Lead Electrical Systems Engineer – BESS & UPS Hardware

ABB Inc.; Richmond (VA); On-site; USD 67,000 - 101,000; Full time

Job summary

ABB Inc. in Napier, New Zealand is seeking a Senior Electrical Systems Engineer to lead hardware design for Battery Energy Storage Systems (BESS) and UPS, addressing high-power electronics challenges and system integration across multiple product lines.

You will work closely with R&D, testing, and field teams to validate performance, safety, and compliance (IEC/UL), while contributing to the technology roadmap and documentation for battery systems.

Qualifications

• Strong understanding of Battery Energy Storage Systems (BESS) and power converters >200kW.
• Minimum 5 years of experience designing/maintaining power electronic systems within specialist teams; capable of leading engineering projects and guiding junior colleagues.
• Solid understanding of three-phase systems and power electronics, including inverter and converter operating principles, practical application and integration into systems, and the ability to interpret product specifications and operate within defined performance and safety margins.
• Knowledge of grid compliance requirements, including grid codes, power quality standards (harmonics, THD, power factor), fault ride-through, frequency and voltage regulation, and anti-islanding protection, with familiarity with relevant IEC and IEEE standards is desirable.
• Foundational knowledge of electromagnetic compatibility (EMC) principles, including conducted and radiated emissions, immunity requirements, and common mitigation techniques such as filtering and shielding, with familiarity with relevant standards.
• Foundational knowledge of thermodynamics, including heat management and airflow optimization within electrical cabinets to ensure reliable and safe equipment operation.

Responsibilities

• Lead the hardware design and development of the Battery Energy Storage Systems (BESS) and Uninterruptable Power Supply (UPS).
• Contribute to the analysis and validation of low and medium-voltage energy management systems, including system protection schemes, power quality optimisation, energy storage integration, and evaluation of magnetic components.
• Perform electrical design activities including cable and harness dimensioning, selection, routing and layout, and definition and selection of protection devices, sensors and power supplies.
• Conduct comprehensive functional, performance, and safety testing on BESS and UPS, ensuring compliance with industry standards (IEC/UL certifications).
• Develop, improve, and maintain accurate technical documentation including test procedures and plans, commissioning guides, user manuals, product drawings, and interface specifications for battery systems.
• Plan and execute system commissioning activities on customer sites, including pre-commissioning inspections, power-up sequences, functional verification, performance optimization, and troubleshooting across all product lines.
• Troubleshoot and diagnose electrical faults, power quality issues, and system performance problems; develop improvement strategies and provide technical guidance to support customer applications.
• Develop deep expertise in ABB's power conditioning portfolio (BESS and HiPerGuard) and stay current with emerging power and energy management technologies.

Skills

Power electronics design

Three-phase systems

Grid codes familiarity

EMC principles

AutoCAD

PSCAD/Simulink

Education

Bachelor's degree in Electrical Engineering

Tools

AutoCAD

PSCAD

Simulink

Job description

ABB Inc. in Napier, New Zealand is seeking a Senior Electrical Systems Engineer to lead hardware design for Battery Energy Storage Systems (BESS) and UPS, addressing high-power electronics challenges and system integration across multiple product lines.

You will work closely with R&D, testing, and field teams to validate performance, safety, and compliance (IEC/UL), while contributing to the technology roadmap and documentation for battery systems.