The Role
The Technical Lead oversees the development and construction of mini-grids in Africa, ensuring compliance with standards, managing project phases, and collaborating with stakeholders for effective operations.
Summary Generated by Built In
Technical Lead
CrossBoundary Access (CBA)
About the Firm
Founded in 2011, CrossBoundary is a mission-driven investment firm committed to unlocking the power of capital for sustainable growth and strong returns in underserved markets. CrossBoundary provides transaction and investment advisory services, having developed a specialized expertise in unleashing investment across all sectors in these markets. Our advisory clients include governments, development finance institutions, private equity firms, Fortune 100 companies, and research institutions. Learn more at www.crossboundary.com.
In 2019 CrossBoundary launched CrossBoundary Access (Access), Africa’s first infrastructure finance platform for mini-grids and adjacent technologies. Key numbers to date:
Job Description
CrossBoundary Access is recruiting a Technical Lead. The Technical Lead will work alongside partners, which CBA contracts, to provide technical oversight and supervision, and run day-to-day activities, in the development and construction of mini-grids and other energy access assets across Africa. More specifically, the selected candidate will work closely with our partners to validate engineering designs, monitor progress of construction works and oversee acceptance tests hence ensuring mini-grids are built as per CBA standards in line with the project development agreements. The selected candidate will report to the Commercial Director and will work alongside the Project Management and Operations Lead who oversees the operations of our mini-grid portfolio.
We are seeking a highly motivated candidate with previous experience managing renewable energy assets and overseeing projects through the engineering, procurement, and construction phases. Experience in developing countries and particularly Africa will be regarded extremely favourably. A very strong technical background and qualifications in engineering are required.
Who We Are
The CrossBoundary Access team is a unique group of people who are excited to make a difference in some of the world's most challenging and exciting renewable energy markets. Team members come from diverse backgrounds, but share a number of qualities: relentless curiosity, extreme ownership, a laser focus on results, and a bias for action.
Who You Are
Design
Application Timeline
Applications will close on the 5th of January, 2026 with interviews kicking off on the 12th of January, 2026
Location
Nairobi, Kenya
Equal Opportunity Employer
CrossBoundary is an equal opportunity employer. If you need assistance and/or a reasonable accommodation due to a disability during the application or the recruiting process, please send a request to [email protected]
CrossBoundary Access (CBA)
About the Firm
Founded in 2011, CrossBoundary is a mission-driven investment firm committed to unlocking the power of capital for sustainable growth and strong returns in underserved markets. CrossBoundary provides transaction and investment advisory services, having developed a specialized expertise in unleashing investment across all sectors in these markets. Our advisory clients include governments, development finance institutions, private equity firms, Fortune 100 companies, and research institutions. Learn more at www.crossboundary.com.
In 2019 CrossBoundary launched CrossBoundary Access (Access), Africa’s first infrastructure finance platform for mini-grids and adjacent technologies. Key numbers to date:
- $35m funding closed in private capital
- $100m of contracted pipeline
- 100+ sites operating
- 100,000 people using our power
Job Description
CrossBoundary Access is recruiting a Technical Lead. The Technical Lead will work alongside partners, which CBA contracts, to provide technical oversight and supervision, and run day-to-day activities, in the development and construction of mini-grids and other energy access assets across Africa. More specifically, the selected candidate will work closely with our partners to validate engineering designs, monitor progress of construction works and oversee acceptance tests hence ensuring mini-grids are built as per CBA standards in line with the project development agreements. The selected candidate will report to the Commercial Director and will work alongside the Project Management and Operations Lead who oversees the operations of our mini-grid portfolio.
We are seeking a highly motivated candidate with previous experience managing renewable energy assets and overseeing projects through the engineering, procurement, and construction phases. Experience in developing countries and particularly Africa will be regarded extremely favourably. A very strong technical background and qualifications in engineering are required.
Who We Are
The CrossBoundary Access team is a unique group of people who are excited to make a difference in some of the world's most challenging and exciting renewable energy markets. Team members come from diverse backgrounds, but share a number of qualities: relentless curiosity, extreme ownership, a laser focus on results, and a bias for action.
