BESS Electrical Development Engineer, Senior or Staff

Redwood Materials • San Francisco, CA

11d • $160,000 - $252,000

About The Position

Redwood Materials is hiring a Senior or Staff BESS Electrical Development Engineer as an early member of a new engineering team working on its Battery Energy Storage System product line. The role specializes in projects at the initiation and concept phases, owning the electrical and controls foundation before detailed design and construction. It turns early, ambiguous inputs into buildable concepts, defensible AC/DC design bases, and clear interconnection and permitting paths.

The engineer supports active customer pursuits with Business Development and Product teams by screening interconnection viability, developing preliminary single-line diagrams, assessing communications network viability for Redwood’s control systems, and strengthening the electrical scope and cost basis behind proposals. The role then hands a gap-closed electrical package to the detailed design team and its Electrical Engineer of Record. The work calls for moving quickly while maintaining the depth needed to set projects up for success.

Requirements

• B.S. in Electrical Engineering from an ABET-accredited program, or equivalent demonstrated ability.
• At least 5 years of experience for Senior level or 8 years for Staff level in battery energy storage, solar, or microgrid projects, including front-end and conceptual design and owner's engineering for utility-scale projects.
• Deep understanding of grid-scale energy storage and electrical balance-of-plant equipment, including inverters/PCS, medium-voltage transformers, switchgear, DC combiners, collection systems, grounding, and protection, as well as AC/DC power conversion and medium/high-voltage systems.
• Strong knowledge of BESS electrical design, utility and ISO/RTO interconnection requirements, and utility-scale execution, with the ability to develop preliminary single-line diagrams and screening-level studies.
• Familiarity with relevant codes and standards, including NEC 705/706, IEEE 1547, UL 9540/9540A/1973/1741, NFPA 855, and IEC, and the ability to translate them into design criteria and a Basis of Design.
• Proficiency with design and analysis tools such as AutoCAD, Bluebeam, and ETAP or SKM, and the ability to produce concept layouts and technical exhibits quickly.
• Excellent attention to detail and quality decision-making, with the ability to prioritize and execute tasks in parallel.
• Strong verbal, written, and drawing-based communication skills; ability to collaborate across disciplines and interface confidently with executives.
• Ability to thrive under pressure and in ambiguous environments.

Nice To Haves

• M.S. degree.
• Electrical Professional Engineer (PE) license.
• Revit experience.
• Project management and/or EPC experience coordinating multidisciplinary scopes within A/E or design engineering firms.

Responsibilities

• Lead the electrical and controls front-end scope for assigned early-phase pursuits, coordinating with Business Development, Product, EPC engineering, and project controls; provide Business Development with electrical technical support for scope, cost, schedule, and contract exhibits.
• Build and mature scalable electrical scoping practices, codifying reusable architectures while applying custom engineering appropriately for each project.
• Develop concept and preliminary electrical designs, including site layouts, single-line diagrams, and controls network architecture, integrating product architecture, inverter/PCS and medium-voltage transformer configurations, and DC block arrangements with site constraints.
• Perform screening-level power system studies, including load flow, short circuit, and protective device coordination, to size major equipment, set voltage classes and ratings, and define detailed-design study scope.
• Support early utility and ISO/RTO interconnection strategy by identifying viable pathways and timelines based on site location, front- or behind-the-meter needs, point of interconnection, and applicable requirements, and translate the strategy into the design basis.
• Establish the electrical code and standards basis and document the compliance framework for detailed design; coordinate fire/life-safety and DC-system requirements and develop alternative means and methods or performance-based design options.
• Drive the electrical information-request checklist to closure, including product configuration and cutsheets, utility interconnection inputs, and AHJ/regulatory requirements; assign owners, track status, and surface scope ambiguities and long-lead items such as medium-voltage transformers and switchgear.
• Establish the electrical Basis of Design and design criteria for AC/DC architecture, medium-voltage collection, grounding and bonding, protection and coordination, metering, and auxiliary/balance-of-plant power, at a level sufficient to define scope and hand off to detailed design.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Senior