple technologies.

- Knowledge of energy generation contracts, technical schedules, utility interfaces and stakeholders, supported by strong analytical, reporting, communication and cross-functional teamwork skills.

- Fluent written and spoken English. Computational fluid dynamics (CFD), finite element modelling (FEM), wider solar and wind renewable energy experience, and Spanish, German or French language skills are advantageous.

You will bring a structured, proactive and independent approach, sound judgement and integrity, and the ability to build trusted relationships across cultures and functions.

The role requires a valid driver’s licence, no criminal record, and willingness to travel extensively internationally, including to developing countries. You should be comfortable working on site in varying conditions, in an open-plan environment and extended hours when required.

What it’s like to work at Scatec

At Scatec, we combine purpose with performance. We value responsibility, clarity, and collaboration and we encourage people to challenge existing ways of working, contribute ideas, and keep developing. You can expect an environment where people work together across disciplines and geographies, where good performance matters, and where you are trusted to take ownership without unnecessary hierarchy.

If you enjoy solving practical mechanical engineering challenges and want to see your designs contribute to renewable energy projects, this could be a strong next step in your career. You will work across engineering, commercial and construction teams to turn technical requirements into reliable project outcomes.

What we offer

At Scatec, you will be part of a company with a clear and ambitious purpose, working on renewable energy solutions that make a lasting difference. You will gain responsibility early, learn from experienced colleagues, and build your capabilities in a business that offers global exposure, strong development opportunities, and meaningful work in the energy transition.

Scatec is an equal opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment based on merit, competence, and business needs.

We review applications on an ongoing basis.