Technical Solution Manager - Plant-Level

Contemporary Amperex Technology USA Inc; San Francisco (CA); On-site; USD 140,000 - 190,000; Full time

Job summary

Contemporary Amperex Technology USA Inc. in California seeks an experienced electrical engineer to lead plant-level energy storage system integration for projects in North America. You will coordinate with owners, EPCs, BOPs, and utilities on electrical interfaces and grid interconnection.

This role includes on-site installation, commissioning, field testing, and knowledge capture to support product teams. Fluency in English and 8+ years in power/renewable energy are highly valued.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree or higher in Electrical Engineering or related field.
• 8+ years in power/renewable energy with overseas experience.
• Coordinated with owners, EPCs and utilities on energy storage projects.
• Knowledge of plant-level electrical requirements and grid interconnection processes.

Responsibilities

• Define plant-level energy storage system integration requirements and interfaces.
• Coordinate with owners, EPCs and BOPs on electrical, civil, and fire protection interfaces.
• Prepare external interface docs and ITPs for grid interconnection.
• Support installation, commissioning, testing, and field issue resolution.
• Monitor standards, drive compliance and provide product feedback.

Skills

Stakeholder coordination

On-site troubleshooting

English proficiency

Grid interconnection experience

Education

Bachelor's degree or higher in Electrical Engineering

Master's degree preferred

Tools

ETAP

PSCAD

PVsyst

AutoCAD

Python

Job description

Contemporary Amperex Technology (USA), Inc. (CATU) is a U.S. subsidiary of Contemporary Amperex Technology Co., Limited (CATL), a global leader in the research, development and manufacturing of advanced electric vehicle and energy storage batteries. Established in Michigan in 2017, CATU has played a critical role in advancing electric mobility and energy resilience in the U.S.

Our Vision

To become a globally leading innovative technology corporation, contribute meaningfully to sustainable energy solutions, and provide a platform that supports both the professional and personal growth of our employees.

Key Responsibilities

1.1 Pre-Sales and Solution Development – Plant-Level Energy Storage System Integration

• Evaluate the compatibility of energy storage systems with projects from a plant-level perspective, including grid interconnection requirements (fault ride-through, primary frequency regulation, power quality, and protection), site and climatic conditions, and Balance of Plant (BOP) interfaces (medium-voltage connections, auxiliary power, fire protection, and communications).
• Work with project developers, owners, EPC contractors, and engineering design firms to align technical requirements and project constraints for energy storage systems. Provide recommendations on system selection, configuration, and external interface specifications.
• Support technical proposals, bid submissions, and technical clarifications, with responsibility for energy storage system interfaces and grid integration requirements. Collaborate with internal system teams on technical presentations and proposal discussions.

1.2 Technical Interface Coordination (Owner / EPC / BOP)

• Serve as the primary technical point of contact for energy storage system interfaces, coordinating with owners, EPC contractors, and BOP contractors on electrical systems (primary and secondary systems, medium-voltage connections, protection relays, SCADA, and remote control), civil works (foundations, structural loads, and embedded components), fire protection integration, HVAC, plumbing and drainage, and communications.
• Review owner, EPC, and BOP design documents and construction plans related to the energy storage system, provide technical feedback, and track issues through resolution.
• Prepare external technical interface documentation for energy storage systems, including interface lists, technical specifications, and Inspection and Test Plans (ITPs), establishing a technical basis for coordination with owners, EPC contractors, and BOP contractors.

1.3 Installation and Commissioning Support – Field Coordination

• Support owners, EPC contractors, and BOP contractors during on-site energy storage system installation by providing installation requirements and confirming site readiness, including lifting and rigging, equipment storage, cabling, and grounding. Coordinate and resolve construction interface issues between the energy storage system and the overall power plant.
• Support energy storage system commissioning from a plant-level perspective. Verify that grid-side conditions, including backfeed power, protection systems, and communications, meet commissioning requirements. Coordinate commissioning schedules and responsibilities with internal commissioning teams, owners, EPC contractors, and BOP contractors.
• Participate in plant-level testing activities involving the energy storage system, including power quality, anti-islanding, Automatic Generation Control (AGC), Automatic Voltage Control (AVC), primary frequency regulation, and fault ride-through. Perform on-site technical troubleshooting and drive issue resolution.

