Lead Modular Power Plant Electrical Architect

Socket.dev; Menlo Park (CA); On-site; USD 260,000 - 340,000; Full time

Job summary

Socket.dev seeks a senior electrical engineer to own the architecture of modular power skids for utility-scale and data-centre deployments. You will coordinate electrical, mechanical, and software controls teams, aligning external partners to deliver production-ready, scalable power solutions.

You will drive topology, hardware selection, and cost targets while ensuring compliance with grid interconnection standards, safety, and industry norms.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's or advanced degree in Electrical Engineering or related field.
• 18+ years of direct experience productizing complex, multi-disciplinary industrial systems.
• Deep technical knowledge of power conversion systems, including MV transformers (12.47kV–35kV), central inverters, switchgear, vacuum circuit breakers, protective relays, and high-current busbar/cabling systems.
• Demonstrated experience driving the engineering lifecycle of modular hardware systems, including design-to-cost, supplier capacity scaling, field reliability, and configuration control.
• Strong cross-functional leadership translating diverse technical requirements from electrical, mechanical, and operations teams into a cohesive, manufacturing-ready system design.
• Demonstrated success directing 3rd-party design, engineering, or Contract Manufacturing (CM) partners from concept to sustained production.
• Strong working knowledge of grid interconnection standards, utility protection schemes, and safety/compliance frameworks (IEEE 1547, UL 1741 SB/SA, NFPA 70/NEC, NFPA 855).

Responsibilities

• Take full engineering ownership of Mainspring's next-generation modular power integration skids, translating system architectures into production-ready assets.
• Define and own the skid-level power topology for utility-scale and data center sites, ensuring seamless integration between generators, central inverters, transformers, switchgear, and energy storage.
• Own detailed skid engineering decisions: hardware selection, spatial layout, thermal management, IP/NEMA ratings, seismic/wind loading, manufacturability, field serviceability.
• Partner with internal teams to extract and freeze comprehensive system requirements.
• Direct and manage third-party design firms and external manufacturers as the primary technical point of contact.
• Drive scalability and production readiness of larger skid configurations with suppliers for high-volume replication.
• Own the skid's cost target and drive design-to-cost trade-offs across hardware and supplier strategy.
• Develop a site design configuration tool specifying optimal inverter and skid configurations.

Skills

Cross-functional leadership

Manufacturing-ready system design

Vendor management

System architecture

Power electronics knowledge

Education

Bachelor's or advanced degree in Electrical Engineering

Tools

Central inverters

NEMA/IP ratings

Grid interconnection standards

Job description

Socket.dev seeks a senior electrical engineer to own the architecture of modular power skids for utility-scale and data-centre deployments. You will coordinate electrical, mechanical, and software controls teams, aligning external partners to deliver production-ready, scalable power solutions.

You will drive topology, hardware selection, and cost targets while ensuring compliance with grid interconnection standards, safety, and industry norms.