BESS Electrical Engineering Manager

Karpower; Texas; On-site; USD 150,000 - 230,000; Full time

Job summary

Karpower seeks a BESS Electrical Engineering Manager to lead and own the electrical design and delivery of battery energy storage systems across the U.S. portfolio. The role requires deep engineering expertise, project ownership, and coordination with EPCs, OEMs and utilities.

You will oversee study work, interconnection compliance, and safety standards while guiding engineers through design, construction and commissioning phases. Texas-based site readiness and travel are expected.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Electrical Engineering (or Electrical Power Engineering) required.

Responsibilities

• Own core electrical engineering deliverables for BESS scope, including diagrams, grounding design, cable sizing and MV/LV equipment specs.
• Lead arc-flash hazard analysis and ensure NFPA 70E compliance.
• Define study scopes for load flow, short circuit, protection coordination, harmonics and EMT/dynamic studies.
• Translate codes/standards (NFPA 855, UL 9540/9540A, UL 1741, IEEE 1547, NEC 705/706) into design criteria.
• Lead interconnection strategy and ensure ERCOT and other ISO/RTO requirements compliance.
• Review EPC/OEM/integrator deliverables; manage design reviews and technical change control.
• Define and maintain BESS technical standards, reference architecture and templates.
• Lead design of BESS facilities: DC blocks, PCS/inverters, MV transformers, switchgear and controls.
• Lead FAT/SAT, commissioning, performance and grid-compliance testing plans.
• Mentor engineers and develop repeatable playbooks and templates for BESS delivery.
• Contribute to business development and technical due diligence for new U.S. opportunities.

Skills

Electrical power system design

Protection coordination

Grounding & bonding

Arc-flash analysis

BESS experience

Interconnection knowledge (ERCOT/PJM/…

Reading power system study outputs

NFPA 855 / UL 9540 / IEEE 1547 / NEC 7

Contract negotiation with EPCs/OEMs

Technical leadership & communication

Willingness to travel 40-50%

Education

Bachelor's degree in Electrical Engineering

Master’s degree is a plus

Professional Engineer (PE) license

Tools

PSCAD

PSS/E

ETAP

Grid modeling tools

Job description

Karpower is a next-generation power infrastructure company delivering fast-track, behind-the-meter energy solutions for industries and markets that require timely, reliable power. With 80 years of heritage and more than 25 years of experience in energy infrastructure, Karpower operates across more than 30 countries worldwide.

At Karpower, we combine proven expertise in floating and land-based power generation with integrated solutions spanning behind-the-meter power supply, advanced power delivery, and comprehensive fuel supply.

Karpower Valley is a first-of-its-kind industrial and power generation hub designed to deliver speed, scale, and certainty in meeting America’s growing energy demand. Located in Brownsville, Texas, the Valley brings together manufacturing, assembly, testing, commissioning, and deployment within a single, fully integrated ecosystem, fundamentally changing how power infrastructure is built in the United States.

We are seeking a BESS Electrical Engineering Manager to lead and oversee the company's battery energy storage systems (BESS) across its U.S. project portfolio, combining deep electrical engineering expertise with full ownership of BESS projects and technology.

WHAT DO WE EXPECT?

• Bachelor's degree in Electrical Engineering (or Electrical Power Engineering); master’s degree is a plus.
• Hands-on electrical power system design expertise: single-line and three-line diagrams, protective relay coordination, grounding/bonding design, arc-flash analysis, and MV/LV electrical equipment specification.
• 10+ years of experience in electrical design, power generation and/or energy infrastructure project development and delivery, including at least 4–5 years directly on BESS projects, in any application (utility-scale/front-of-meter, hybrid solar/wind+storage, C&I/behind-the-meter, or microgrid).
• Demonstrated experience taking projects from design and engineering through construction management and commissioning.
• Working knowledge of BESS electrical balance-of-plant, protection and controls, and grid interconnection requirements.
• Experience with ISO/RTO interconnection processes and grid-code compliance (ERCOT or other ISOs/RTOs such as PJM, CAISO, MISO, ISO-NE).
• Ability to read and interpret power system study outputs (load flow, short circuit, protection coordination, EMT/dynamic studies) and translate them into design and project decisions.
• Working knowledge of NFPA 855, UL 9540/9540A, IEEE 1547 and NEC 705/706.
• Experience managing EPCs, OEMs and integrators, including technical contract negotiation.
• Strong written and verbal communication; comfortable presenting to executives, lenders and utilities.
• Authorization to work in the U.S.; willingness to travel to project sites (approx. 40-50%).

