Technical Leader, Power Conversion Systems, Ford Energy

Ford-Motor-Company; Dearborn (MI); Hybrid; USD 131,000 - 218,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Performance bonuses

Vehicle discounts

Shape energy strategy at Ford Energy

Job summary

Ford Energy, a Ford Motor Company subsidiary, seeks a Principal Technical Architect for BESS power conversion and grid-interface systems. You will define architecture, oversee interconnection studies, and lead technical risk reviews to ensure bankability and regulatory compliance.

In this leadership role, you will drive interoperability with partners, govern grid modeling, and mentor field teams, while ensuring safety, reliability, and performance of high‑voltage energy storage solutions for the

Qualifications

• Master’s degree in Electrical Engineering or related field.
• 10+ years of experience in power electronics, grid-connected energy systems, or high-voltage electrification.
• Deep technical expertise in battery systems, inverter/converter operation, and grid interconnection architecture.
• Experience with utility-scale grid modeling (PSCAD, PSS/E) and interconnection studies.

Responsibilities

• Provide senior technical leadership for architecture and integration of the BESS platform with PCS systems, including DC-side interface requirements and protection strategies.
• Define and review Interoperability Standards for seamless integration with global inverter partners.
• Oversee grid modeling and validation for interconnection studies and witness testing.

Skills

Technical leadership

Grid interface

Power electronics

Education

Master's degree in Electrical Engineering

Tools

PSCAD

PSS/E

MATLAB/Simulink

Job description

Ford Energy is a newly formed, wholly-owned subsidiary of Ford Motor Company dedicated to accelerating U.S. energy independence. Leveraging Ford's century of manufacturing excellence and world-class battery energy storage systems (BESS) technology, Ford Energy designs, manufactures, and services grid-scale and commercial DC battery energy storage systems (BESS). Ford Energy is uniquely positioned to capture the growing demand for reliable, US-built energy storage systems. We are not just building batteries; we are building the infrastructure for the next generation of the American grid.

Why Ford Energy?

At Ford Energy, you have the backing of an industrial manufacturing powerhouse with the agility of a dedicated energy startup offering industry leading technology. We offer a competitive compensation package including performance-based bonuses, Ford vehicle discounts, and the opportunity to shape the energy strategy of one of the world's most iconic brands.

In this position...

The Technical Specialist, Power Conversion Systems (PCS) will serve as Ford Energy’s Principal Technical Architect for BESS power conversion and grid-interface systems. This is a high-visibility, Individual Contributor (SME) role responsible for the technical direction, integration, and 'bankability' of our DC blocks and their transition to the utility grid. You will act as the ultimate technical authority for inverter selection, transformer coordination, and grid compliance, ensuring that Ford Energy’s solutions are technically superior, economically viable, and financially defensible to project investors.

What you'll do

• Principal Architecture & Grid Interface
  • Provide senior technical leadership for the architecture and integration of the BESS platform with PCS systems, including DC-side interface requirements and protection strategies.
  • Define the 'Interoperability Standard' to ensure the Ford Energy DC block can seamlessly integrate with a variety of global inverter (PCS) partners.
  • Define and review technical interfaces for interconnection architecture, including voltage matching, insulation coordination, and grounding philosophy.
• Grid Modeling & Simulation Governance
  • Oversee the development and validation of high-fidelity grid models (e.g., PSCAD, PSS/E, MATLAB/Simulink) required for utility interconnection studies and witness testing.
  • Ensure that PCS control behavior supports advanced grid services such as synthetic inertia, black start, and rapid frequency response.
  • Lead technical risk reviews (DFMEA) for PCS/BESS interfaces, focusing on transient response and EMI/EMC concerns.
• Commercial Bankability & Regulatory Leadership
  • Support the 'bankability' of Ford Energy projects by leading technical due diligence discussions with Independent Engineering (IE) firms, lenders, and insurers.
  • Establish the cybersecurity hardware standards for the PCS and communications interface to ensure compliance with NERC-CIP and other critical infrastructure requirements.
  • Lead the strategy for UL and IEEE certification (e.g., UL 1741, IEEE 1547), working with labs to define test strategies and close technical gaps.
• Lifecycle Performance & Field Intelligence
  • Analyze field usage and diagnostics data to identify failure trends or control instability, converting data into engineering actions.
  • Lead Root Cause Analysis (RCA) for complex system failures involving PCS behavior or grid-side anomalies.
  • Serve as a technical mentor to the Senior Engineer (Integration) and Commissioning teams to ensure engineering knowledge is transferred to the field.
    

You'll have..

• Master’s degree in electrical engineering, Power Electronics, or a related technical field.
• 10+ years of experience in power electronics, grid-connected energy systems, or high-voltage electrification.
• Deep technical expertise in battery systems, inverter/converter operation, and grid interconnection architecture.
• Demonstrated experience with utility-scale grid modeling (PSCAD, PSS/E) and interconnection studies.
• Strong understanding of UL, IEC, IEEE, and NFPA standards relevant to BESS.

Even you better, you may have...

• PhD in Electrical Engineering or Power Electronics.
• Direct experience with stationary BESS or large-scale solar inverter integration.
• Experience supporting the project financing process (technical due diligence) for energy infrastructure.
• Background in automotive high-voltage systems with transferable rigor to BESS applications.
• Leadership Attributes
  • Technical Visionary capable of defining the future of power conversion for the American grid.
  • Strategic Influencer who can translate complex power electronics math into clear business risks and opportunities for executive audiences.
  • Safety-First Architect who prioritizes long-term asset performance and grid stability.
  • Collaborative SME who thrives in a fast-paced startup environment while maintaining corporate-level technical rigor.
• Location & Travel
  • Flexible Location: This position is hybrid-friendly for candidates with a proven ability to deliver results outside of a traditional office environment.
  • Travel Expectations: This role requires travel to partner sites, certification labs, and customer installations (including potential international travel) to support technical integration.
    

This position is leadership level 6 and ranges from $115,500-218,100.

Final determination of salary grade will be based on candidate's skills and experience, and base salary will be set within the applicable range according to job scope, responsibility and competitive market value.

Company: As Ford establishes a wholly owned subsidiary focused on Battery Energy Storage Systems, this role will initially be employed by Ford and is expected to transition to the subsidiary within one year.

Visa sponsorship is not available for this position.

Candidates for positions with Ford Motor Company must be legally authorized to work in the United States. Verification of employment eligibility will be required at the time of hire.

We are an Equal Opportunity Employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, religion, color, age, sex, national origin, sexual orientation, gender identity, disability status or protected veteran status. In the United States, if you need a reasonable accommodation for the online application process due to a disability, please call 1-888-336-0660.

This position is hybrid. Candidates who are in commuting distance to a Ford hub location may be required to be onsite four or more days per week.

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