Principal BESS Engineer

Clearway Energy seeks a Principal BESS Engineer to lead preliminary and detailed engineering, fire safety design, technical specifications, system optimization, and procurement for utility-scale battery energy storage facilities—including stand-alone, hybrid, and co-located configurations. Based in Scottsdale, Arizona (hybrid role, with alternative offices available in San Diego, San Francisco, Houston, or Denver), you will report to the Sr. Manager of BESS Engineering and collaborate with project teams, external engineers, vendors, and consultants across a multi-gigawatt, nationally distributed project pipeline.

Responsibilities

• Update and refine EPC contractual agreements and define responsibilities, focusing on BESS-specific obligations and risk allocation.
• Evaluate, track, and optimize BESS designs to meet current safety, technology, regulatory, and compliance standards.
• Perform quality control on BESS engineering, design validation, EPC coordination, and division of technical responsibilities.
• Provide BESS technical leadership and expertise from origination and development through design, construction, and commissioning.
• Facilitate consensus on optimal BESS design and operational strategies across Development, Construction, and Operations organizations.
• Serve as primary technical contact with customers and develop relationships with energy storage equipment and service vendors.
• Develop and maintain optimization tools for BESS sizing, auxiliary loads, and system augmentation.
• Generate system design requirements from PPAs, interconnection agreements, and other applicable contracts.
• Assess multiple BESS system designs against project constraints and recommend optimal solutions based on technical and commercial factors.
• Establish hardware and software control requirements for utility and ISO compliance across market applications.
• Review and negotiate technical requirements and performance guarantees in offtake agreements.
• Develop CapEx, auxiliary load, and augmentation assumptions for financial modeling and underwriting.
• Technically qualify new vendors and products during due diligence; maintain and update technical specifications for supply contracts.
• Support EPC teams during request-for-quote phases, including technical coordination, RFIs, and design-of-record reviews.
• Support permitting and fire safety compliance activities.
• Coordinate design review, construction oversight, and commissioning of BESS facilities.
• Capture lessons learned and drive process improvement across projects.

Requirements

• 8+ years of hands-on experience in BESS engineering, integration, development, and commissioning on utility-scale projects.
• Proficiency writing technical specifications, performance requirements, and technical reports.
• Knowledge of electrical standards: UL/IEEE, National Electrical Code, and interconnection standards.
• Knowledge of fire safety codes and standards relevant to battery energy storage.
• Familiarity with technical communication protocols (TCP/IP, Modbus/TCP, etc.) and multiple control software and hardware platforms.
• Knowledge of Power Plant Controllers, Energy Management Systems (EMS), Battery Management Systems (BMS), SCADA, and utility communication systems.
• Familiarity with energy storage product safety standards and certifications: NFPA 855, 72, 68, 69; UL1973; UL9540/A.
• Experience with energy market applications and telemetry requirements.
• Proficiency in MS Excel and Python programming.
• Knowledge of utility equipment specifications.
• Must be eligible to work in the United States without visa sponsorship (company will not sponsor H-1B, TN, E-3, or other non-immigrant visas).

Benefits

• Annual salary range: $140,000–$195,000 USD (varies by location, experience, education, certifications, and demonstrated skills).
• Eligible for annual cash bonus based on personal and company performance goals.
• Paid time off, medical, dental, and vision coverage.
• Health Savings Account with employer contributions; dependent and healthcare Flexible Spending Accounts.
• Commuter benefits and relocation assistance.
• 401(k) plan with employer match.
• Life and accident insurance; fertility and adoption assistance programs.
• Parental leave and tuition reimbursement.
• Hybrid work model: office-based employees typically on-site Tuesdays and Thursdays; company-provided meals and events.