Manager or Senior Manager, Design Engineering, Energy Storage

desri-careers; Houston (TX); On-site; USD 150,000 - 180,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Year-end bonus

Medical coverage

401(k) matching

Paid time off

Wellness reimbursement

Family building benefits

Charitable gift match

Job summary

DESRI is seeking a Battery Engineer, Manager or Director to lead the technical definition and engineering oversight of the Battery Energy Storage System (BESS) balance of plant from early development through turnover to operations.

The role requires establishing technical standards, reviewing OEM/EPC designs, coordinating with procurement, pre-construction, construction, and field teams to ensure technically sound, compliant, and reliable BESS projects.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in engineering or related field.
• Significant experience in utility-scale BESS engineering and system integration.
• Strong knowledge of BMS, PCS, EMS, SCADA, fire safety, transformers, MV equipment.
• Experience developing technical specifications, reviewing OEM/EPC designs, and managing multi-disciplinary design compliance.
• Excellent communication and collaboration across development, procurement, construction, and field teams.

Responsibilities

• Define standards, basis-of-design criteria, and specification packages for BESS systems.
• Define project-level BESS design criteria including LV collection, inverter strategy, and layout optimization.
• Translate project constraints into clear BESS plant design requirements.
• Lead technical review of OEM proposals, design packages, and submittals.
• Define interface matrices among OEM, EPC, SCADA/controls, and DESRI.
• Support technical diligence for equipment selection without leading commercial negotiations.
• Ensure supplier schedules reflect design intent and interface requirements.
• Serve as technical escalation point for RFIs, clarifications, and field issues.
• Define commissioning and performance testing criteria and acceptance logic.
• Incorporate lessons learned into future specifications and standards.

Skills

BESS engineering

System integration

Technical design reviews

Cross-functional leadership

Documentation & specs

SCADA/controls

EMS/plant controls

Education

Bachelor's degree in engineering

Job description

About DESRI

DESRI (formerly D. E. Shaw Renewable Investments) is a market-leading owner and operator of renewable energy projects throughout the United States. We have acquired or developed approximately 13 gigawatts of contracted capacity across a portfolio of over 85 renewable energy projects in 24 states.

At DESRI, our culture is grounded in rigorous analytics and thoughtful risk-taking, with a strong emphasis on creativity, intellectual curiosity, and continuous improvement. We operate with lean teams that prioritize efficiency and minimize unnecessary bureaucracy, enabling individuals to take ownership and move quickly. We value open, constructive dialogue and believe it leads to better outcomes. Above all, we are driven to go the extra mile and support one another, fostering a collaborative environment built on accountability, integrity, and care.

About the role

DESRI is seeking a talented and highly motivated individual to join its Engineering and BESS team as a Manager or Director, Battery Engineer, title to be commensurate with experience. This individual will serve as a technical authority for battery energy storage system design, integration strategy, and engineering quality across the development, procurement, and execution of utility-scale BESS projects.

The role offers the opportunity to shape how DESRI specifies, evaluates, and integrates battery storage systems across both fully integrated OEM solutions and DC block configurations where DESRI leads the integration strategy. You will work closely with procurement, pre-construction, construction, engineering, and external suppliers to ensure projects are technically sound, executable under EPC delivery models, and aligned with DESRI’s performance and reliability expectations.

What you'll do

You will lead the technical definition and engineering oversight of DESRI’s battery energy storage system balance of system scope from early development through turnover to operations. Responsibilities include defining technical standards, project design requirements, and specifications, reviewing EPC and OEM deliverables for compliance with project requirements, resolving interface issues, and supporting cost optimization efforts as the battery subject matter expert.

Responsibilities include:

• Establish technical standards, basis-of-design criteria, and specification packages for battery systems and related plant interfaces.


• Define project-level BESS design criteria, including LV collection systems, inverter strategy, layout optimization, auxiliary power optimization, and key integration assumptions.


• Translate and ensure compliance with project constraints, interconnection, offtaker, and AHJ requirements, and operating use cases into clear BESS plant design requirements.


• Lead technical review of OEM proposals, design packages, exceptions, deviations, and submittals.


• Define scope boundaries and interface matrices among OEM, EPC, SCADA/controls, and DESRI.


• Support technical diligence for equipment selection, without owning commercial negotiations or sourcing process administration.


• Partner with the BESS Procurement Engineer to ensure supplier technical schedules reflect DESRI’s design intent and interface requirements.


• Serve as the technical escalation point for BESS-related RFIs, design clarifications, and field engineering issues.


• Review supplier and EPC technical changes for consistency with design intent and project requirements.


• Define the technical basis for (non-SCADA) commissioning and performance testing of the BESS package.


• Support development and validation of test protocols, acceptance criteria, and performance verification logic.


• Help translate operating lessons learned into updated specifications, design standards, and supplier requirements for future projects.

Qualifications

• An undergraduate degree in engineering, electrical engineering, power systems, or a related technical field.


• Significant experience in utility-scale battery energy storage engineering, system integration, design review, or product engineering.


• Candidates should have a strong technical foundation in battery energy storage systems and experience supporting the design, construction, operation, troubleshooting, or lifecycle management of complex power systems.


• Strong working knowledge of, BMS architecture, PCS/inverters, EMS/plant controls, SCADA interfaces, fire safety systems, transformers, switchgear, and medium-voltage plant equipment.


• Demonstrated experience developing technical specifications, reviewing OEM/EPC designs, and managing multi-disciplinary design compliance.


• Experience with system integration across multiple suppliers and disciplines, particularly for utility-scale BESS projects.


• Strong analytical skills, including the ability to assess technical submittals, test results, and performance data.


• Excellent communication and documentation skills, with the ability to work effectively across development, procurement, construction, commissioning, and external vendors.

Preferred Experience

• Experience with both fully integrated BESS OEM offerings and DC block / split-package delivery structures.


• Experience supporting FAT, SAT, commissioning, and performance testing for utility-scale battery projects.


• Familiarity with project contracts and technical exhibits sufficient to support, but not lead, technical-commercial negotiations.


• Experience with fire protection engineering deliverables, fire alarm design, NFPA 72 and NFPA 855 requirements for utility-scale BESS sites.

At DESRI, we consider a wide range of factors to determine your compensation. We rely on market indicators and consider your specific job family, background, location, skills, and experience. The expected annual base salary for this position is $150,000 to $180,000. Our compensation and benefits package includes variable compensation in the form of a year-end bonus, guaranteed in the first year of hire, and benefits including medical and prescription drug coverage, 401(k) contribution matching, paid time off, wellness reimbursement, family building benefits, and a charitable gift match program.