Director, Operations Engineering

esVolta•Newport Beach, CA

4d•Remote

About The Position

We are seeking individuals to join as our Director of Operations Engineering to lead the technical integration, performance oversight, and long‑term reliability of our utility‑scale battery energy storage systems (BESS). This role is central to ensuring the operational excellence of our energy storage fleet and will guide both Operations Engineering and Performance Engineering functions. As the Director of Operations Engineering, you will serve as the organization’s primary technical authority for all post‑COD BESS operations. You will lead a high‑performing team while also acting as a hands-on contributor, collaborating closely with Asset Management, Commercial Operations, EPC partners, BESS OEMs, and EMS technical teams. Your leadership will ensure that esVolta’s assets operate safely, efficiently, and at peak performance throughout their lifecycle.

Requirements

7+ years of experience in Operations Engineering and experience in management within an Energy Storage integrator, EPC or O&M contractor is required.
ABET accredited bachelor’s degree in electrical engineering or related field is required. Professional Engineering status preferred.
Must have a sound understanding of the testing of Energy Storage projects.
Familiarity with applicable standards including IBC, NFPA 855, CEC, CFC, IEEE, NEMA, NEC, OSHA, and UL.
Experience in system engineering and solid understanding of related regulatory standards, including NEC/UL code compliance.
Superior communication and presentation skills, both written and verbal.
Outstanding interpersonal skills, including an ability to maintain calm and effective exchanges by all parties during stressful situations, and executive level reporting that ensures timely action and decision making in time-pressured scenarios.
Willingness to be remotely based and ability to travel to project sites.
Demonstrate strong teamwork orientation, initiative, communication, problem solving, organizational and leadership skills.

Responsibilities

Lead and mentor Operations, SCADA, and Performance Engineering teams, ensuring high technical performance and full compliance with Utility, ISO/RTO, and all regulatory requirements.
Oversee system testing, remediation, and verification processes, including test plans, checklists, and root‑cause analyses to ensure safety, reliability, and operational readiness across the BESS fleet.
Drive the Performance Engineering roadmap and continuous optimization of control systems, data structures, and analytics capabilities to enhance fleet efficiency, responsiveness, and long‑term performance.
Collaborate with Asset Management, Commercial Operations, Technology, and OEM partners to resolve technical issues, implement corrective actions, and align software, controls, and data pipelines with operational goals.
Maintain comprehensive documentation of operational activities, system adjustments, and test results, and prepare clear reports for internal leadership, external stakeholders, and warranty support processes.
Support lifecycle planning, including augmentation strategies and technical documentation development, ensuring the organization maintains deep subject matter expertise in BESS operations.
Partner with internally during project handoff to ensure operational requirements, design assumptions, and performance expectations are fully captured and integrated into post‑COD operations.
Represent Operations Engineering in cross‑functional planning and strategic initiatives, ensuring fleet performance insights and operational constraints inform corporate decision-making and long‑term asset strategy.
Assists third parties/IE partners in confirming product performance including onsite meetings during site visits and to oversee tests.
Support the final inspections and punch list process with contractors, vendors, independent engineers and management.
Ensures the maintenance of high work quality within the Operations team.
Support the development and execution of site‑specific safety programs by collaborating with Project Management and HSE teams, reviewing trade partner work plans, participating in hazard analyses, and ensuring compliance with OSHA, ANSI, NFPA, and other applicable standards.
Serve as a safety resource for project teams, maintaining a safe and clean work environment through consistent enforcement of procedures, rules, and regulations.