Principal BESS Engineer

Clearway Energy; Houston (TX); Hybrid; USD 140,000 - 195,000; Full time

Job summary

Clearway Energy Group is seeking a Principal Battery Energy Storage System (BESS) Engineer for hybrid roles across multiple U.S. locations, including Houston, TX.

Lead preliminary engineering, fire safety, design optimization, and procurement support for stand-alone, hybrid, and co-located BESS facilities. You will collaborate with project teams, vendors, and consultants to drive multi-gigawatt project pipelines, develop design requirements, evaluate system designs, and ensure ISO/compliance

Qualifications

• 8+ years of experience in BESS engineering, integration, development, and commissioning for utility-scale BESS projects.
• Experience in writing technical specifications, performance requirements, and technical reports.
• Knowledge of electrical standards (UL/IEEE), Fire safety codes and standards, National Electrical Code, and interconnection standards.

Responsibilities

• Update and refine EPC contractual agreements and requirements for BESS, focusing on EPC obligations and division of responsibilities.
• Evaluate, track, and optimize BESS design to conform to safety, technology, regulatory, and compliance standards.
• Quality control BESS engineering, design, product validation, EPC touchpoints, and division of responsibilities.
• Provide BESS SME to project teams through origination, development, design, construction, and commissioning.
• Develop consensus on optimal BESS design and operational strategies with Clearway’s teams amid complex technical, economic, and regulatory environment.
• Serve as the key technical contact with customers and build relationships with energy storage equipment and service suppliers.
• Develop tools optimizing BESS sizing, auxiliary loads, and augmentation.

Skills

BESS engineering

Technical specs

Fire safety

TCP/IP

Modbus/TCP

SCADA

Python

Excel

Tools

TCP/IP

Modbus/TCP

SCADA

EMS

BMS

UL/IEEE standards

Job description

Reporting to the Sr. Manager of BESS Engineering, the Principal Battery Energy Storage System (BESS) Engineer (or Battery Energy Storage System Manager) is responsible for preliminary engineering, fire safety engineering, technical specifications, system optimization, and procurement support for stand‑alone, hybrid, and co‑located BESS facilities. The Principal BESS Engineer will help deliver optimized stand‑alone, hybrid, and co‑located BESS facilities. The Principal BESS Engineer / BESS Engineering Manager will work with project teams, external engineering teams, vendors, third parties, and consultants to drive our class‑leading, multi‑gigawatt, and globally competitive project pipeline to fruition.

This hybrid role will be located in one of our office locations in Scottsdale, AZ, San Diego, CA, San Francisco, CA, Houston, TX, or Denver, CO. Scottsdale is the preferred location.

What You'll Be Doing

• BESS Platform Development
  • Update and refine EPC contractual agreements and requirements for BESS, with a focus on EPC obligations and the division of responsibilities.
  • Evaluate, track, and optimize BESS design to conform to the latest in safety, technology, regulatory, and compliance standards.
  • Quality control BESS engineering, design, product validation, EPC touchpoints, and division of responsibilities.
  • Provide BESS subject matter expertise to project teams through origination, development, design, construction, and commissioning.
  • Develop consensus on optimal BESS design and operational strategies with Clearway’s Development, Construction, and Operations organizations given a complex technical, economic, and regulatory environment.
  • Serve as the key technical point of contact with customers and build strategic relationships with energy storage equipment and service suppliers.
  • Develop and maintain tools optimizing BESS sizing, auxiliary loads, and augmentation.
• Generate BESS system design requirements from project requirements originating in PPA, IA, and other applicable agreements.
• Assess a range of BESS system designs based on project‑specific constraints and propose optimal solutions based on technical and commercial considerations.
• Establish hardware and software control requirements for market applications, including utility and ISO compliance requirements.
• Review and negotiate the technical requirements and performance guarantees in offtake agreements.
• Develop BESS CapEx, auxiliary load, and augmentation assumptions relevant for financial modeling and underwriting.
• BESS Project Engineering & Strategic Procurement Support
  • Technically qualify new vendors and products in internal due diligence processes. Maintain and update technical specifications used in supply contracts.
  • Support Engineering, Procurement and Construction (EPC) teams during the request for quote phase of projects in development. Support technical coordination, RFIs, and DOR between BESS supplier and EPC contractor.
  • Support permitting and fire safety compliance requirements.
  • Support project team with design review process, construction coordination, and commissioning of BESS facilities.
  • Coordinate closed‑loop learning of best practices and process improvement given lessons learned.

