Position Summary

As the Principal Engineer for BESS, you will be our chief technical authority on the technology, procurement, and strategic application of utility-scale energy storage. You will serve as the technical north star for our core business, operating at the intersection of strategy, engineering, and commercial execution. Your expertise will shape our technical roadmap and strategic sourcing, providing the foundational engineering for our large-scale DER programs and ensuring we build confidence with our utility partners and regulators.

Location

While Sparkfund is a remote-first company, with a digital workplace built around emerging hub-offices, this role is required to be in/around our Denver, Minneapolis, and Washington, DC hubs area. Candidates must be within commuting distance, or open to relocating, to be considered for this role. Company subsidized relocation is available for this role and will be covered by the recruiter.

Key Responsibilities

Strategy & Technical Leadership

• Serve as the organization's foremost technical expert on all aspects of grid-scale BESS, including various cell chemistries, power conversion systems (PCS), control platforms, and safety protocols.
• Advise senior leadership on the safe and effective design, construction, operation, and development of the company's energy storage portfolio.
• Lead the development of the long-term energy storage technology roadmap, evaluating emerging technologies and their potential for grid support applications.
• Translate technical roadmaps into actionable sourcing strategies by identifying and developing relationships with key BESS suppliers, integrators, and EPC contractors.
• Provide expert technical guidance and justification for BESS projects within Integrated Resource Plans (IRPs), regulatory filings, and rate case proceedings.

Strategic Sourcing & Contract Management

• Lead the end-to-end competitive sourcing process for BESS equipment, software, and services, including capital construction, microgrids, and Operations & Maintenance (O&M) agreements.
• Manage the development and issuance of RFQ/RFI/RFP bid packages, lead cross-functional bid evaluation teams, and drive the final supplier selection process.
• Serve as the first-chair technical negotiator for high-value contracts, including BESS supply agreements, full turnkey EPC contracts, and Master Services Agreements (MSAs), driving for optimal terms related to cost, schedule, safety, and performance.
• Oversee contract administration post-execution, including supplier performance tracking, compliance with terms, change order management, and dispute resolution.

Engineering & Design Governance

• Establish and govern the company’s technical standards and specifications, which serve as the foundation for RFP requirements and contractual technical exhibits.
• Lead the technical review of all utility-owned and third-party interconnection applications for BESS projects, ensuring compliance with grid codes, safety standards, and operational requirements.
• Act as the primary resource for BESS safety, ensuring all designs and operational procedures comply with relevant codes and that these requirements are embedded in all supplier contracts.

Preferred Skills & Qualifications

• Bachelor's or Master’s degree in Electrical Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, Energy Management, Environmental Science, or a related technical field.
• 5+ years of project development engineering experience in the clean energy, resilience, and/or energy efficiency space.
• Licensed Professional Engineer (P.E.).
• Demonstrated technical proficiency with battery energy storage systems, specifically on commercial and/or industrial-scale projects with front-of-meter interconnections.
• Experience with utility distribution systems, distributed energy interconnections, and construction processes.
• A thorough understanding of BESS-specific codes and standards, such as NFPA 68, 69, and 855 (especially Annex G); NFPA 70 articles 706 and 480; IEEE 1547; UL 1741, UL 9540, and UL 9540A; and IFC Section 1206.
• Experience with BESS dispatch and monitoring communication systems, including utility SCADA systems and/or Advanced Distribution Management Systems (ADMS)/Distributed Energy Resource Management Systems (DERMS).
• Experience or familiarity with Solar PV and/or microgrid projects.
• Experience modeling energy storage systems and microgrids in HOMER, Xendee, or similar software tools.
• Past experience working as an electrical engineer at a consulting engineering company, performing detailed electrical power engineering analysis and managing the production of print sets.
• Relevant technology-specific professional certifications, such as the NABCEP Energy Storage Installation Professional (ESIP) or similar.
• Competency in software and cloud-based information management tools, including Bluebeam Revu, Salesforce, GSuite, and CAD.
• Strong written and verbal communication skills, with the ability to translate highly technical concepts for executive and non-technical audiences.
• Demonstrated analytical abilities with a keen attention to detail.
• Skilled at making sound and defensible decisions with incomplete information.
• Ability to build and maintain long-term, trusting relationships.

Benefits

For full-time positions:

• Competitive compensation and stock option plans - we believe in shared ownership.
• The anticipated salary range for this position is between $150,000 - $180,000 per year.
• Comprehensive benefits package including medical, vision, and dental insurance as well as disability and life insurance.
• Flexible vacation policy encouraging strong work life balance and paid time away. We also observe all federal holidays.
• Alternating 4 day weeks, with every other Friday off.
• 12 weeks gender-neutral paid leave for caregivers when they have a new addition to their families and an additional 4 weeks of paid leave for birthing parents.
• A one-time, work-from-home stipend to help cover any equipment, hardware, etc. you need to set up your remote office.
• A monthly allowance of $100 to help cover phone and WiFi expenses.