DER/ BESS Engineer (Staff, Senior, or Principal)

Xcel Energy•Minneapolis, MN

3d•$70,000 - $156,600•Hybrid

About The Position

The Distributed Energy Resources (DER) Engineer provides technical support and leadership for planning, design, integration, and deployment of distributed energy resources across Xcel Energy's distribution system. The role focuses on DER interconnection, power systems engineering, distribution planning, battery energy storage systems (BESS), grid modernization, SCADA and controls integration, and engineering coordination. The engineer supports DER, energy storage, microgrid, and grid modernization projects from concept through commissioning and operation. Working with Project Managers and cross-functional teams, the position coordinates technical execution across Engineering, Operations, Planning, Regulatory, Cybersecurity, Telecommunications, Customer Solutions, and external stakeholders to ensure safe, reliable, and cost-effective integration of emerging grid technologies. The posted responsibilities and summary reflect the staff engineer level. The selected candidate will be placed at a level commensurate with skills and experience; senior and principal levels have different skill and experience requirements. The role may include technical documentation, project coordination, bid and evaluation support, technical communication, field engineering oversight, mentoring, and project budgeting and forecasting activities. Xcel Energy supports a hybrid work model; many roles are expected onsite three days per week, Tuesday through Thursday, but expectations vary by role, team, and business needs.

Requirements

Bachelor’s degree in engineering from an ABET-accredited program; electrical engineering is preferred.
Staff level: at least 2 years of relevant engineering experience, with broad knowledge and proficiency in a specialty area, knowledge of related specialties, and general knowledge of other related disciplines.
Staff level: ability to demonstrate the technical skills and core competencies established for the engineering level.
Staff level: EIT/FE (Engineer in Training/Fundamentals of Engineering) is strongly preferred.
Senior level: bachelor’s degree in engineering from an ABET-accredited curriculum; electrical engineering is preferred.
Senior level: at least 5 years of relevant engineering experience with EIT/FE, or at least 7 years without EIT/FE.
Senior level: ability to demonstrate the technical skills and core competencies established for the engineering level.
Principal level: bachelor’s degree in engineering from an ABET-accredited curriculum; electrical engineering is preferred.
Principal level: at least 9 years of relevant engineering experience with PE registration, or at least 15 years without PE.
Principal level: ability to demonstrate the technical skills and core competencies established for the engineering level.
All Xcel Energy employees and contractors share responsibility for protecting company information and systems by following cybersecurity policies, standards, and best practices.

Nice To Haves

PE license; EIT/FE is a plus.
Experience with DER interconnection, power systems, distribution planning, BESS, grid modernization, and SCADA/controls.
Experience supporting utility, renewable energy, energy storage, or microgrid projects.
Knowledge of DERMS, ADMS, EMS, SCADA, IEEE 1547, and utility interconnection practices.
Strong project leadership, cross-functional coordination, and stakeholder engagement skills.
Senior level: PE registration may be required depending on business need.

Responsibilities

Perform DER interconnection studies and power system analyses supporting safe, reliable grid integration.
Support distribution planning and grid modernization to improve system reliability and performance.
Lead technical implementation of BESS, microgrid, and DER projects from development through operation.
Support DER integration with SCADA, DERMS, ADMS, and related controls and communications.
Coordinate with Project Managers, internal teams, and external stakeholders to deliver projects.
Provide technical expertise supporting regulatory, stakeholder, and grid modernization initiatives.
Apply technical standards, principles, theories, concepts, and techniques to engineering activities and assignments.
Support development of technical documentation, including designs, testing, calculations, reports, and standards, and use or help develop procedures.
Provide ongoing technical support for project activities such as operations, maintenance, testing and diagnostics, and regulatory work.
Provide field engineering oversight for commissioning, testing, and inspections, under direct supervision as applicable.
Coordinate or lead projects or project phases—including research, design, equipment selection, procurement support, installation, and commissioning—under the direction of a higher-level engineer or supervisor.
Support bid and evaluation processes through basic analysis and calculations on existing documentation and materials, and contribute to technical evaluations of proposals.
Communicate information effectively across the organization and with customers and vendors on matters of varying importance and complexity.
Coordinate the work of interns, drafters, technicians, or others as needed, and provide guidance and mentoring to less experienced engineers.
Continuously develop technical skills and competencies.
Support engineering projects through activities such as budgeting, estimating, forecasting, accounting, and work order management.