Sr. Manager or Director , Storage Engineering

Avantus•San Diego, CA

8d•Hybrid

About The Position

Avantus is seeking a highly motivated and organized Sr. Manager or Director, Storage Engineering to support utility-scale battery energy storage system (BESS) development and execution. The successful candidate will bring sound industry knowledge, strong communication, and detail-oriented organizational skills. This position reports to the Head of Storage Engineering. The role leads internal and external cross-functional work to ensure BESS scope meets project needs, including offtake and M&A requirements. It partners with suppliers, EPC contractors, integrators, and internal project teams on system design, performance and cost estimates, contracts, controls and SCADA, permitting, engineering, construction, commissioning, and operations. The position also supports technical diligence and ensures BESS technical deliverables meet project requirements. This is a full-time, hybrid position in California with up to 25% travel. The base salary range is $152,363–$212,000 USD, plus bonus and benefits. Avantus offers 401(k) matching, comprehensive medical and dental plan options, and flexible PTO.

Requirements

For Director: 7–10 years of energy storage development, design, and integration experience; for Senior Manager: 5–7 years.
Deep expertise in utility-scale BESS technology, including equipment selection, system design, integration, and controls, from development through long-term operations.
Strong knowledge of BESS subsystem performance and degradation, including batteries, PCS/inverters, thermal management, and BMS/EMS; battery storage performance modeling; augmentation planning; and impacts on availability, round-trip efficiency, and capacity over the asset life.
Experience with utility-scale battery supply, EPC, and long-term service agreements from the owner or buyer perspective, including negotiation, administration, and enforcement of performance guarantees, warranties, and remedies.
Ability to support technical diligence for lenders, tax equity investors, and independent engineers, and align performance terms with offtake and financing requirements.
In-depth knowledge of BESS safety and permitting processes, including NFPA, CFC, and UL certification.
Background in utility or market operations, including generator and battery dispatch and storage control strategies.
Excellent verbal and written communication skills and ability to work across engineering, legal, procurement, finance, and operations teams.
Ability to travel up to 25% of the time.
Bachelor of Science in a STEM field, preferably electrical or mechanical engineering.

Nice To Haves

Familiarity with FERC, NERC, and CAISO/ERCOT requirements as they apply to interconnection, operations, and compliance.
Graduate degree in a STEM field or PE in power system engineering.

Responsibilities

Lead internal and external cross-functional teams to ensure comprehensive BESS execution scope coverage aligned with offtake, M&A buyer, and other project needs.
Partner with battery suppliers, EPC contractors, power plant controller providers, and inverter suppliers to estimate BESS component costs and performance for PV+S projects.
Collaborate with battery suppliers, BESS contractors, and integrators to build investor confidence in technologies and suppliers and reduce the Levelized Cost of Storage.
Write and negotiate technical contracts for BESS EPC contractors and suppliers to meet PPA obligations while minimizing cost and risk.
Specify BESS and power plant controls and SCADA capabilities for integration with onsite PV, interconnection facilities, and utility operations.
Collaborate with PV design subject-matter experts to co-optimize storage facility and solar PV project designs.
Help prepare supplier and EPC requests for proposals and technical requirements; coordinate handoff to internal teams and support engineering, construction, schedule, commissioning, and operation of assigned PV+S projects.
Support design, engineering, and technical matters with external engineering groups, including engineers of record, owners’ engineers, fire safety consultants, and independent engineers.
Review BESS technical deliverables to confirm technical needs and design requirements are met.
Lead collaboration among BESS suppliers, contractors, and consultants to support BESS permitting with authorities having jurisdiction.