DER/ BESS Engineer (Staff, Senior, or Principal)

Xcel Energy Services Inc; Minneapolis (MN); Hybrid; USD 120,000 - 160,000; Full time

Job summary

Xcel Energy is seeking a staff engineer to lead planning, design, integration, and deployment of distributed energy resources across its distribution system. The role emphasizes DER interconnection, power systems analyses, battery energy storage systems, grid modernization, and cross-functional collaboration.

The engineer will coordinate with Project Managers and internal teams to ensure safe, reliable, and cost-effective integration of grid technologies, from concept through commissioning.

Qualifications

• Knowledge of DER interconnection studies and power system analyses.
• Experience with distribution planning and grid modernization.
• Familiarity with battery storage, microgrids, and DER deployment.
• Ability to collaborate with cross-functional teams and external stakeholders.

Responsibilities

• Apply technical standards to assignments of limited scope.
• Develop technical documentation (designs, calculations, reports, standards).
• Provide technical support for project activities across Operations, Maintenance, and Regulatory.
• Coordinate projects or portions of projects through design, procurement, installation, and commissioning.
• Assist bid/evaluation processes with basic analysis and cross-team communication.
• Mentor interns and junior engineers; commit to continuous self development.
• Support budgeting, forecasting, and work order management in engineering contexts.

Skills

DER interconnection

Power systems analysis

Grid modernization

BESS & microgrids

SCADA/DERMS/ADMS

Engineering coordination

Regulatory & stakeholder support

Tools

SCADA

DERMS

ADMS

Job description

Xcel Energy (NASDAQ: XEL) is a leading energy provider and Fortune 500 company, dedicated to serving millions of electricity and natural gas customers across eight states: Minnesota, Colorado, Wisconsin, Michigan, North Dakota, South Dakota, New Mexico and Texas. We make energy work better for our customers, helping them thrive every day. That means always raising the bar - delivering better service and providing more reliable, resilient, and sustainable energy.

Xcel Energy is a place where you'll have opportunities to grow, expand your skills, and help lead the clean energy transition. We offer meaningful rewards, recognition, and support to help you build your career and make an impact - both on the job and beyond. Most importantly, it means you'll be joining a company that knows employees are the driving force behind its success and is committed to helping you be your best.

Xcel Energy supports a hybrid work model to enable collaboration and flexibility. Many roles are expected to work onsite three days per week (Tuesday-Thursday); however, work location expectations vary based on role, team, and business needs.

The below job summary and responsibilities reflect the staff engineer level role. The successfully chosen candidate will be placed at a level that is commensurate with their skills and experience as different skills and/or experience will be required at the senior and principal engineer levels.

Position Summary

The Distributed Energy Resources (DER) Engineer provides technical support and leadership for the planning, design, integration, and deployment of distributed energy resources across Xcel Energy's distribution system. This role focuses on DER interconnection, power systems engineering, distribution planning, battery energy storage systems (BESS), grid modernization, SCADA and controls integration, and engineering coordination.

The engineer will support DER, energy storage, microgrid, and grid modernization projects from concept through commissioning and operation. Working closely with Project Managers and cross-functional teams, this position coordinates technical execution across Engineering, Operations, Planning, Regulatory, Cybersecurity, Telecommunications, Customer Solutions, and external stakeholders to ensure the safe, reliable, and cost-effective integration of emerging grid technologies.

Focus Areas:

• DER Interconnection & Power Systems
  Perform DER interconnection studies and power system analyses supporting safe, reliable grid integration.
• Distribution Planning & Grid Modernization
  Support distribution planning and grid modernization to improve system reliability and performance.
• BESS, Microgrids & DER Deployment
  Lead technical implementation of BESS, microgrid, and DER projects from development through operation.
• SCADA, Controls & Operational Technology
  Support DER integration with SCADA, DERMS, ADMS, and related controls and communications.
• Engineering Coordination & Project Execution
  Coordinate with Project Managers, internal teams, and external stakeholders to deliver projects.
• Regulatory & Stakeholder Support
  Provide technical expertise supporting regulatory, stakeholder, and grid modernization initiatives.

Essential Responsibilities

• Uses and applies technical standards, principles, theories, concepts, and techniques to perform activities/assignments of limited scope.
• Supports the development of technical documentation (including but not limited to designs, testing, calculations, reports, standards, etc.) Utilizes and may assist with the development of procedures.
• Provides ongoing technical support for project activities within areas such as Operations, Maintenance, Testing/diagnostics, Regulatory, etc. May provide field engineering oversight for activities such as commissioning, testing, inspections etc. under direct supervision.
• Coordinates/leads projects or portions of projects (including phases such as research, design, equipment selection, procurement support, installation and commissioning), under the direction of a higher level engineer or supervisor.
• Under the direction of a higher level engineer/supervisor, supports bid/evaluation processes by performing basic analysis and calculations on existing documentation and materials that support the preparation of bid documents. In completing segments of technical evaluations for proposals may need to effectively communicate with other business areas of the company following appropriate processes.
• Effectively exchanges information in all formats, on matters having a wide range of importance and complexity both inter-organizationally and with outside customer/vendors.
• May coordinate the work of interns, drafters, technicians, and/or others and provides guidance and mentoring to less experienced engineers. Responsible for continuous self development of technical skills and competencies.
• May perform activities such as budgeting, estimating, forecasting, accounting, work order management, in support of engineering pr