Preferred

• Professional Engineer (PE) license.
• Experience with ERCOT interconnection and modeling requirements specifically.
• Experience with behind-the-meter power architectures, including on-site generation, UPS/BESS integration, and large-load interconnection.
• Hands-on experience running studies in PSCAD, PSS®E, ETAP or similar tools; familiarity with grid-forming inverter architectures.
• Familiarity with FAT/SAT for utility-scale battery systems and with SCADA/EMS/PPC integration.
• PMP or equivalent project management credential.

WHAT AWAITS YOU?

• Own core electrical engineering deliverables for BESS scope, including single-line and three-line diagrams, grounding and bonding design, cable and conduit sizing, protective relay coordination studies, and MV/LV equipment specifications (switchgear, transformers, protection relays).
• Lead arc-flash hazard analysis and ensure electrical safety compliance (NFPA 70E) across BESS design, construction and commissioning.
• Define study scopes and review results for load flow, short circuit, protection coordination, harmonics and EMT/dynamic studies for BESS projects.
• Translate applicable codes and standards (NFPA 855, UL 9540/9540A, UL 1741, IEEE 1547, IEEE 2800, NEC Articles 480/705/706, IFC) into project design criteria and ensure compliance throughout design and construction.
• Lead interconnection strategy and compliance with utility, ERCOT and other ISO/RTO requirements for BESS assets, including model submissions, performance testing and ride-through requirements.
• Review and approve EPC, OEM and integrator engineering deliverables for BESS; run design reviews and manage technical change control.
• Define and maintain the company's BESS technical standards, basis of design, reference architecture and specification templates.
• Lead concept, preliminary and detailed design of BESS facilities: DC blocks, PCS/inverters, MV transformers, switchgear, collection systems, controls and auxiliary systems.
• Translate applicable codes and standards (NFPA 855, UL 9540/9540A, UL 1741, IEEE 1547, IEEE 2800, NEC Articles 480/705/706, IFC) into project design criteria and ensure compliance throughout design and construction.
• Review and approve EPC, OEM and integrator engineering deliverables; run design reviews and manage technical change control.
• Evaluate battery chemistries and system architectures (e.g., LFP, AC- vs DC-coupled, grid-following vs grid-forming) against project requirements for power generation and behind-the-meter applications.
• Lead technical RFP/RFQ preparation, bid evaluation, clarifications and technical negotiation with battery OEMs, PCS suppliers, system integrators and EPCs.
• Define study scopes and review results for load flow, short circuit, protection coordination, harmonics and EMT/dynamic studies.
• Support interconnection strategy and compliance with utility, ERCOT and other ISO/RTO requirements, including model submissions, performance testing and ride-through requirements.
• Assess BESS integration with on-site generation and behind-the-meter electrical loads (power quality, backup/ride-through, islanding, load-following and peak-shaving use cases).
• Own the technical scope, schedule, budget and risk register for assigned BESS projects, in coordination with Program Management, Construction and Development teams.
• Manage engineering resources (internal and external), interfaces between disciplines (civil, electrical, controls, fire protection, permitting) and third parties.
• Support procurement, logistics and construction planning, including long-lead equipment tracking and schedule recovery.
• Report project status, risks and decisions to the Design & Engineering VP and senior leadership.
• Lead fire and life-safety strategy for BESS sites: hazard mitigation analysis, thermal runaway and explosion-control design, emergency response planning.
• Engage AHJs, fire marshals, insurers, lenders’ and owner’s engineers, and independent engineers during permitting, diligence and financing.
• Embed EHS and HSE requirements into design and contracts.
• Define and oversee FAT/SAT, commissioning, performance and capacity testing, and grid-compliance testing plans.
• Review SCADA, EMS, PPC and BMS integration and control logic alignment between OEM, EPC and project requirements.
• Ensure complete technical handover to O&M, including as-builts, procedures, spare parts strategy and lessons learned feedback into standards.
• Mentor engineers and build repeatable playbooks, checklists and templates for BESS delivery.
• Contribute to business development and technical due diligence for new U.S. opportunities, including behind-the-meter power projects.