Senior Engineer, Power Systems

Sparkfund

2h • $145,000 - $180,000 • Remote

About The Position

Sparkfund is seeking a Senior Engineer, Power Systems to support deployment of distributed energy infrastructure across multiple utility markets. The senior individual contributor will serve as a technical expert for Sparkfund’s Distributed Capacity Procurement platform, leading assigned engineering work from grid-needs assessments and distribution system analysis through interconnection, protection coordination, and integration with utility operational systems. The role combines hands-on power systems engineering with direct engagement with utility partners and collaboration across commercialization, program management, and project delivery. It requires technical independence, sound engineering judgment, and the ability to navigate utility-specific requirements while developing approaches that scale across markets.

The position is remote within the United States and reports to the Director, Power Systems Engineering. It is primarily performed in a remote office environment, with periodic utility and project-site visits and approximately 15% travel for partner meetings, project sites, company gatherings, conferences, and business development activities.

Requirements

• Bachelor's degree in Electrical Engineering from an ABET-accredited program.
• At least 8 years of professional experience in power systems engineering, electric utility distribution planning, protection engineering, or DER interconnection.
• Direct experience working with electric utilities on distribution planning and interconnection, including taking projects through utility technical review and approval processes.
• Strong working knowledge of IEEE 1547-2018, protection coordination, effective grounding, NESC (IEEE C2), and utility standards for medium- and low-voltage distribution equipment.
• Hands-on proficiency with power-systems modeling and analysis tools such as CYME, Synergi Electric, OpenDSS, or ASPEN.
• Experience conducting power-flow, short-circuit, and hosting-capacity analyses.
• Experience with distributed-energy technologies, including battery energy storage, solar, or distributed generation.
• Experience integrating distributed-energy technologies with utility operational systems such as SCADA, DERMS, or ADMS.
• Ability to independently manage complex engineering workstreams and navigate utility-specific technical requirements.
• Strong technical communication skills, including explaining complex engineering concepts, risks, and tradeoffs to technical and non-technical stakeholders.
• Ability to travel approximately 15% for utility partner meetings, project sites, company gatherings, and industry events.
• Direct power systems engineering and electric utility distribution or interconnection experience is required; general electrical design, renewable-energy project development, or project management alone does not substitute for these requirements.

Nice To Haves

• Professional Engineer (PE) license or FE/EIT certification with plans to pursue licensure.
• Previous experience working within an electric utility, particularly in distribution planning, protection, or interconnection engineering.
• Experience with battery energy storage system (BESS) design, technical evaluation, and grid integration.
• Familiarity with NERC CIP compliance frameworks and their applicability to distribution-connected operational technology.
• Experience with battery energy storage project-finance technical due diligence, independent engineer reports, or bankability assessments.
• Familiarity with FERC Order 2222 and distributed-energy-resource aggregation participation models.
• Experience in a multi-site deployment, program-based engineering, or utility grid-modernization environment.
• Experience developing engineering standards, improving technical processes, or supporting organizational change.

Responsibilities

• Serve as a primary day-to-day engineering contact for utility distribution planning, protection, and interconnection teams on assigned programs.
• Lead technical discussions with utility partners to resolve engineering questions and advance interconnection reviews toward approval.
• Prepare and present engineering recommendations concerning IEEE 1547-2018 compliance, protection coordination, effective grounding, and utility-specific technical requirements.
• Develop and review engineering deliverables, including single-line diagrams, site plans, preliminary protection settings, grounding calculations, commissioning plans, and conformity assessments.
• Evaluate utility interconnection processes and identify opportunities to streamline engineering reviews and approvals across utilities, jurisdictions, and distribution systems.
• Conduct power-flow, short-circuit, and hosting-capacity analyses to assess distribution-system capabilities and constraints.
• Evaluate feeders and substations to determine available capacity, site suitability, and potential infrastructure upgrade requirements.
• Support grid-needs assessments, distribution-planning studies, locational-value evaluations, and assessment of utility modeling tools and methodologies.
• Evaluate integration opportunities involving traditional infrastructure planning, non-wires alternatives, and DER interconnection.
• Evaluate utility operational-technology capabilities, including DERMS, ADMS, SCADA, and distribution management systems.
• Develop controls and communications architectures supporting DER dispatch, monitoring, telemetry, and grid integration; define communications pathways, site-controller interfaces, and interoperability requirements.
• Develop network and communications architecture recommendations using protocols such as DNP3, SunSpec Modbus, and IEEE 2030.5.
• Support operational-technology integration roadmaps, including vendor evaluations, phased implementation approaches, and cybersecurity considerations.
• Collaborate with technology providers and equipment manufacturers to ensure battery storage and distributed generation solutions meet utility requirements and support scalable deployment.
• Partner with Commercialization, Program Management, and Project Delivery to evaluate technical feasibility and support program execution.
• Assess front-of-the-meter, behind-the-meter, and across-the-meter distributed-energy opportunities; contribute engineering expertise to cost-benefit analyses and technical assessments of batteries, distributed generation, and emerging grid technologies.
• Maintain working knowledge of wholesale electricity market requirements for energy storage registration, telemetry, dispatch, and settlement.
• Translate technical findings into clear recommendations that support program development, utility engagement, and project delivery.
• Contribute to engineering standards, reference designs, technical templates, and design-review processes.
• Develop repeatable approaches to feeder screening, interconnection assessments, and grid integration across utility markets; identify improvements to engineering efficiency, consistency, and deployment scalability.
• Provide technical guidance and review for newer engineers and external engineering partners.
• Collaborate across teams to align engineering decisions with commercial, operational, financial, and delivery objectives.

Benefits

• Employer-subsidized medical, dental, vision, disability, and life insurance.
• 401(k) plan with a 2% employer match.
• Flexible vacation policy.
• Paid federal holidays.
• Flexible Fridays (half-day Fridays every week).
• 12 weeks of gender-neutral paid caregiver leave.
• One-time work-from-home stipend for eligible remote roles.
• Monthly phone and internet allowance.
• May be eligible for discretionary bonus or incentive compensation; not guaranteed.

What This Job Offers

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