Director, Battery Energy Storage

Calpine • Houston, TX

2d • $172,739 - $220,243

About The Position

Calpine, a business unit of Constellation Energy Corporation, is America's largest generator of electricity from natural gas and geothermal resources. The company operates 79 energy facilities with a capacity of approximately 27,000 MW. Calpine serves customers in 22 states and Canada through its wholesale power operations and retail businesses. The company is committed to environmental stewardship and uses advanced technologies for low-carbon power generation. This role directs the overall management of the Battery Energy Storage Systems (BESS) project and is fully responsible for BESS engineering and technology. The Director will lead BESS team efforts to support construction, operation and maintenance planning, and project development. This position involves day-to-day operations, including budgets, schedules, and performance standards. Responsibilities include project conceptualization, management of design engineering, fatal flaw analysis, equipment and vendor selection, vendor and EPC negotiation and management, construction management support, and operations and maintenance planning. Collaboration with interdisciplinary teams is crucial for all stages of project development and commercialization. The role involves maintaining the efficiency of BESS project management processes such as planning, scheduling, budget, and risk assessment. It also includes defining and developing BESS project management best practices, processes, and policies to align with corporate strategy. The Director will partner with multi-departmental leadership to identify and prioritize projects and will supervise others to ensure projects are delivered within scope, quality, time, and cost requirements.

Requirements

• 10+ years of experience in the renewable industry
• Bachelors Degree Required
• Grid connected BESS or any inverter-based generation experience
• Working experience in AutoCad and other CAD software to produce conceptual layouts
• Knowledge of the National Electric Code, NFPA and UL standards
• Proven experience in design and delivery of grid scale bulk energy storage technology solutions
• Proficient knowledge of the full Microsoft Office suite (high proficiency in Word, Excel, PowerPoint required)
• Strong technical, analytical, quantitative, strategic, and management skills
• Strong organizational skills and high attention to detail
• Strong written and verbal communication, interpersonal, and teamwork skills
• Ability to work productively with limited supervision
• Strong time-management skills and ability to multi-task
• Strong interest in renewable energy and utility business
• Business acumen and demonstrated strong project management skills
• Ability and willingness to travel

Nice To Haves

• Preferred Engineering, Masters or PhD.
• Strong understanding of control systems, SCADA, HMI, EMS, and networking protocols
• Strong understanding of mechanical systems including HVAC and fire protection systems needed in the ES systems
• Experience performing power systems analysis in software packages such as PSS/E, ETAP or PSCAD is a plus
• Knowledge of engineering and market economics and design optimization
• Wind and/or Solar system installation or design experience is a plus
• Professional Engineer (PE) registration

Responsibilities

• Lead conceptual designs and layouts for development projects and greenfield developments.
• Lead technical analysis for feasibility studies and project assessment during the development phase.
• Collaborate and provide technical support for grid connection and storage regulation capabilities.
• Manage the engineering team to ensure compliance with local regulations and optimize project design for efficiency and performance.
• Lead technical and techno-commercial development activities to ensure timely and cost-effective resolution of regulatory, permitting, and technical issues.
• Collaborate with the Development team in preparing and coordinating proposals and marketing efforts.
• Establish and lead relationships with BESS vendors and coordinate with their technical personnel to stay updated on technology trends and product specifications.
• Actively engage in industry standards committees (e.g., NFPA, IEEE) to stay at the forefront of industry standards and specifications.
• Understand various battery technologies and industry practices to guide the organization on technology application and educate relevant teams.
• Evaluate available and emerging storage technologies and communicate new technology developments and associated risks.
• Lead the development of technical specifications for the procurement (RFI/RFP/RFQ) of ES systems, subcontractors, and support services.
• Lead the development of key contracting strategies, terms, and implementation of energy storage systems.
• Oversee the team in reviewing technical aspects of OEM and EPC proposals for energy storage during the selection process.
• Lead the team to establish and maintain engineering and design criteria, applicable standards, and specifications for BESS projects.
• Develop, review, and provide technical oversight of engineering requirements and designs for energy storage projects.
• Review and approve the work of consultants used on BESS projects.
• Ensure the highest level of environmental health and safety in all engineering and design aspects of energy storage projects.
• Lead the value-engineering approach when designing energy storage systems for multiple project-specific use cases.
• Provide technical support in evaluating potential M&A efforts for additional ES projects.
• Provide support to the construction team regarding ES technology implementation.
• Support the construction team in developing and enhancing installation and commissioning procedures.
• Support the O&M team in developing work procedures and best practices to optimize ES system operation.
• Provide cross-organization training on ES technologies.

Benefits

• Equal Opportunity Employer of Minorities, Females, Protected Veterans, and Individuals with Disabilities.
• Calpine is committed to Equal Employment Opportunity and providing reasonable accommodations to applicants with physical and/or mental disabilities.

What This Job Offers

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