Who You Are
- Self-starter who is passionate about creating lasting change in Africa
- Pioneer who is excited to work with new technologies and innovations
- Creative thinker with an ability to craft non-traditional and innovative solutions to practical problems
- Can build strong relationships with clients and colleagues in stressful environments
- Empathetic and thoughtful leader that can drive performance within a multi-disciplinary team
- Comfortable with ambiguity; ability to operate effectively in a changing, challenging context
Design
- Technical evaluation of potential investments in solar mini-grids and adjacent technologies
- Review and approve engineering designs for power generation plant and power distribution network to ensure developers comply with CBA standards
- Develop innovative solutions to improve the design process (eg improve quality, lower cost, facilitate operations, etc.)
- Further develop and improve technical standards
- Conduct technical due diligence on potential development partners
- Collaborate with developers to provide strategic guidance and input in the selection process for project components (eg panels, batteries, inverters, etc.)
- Work with developers, and alongside relevant team members, to ensure relevant permits and licenses, community commercial agreements and site exclusivities are secured on time, for multiple projects at a time
- Apply CBA’s HSES policies to development operations on our sites and help to develop safe operating practices and standards
- Track and monitor project activities and milestones at deployment phase i.e. procurement and construction, and provide project management oversight
- Provide technical oversight at construction phase to ensure mini-grid sites are constructed as per CBA standards, on time and within budget
- Provide technical oversight on acceptance tests and start-up of operations at new mini-grid sites;
- Apply CBA’s HSES policies to construction operations on our sites and help to develop safe operating practices and standards
- Provide technical leadership across internal and external stakeholders, ensuring consistent application of standards and performance expectations
- Support cross-functional decision-making by translating technical risks into actionable business insights
- Collaborate closely with ESG, legal, and investment teams to ensure alignment on technical considerations
- Robust technical background with 6+ years of experience in assessing, developing, and implementing renewable energy projects
- Experience in quality assurance/supervision of solar PV systems and power distribution network designs, bill of materials, technical specifications, construction, testing and commissioning
- Work experience or demonstrated familiarity in low voltage (LV) and medium voltage (MV) power distribution networks
- Experience in developing countries (particularly Africa) will be regarded extremely favourably
- Bachelor’s degree in a relevant engineering field required; other advanced degrees and project management courses will be regarded favorably
- A registered member of a relevant engineering professional body
- Demonstrated ability to independently supervise multi-stakeholder projects
- Excellent presentation skills, ability to communicate clearly and effectively across diverse audiences
- Previous experience in solar PV minigrids development and construction with a top-tier firm
- Strong quantitative skills
- Understanding of key technical aspects in legal contracts
- Excellent analytical ability and discipline; ability to think clearly, structure problems logically, and then design and implement solutions that focus on the core issues
- Ability to analyze large data in excel
- Ability to work with AutoCAD and in solar PV and microgrid design tools e.g. HOMER, PV Syst, Helioscope, etc
- Ability to build strong relationships with partners and colleagues in challenging environments
- Comfort with ambiguity and an ability to operate effectively in a changing context
- French speaking
Application Timeline
Applications will close on the 5th of January, 2026 with interviews kicking off on the 12th of January, 2026
Location
Nairobi, Kenya
Equal Opportunity Employer
CrossBoundary is an equal opportunity employer. If you need assistance and/or a reasonable accommodation due to a disability during the application or the recruiting process, please send a request to [email protected]
Top Skills
Autocad
Helioscope
Homer
Pv Syst
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The Company
What We Do
CrossBoundary is a mission driven investment firm that unlocks the power of capital for sustainable growth and strong returns in underserved markets.
We take a transaction centered approach to underserved markets. CrossBoundary provides investment advisory services, having developed a specialized expertise in unlocking investment across all sectors in emerging and underserved markets. Our advisory clients include governments, development finance institutions, private equity firms, Fortune 100 companies, and research institutions. Our direct investment arm, CrossBoundary Energy, finances solar projects in Africa. Learn more at www.crossboundary.com