What You'll Bring

• 8+ years of experience in BESS engineering, integration, development, and commissioning for utility‑scale BESS projects.
• Experience in writing technical specifications, performance requirements, and technical reports. Ability to effectively write and verbally communicate technical information.
• Knowledge of electrical standards (UL/IEEE), Fire safety codes and standards, National Electrical Code, and interconnection standards.
• Familiarity with technical communications protocols (TCP/IP, Modbus/TCP, etc.) and a variety of controls software/hardware platforms.
• Familiarity or experience with energy market applications and telemetry requirements.
• Knowledge of Power Plant Controller, Energy Management Systems (EMS), Battery Management Systems (BMS), and utility communication systems, including SCADA.
• Basic software programming skills, especially MS Excel and Python.
• Familiarity with energy storage product safety standards, tests, and certifications such as NFPA codes and standards (855, 72, 68, 69), UL1973 and UL9540/A.
• Proficiency in working on a small team in a fast‑paced environment and ability to multitask and manage multiple projects simultaneously.
• Knowledge of utility equipment specifications.

What Would Be Nice

• Experience in utility electrical power system projects or distributed energy resource projects preferred.

Clearway will not sponsor non‑immigrant visas for this position (H-1B, TN, E-3, etc.).

#LI-Hybrid

The pay rate for the successful candidate will depend on geographic location, skills, relevant and demonstrated experience, education, training and certifications, and other factors permitted by law. This role is eligible to earn an annual cash bonus, subject to personal and company performance goals.

Salary Range Across all U.S. Locations

$140,000 - $195,000 USD

Clearway Energy Group is leading the transition to a world powered by clean energy. Along with our public affiliate Clearway Energy, Inc., our portfolio comprises approximately 11.6 GW of gross generating capacity in 26 states, including 9.1 GW of wind, solar, and battery energy storage assets, and over 2.5 GW of conventional dispatchable power generation providing critical grid reliability services. As we develop a nationwide pipeline of new energy projects for the future, Clearway’s operating fleet generates enough reliable electricity to power more than 3 million homes today. Clearway Energy Group is headquartered in San Francisco with offices in Denver, Houston, Phoenix, Princeton, and San Diego. For more information, visit clearwayenergygroup.com.

Our Commitment to Diversity, Equity, & Inclusion
Clearway Energy Group’s vision a world powered by clean energy. Along with our public affiliate Clearway Energy, Inc., our portfolio comprises approximately 11.8 GW of gross generating capacity in 26 states, including 9.1 GW of wind, solar, and battery energy storage assets, and over 2.8 GW of flexible dispatchable power generation providing critical grid reliability services. As we develop a nationwide pipeline of new energy projects for the future, Clearway’s operating fleet generates enough reliable electricity to power more than 2 million homes today. Clearway Energy Group is headquartered in San Francisco with offices in Denver, Houston, Phoenix, Princeton, and San Diego. For more information, visit clearwayenergygroup.com.
Working at Clearway, Hybrid Together
Here at Clearway, we’re committed to balancing flexibility while fostering strong relationships with our teammates. We do this by prioritizing corporate new hires based near one of our offices in San Francisco, San Diego, Scottsdale, Houston, Denver, & Princeton. Our office‑based employees typically work together from fabulous spaces on Tuesdays & Thursdays to collaborate & learn, build community, get to know one another, & enjoy company‑provided meals & events. Our site‑based employees collaborate in‑person daily to keep our locations operating safely and efficiently while fostering strong relationships within their local communities.
Clearway Energy is an equal opportunity employer that values a broad diversity of talent, knowledge, experience & expertise. We intentionally foster a culture of inclusion that empowers our employees to deliver superior performance to the communities we serve. We encourage minorities, women, individuals with disabilities & protected veterans to join the team. Clearway is a proud promoter of employment opportunities for our Military & Veterans.
What We Provide
Clearway offers all eligible employees working 20+ hours per week a comprehensive menu of benefits: generous PTO, medical, dental & vision care, HSAs with company contributions, health FSAs, dependent daycare FSAs, commuter benefits, relocation, & a 401(k) plan with employer match, a variety of life & accident insurances, fertility programs, adoption assistance, generous parental leave, tuition reimbursement, & benefits for employees in same‑sex marriages, civil unions & domestic partnerships. For more on Clearway benefits, visit our Benefits Website .

Notice to Applicants
Clearway Energy is strongly committed to a philosophy of equal opportunity and fully complies with equalemploymentlaws , ordinances, and regulations for all applicants and employees. We will make reasonable accommodations to enable individuals with disabilities to apply and compete for employment opportunities for which they are qualified. If you need a reasonable accommodation because of a disability for any part of the employment process, please send an e‑mail to [e-mail] and let us know the nature of your request and your contact information.

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