Senior Director of Grid Analytics

Brightsmith; United States; On-site; USD 180,000 - 240,000; Full time

Job summary

Brightsmith is seeking a Sr. Director of Grid Analytics to lead its grid strategy across utility-scale solar, storage, and hybrid projects in U.S. power markets.

The role combines hands-on technical work with strategic leadership to guide siting, interconnection, and M&A decisions. The ideal candidate will own end-to-end grid analytics, perform power flow studies, build scalable automation, and mentor a growing team in a fast-paced renewable energy platform.

Qualifications

• 10+ years in transmission planning and grid analysis at IPP/utility/consulting.
• Hands-on experience with TARA, PSSE, or similar power flow tools.
• Experience guiding generator interconnection processes to executed or near-executed agreements.
• Strong Python proficiency for automating power flow analysis and post-processing.
• Knowledge of OATTs and interconnection procedures in SPP & WECC.
• Excellent written and verbal communication of complex technical concepts.
• BS in Electrical Engineering (MS preferred).

Responsibilities

• Own and evolve the grid analytics framework to enable faster, more forward-looking siting decisions.
• Lead transmission/interconnection analysis including power flow, scenarios, and automation.
• Oversee generator interconnection processes from model prep to interconnection agreements.
• Develop automated, scalable workflows using Python and related tools; apply AI-assisted methods where appropriate.
• Engage with ISOs, utilities, and regulators to inform planning and strategy.
• Provide technical leadership and mentorship to junior engineers and manage consultants.

Skills

Python scripting

Power flow

Transmission planning

Interconnection analysis

Stakeholder communication

Leadership

Education

BS in Electrical Engineering

Tools

PSSE

TARA

Job description

A well-capitalized and rapidly growing renewable energy IPP and development platform is seeking a Sr. Director of Grid Analytics to lead its grid strategy across utility-scale solar, storage, and hybrid projects in competitive U.S. power markets. This is a backfill position following a key departure earlier this year and represents a critical leadership role at the center of the company’s siting, interconnection, and M&A efforts.

Unlike many organizations where grid analytics is reactive, this role sits at the tip of the spear, driving early-stage decision-making, portfolio strategy, and investment outcomes. The Director will lead grid analytics while remaining deeply hands-on—actively running studies, building automation, and solving novel problems with limited playbooks.

Role Overview

The Director of Grid Analytics will be responsible for leading all grid-related analysis and interconnection support, including power flow studies, scenario analysis, and automation development. The ideal candidate is someone who still actively performs technical analysis, can replicate utility and ISO studies as closely as possible, and thrives in an environment that values critical thinking, adaptability, and technical creativity.

This role currently has one direct report, with plans to grow the team by 2–3 additional hires over time. Candidates from consulting firms are encouraged to apply.

Key Responsibilities

Ownership of Grid Analytics Framework

• Take end-to-end ownership of existing grid analytics framework and continuously evolve it to support faster, more consistent, and more forward-looking siting and interconnection decisions
• Design and refine repeatable workflows for regional screening, scenario modeling, and sensitivity analysis
• Reduce friction, rework, and reliance on institutional knowledge by formalizing assumptions, methodologies, and outputs

Transmission & Interconnection Analysis

• Perform and oversee innovative and complex power flow, injection, and scenario studies to support greenfield prospecting and project development
• Independently predict, replicate, validate, and challenge ISO/TO and consultant study results
• Estimate interconnection facility and network upgrade costs and assess associated risks
• Modify regional power flow base cases to reflect future resource mixes, retirements, load growth, and planned transmission upgrades

Generator Interconnection Process

• Lead and oversee the generator interconnection request process, from model and application preparation to interconnection agreement negotiation and execution
• Collaborate with transmission owners to find solutions regarding project schedule and cost during execution stage
• Act as internal SME on generator interconnection procedures, queue window closings and related processes driven by open access transmission tariffs
• Design and maintain automated, scalable analytical workflows using Python or other scripting languages for model execution, post-processing, and scenario evaluation
• Identify opportunities to apply AI-assisted tools (e.g., data processing, queue tracking, scenario generation, result synthesis) to improve analytical coverage and speed
• Ensure that grid analytics capability scales with portfolio growth without linear increases in headcount

Strategic Decision Support

• Translate complex transmission and interconnection analysis into clear, actionable recommendations for development and executive leadership
• Explicitly communicate assumptions, uncertainties, and tradeoffs associated with siting and interconnection decisions
• Support portfolio-level prioritization by identifying grid-driven risks and opportunities early in the development lifecycle

Leadership & Team Development

• Provide technical and strategic leadership to a junior power flow engineer, including guidance on modeling approaches, assumptions, interpretation of results, and professional development
• Set analytical standards and decision frameworks that enable junior staff to contribute effectively without becoming bottlenecks
• Manage and direct third-party consultants as needed, while retaining internal ownership of core analytical thinking
• Continue to build team commensurate with growth of company portfolio; future hires include Regulatory Lead and Interconnection Analyst(s)

External Engagement

• Actively engage with ISOs, transmission owners, utilities, and regulators throughout the interconnection and transmission planning processes
• Track and participate in relevant transmission planning, queue reform, and policy proceedings

Qualifications & Experience

• 10+ years of experience at an IPP, utility, consulting firm, or ISO/TO performing transmission planning, interconnection analysis, and grid-related decision support
• Deep hands-on experience with TARA, PSSE, or similar power flow tools, and their associated Python APIs
• Demonstrated experience navigating generator interconnection processes through executed or near-executed agreements
• Strong proficiency in Python or other scripting languages used to automate power flow analysis and post-processing
• Working knowledge of OATTs, interconnection procedures, and transmission planning processes in SPP & WECC
• Ability to clearly communicate complex technical concepts in both written and verbal form
• BS in Electrical Engineering or related field (MS preferred)

Why This Role

This is a rare opportunity to lead grid analytics where it truly matters—driving siting, development, and M&A decisions, not just reacting to them. The organization values deep technical skill, creativity, and judgment, and empowers this role to shape outcomes at the highest level