1.4 Grid Interconnection Acceptance and Operational Support

• Coordinate with project owners, utility companies, and project supervision consultants to address energy storage system-related nonconformities identified during grid interconnection testing and Provisional Acceptance Certificate (PAC) acceptance activities. Drive corrective actions through closure and support on-time grid interconnection of the overall project.
• Support technical issue resolution during trial operation and the warranty period. Analyze root causes from a plant-level perspective to determine whether issues originate from the energy storage system, system interfaces, or the overall power plant, and coordinate with relevant internal and external stakeholders to resolve them.
• Translate field issues into product improvement requirements for battery, Power Conversion System (PCS), and Energy Management System (EMS) product teams. Develop and maintain a knowledge base covering energy storage system and plant-level coordination, including interface specifications, commissioning Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs), and project case studies, to support team development and knowledge sharing.

1.5 Standards Compliance and Market Intelligence

• Monitor grid codes, certification requirements, and fire safety regulations applicable to energy storage systems in target markets, including North America, Europe, Australia, the Middle East, and Southeast Asia. Relevant standards and regulations include IEC, UL 9540A, NFPA 855, IEEE 1547, and applicable local grid codes. Drive compliance adaptation of products and solutions to meet market requirements.
• Analyze competitor products and market technology trends, providing plant-level technical input to support solution development and project opportunities.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree or higher in Electrical Engineering, Power Systems and Automation, Renewable Energy Engineering, or a related field. Master's degree preferred.
• More than 8 years of experience in the power or renewable energy industry, including at least 3 years of overseas experience in energy storage or renewable energy projects.
• Must have participated in at least one overseas project through the complete process from installation and commissioning to grid interconnection acceptance (PAC). Demonstrated experience coordinating with multiple stakeholders, including project owners, EPC contractors, BOP contractors, and utilities, to resolve system-level technical issues.
• Strong knowledge of plant-level technical requirements, including primary and secondary electrical systems, medium-voltage connections, protection relays, SCADA and communications, substations, civil works, and fire protection as part of BOP. Familiarity with power plant construction, commissioning, and grid interconnection processes and technical requirements for energy storage and renewable energy projects.
• Familiarity with major international standards and grid codes in target markets, including multiple standards from the following: IEC 62477/62933, UL 9540/9540A, NFPA 855, IEEE 1547, AS/NZS 4777, UK G99, and Germany's VDE-AR-N 4110.
• Understanding of energy storage system operating principles and external interfaces, including batteries, Battery Management Systems (BMS), PCS, and EMS. Ability to collaborate effectively with internal system teams to identify and drive resolution of energy storage-related issues from a plant-level perspective.
• Familiarity with plant-level commissioning and grid interconnection testing, including backfeed power, protection relay testing, power quality, anti-islanding, remote control and communications, and performance testing (round-trip efficiency (RTE), available capacity, and response time).
• Professional working proficiency in English, with the ability to independently handle technical clarifications, solution presentations, technical and commercial negotiations, and technical report writing in English.
• Strong on-site troubleshooting, stakeholder coordination, and issue resolution skills, with the ability to drive projects forward effectively in resource-constrained environments.

Preferred Qualifications

• Professional experience with energy storage system integrators, EPC contractors, engineering design firms, utilities (grid operations or power supply), or overseas project developers.
• Experience with grid interconnection applications and utility coordination in target markets, such as ISO/RTO interconnection processes in the United States
• Professional engineering credentials, such as a Registered Electrical Engineer (Power Generation, Transmission and Substation or Power Distribution) or Professional Engineer (PE) license in the United States.
• Experience with engineering design and simulation tools such as ETAP, PSCAD, PVsyst, and AutoCAD. Python programming and data analysis skills are a plus.
• Experience with large-scale ground-mounted solar projects, standalone energy storage projects, shared energy storage projects, and integrated solar-plus-storage or solar-plus-storage-plus-diesel projects.
• Experience establishing energy storage system and plant-level interface specifications, coordination processes, and SOP frameworks from the ground up.