Sr. Manager or Director , Storage Engineering

Avantus
San Diego, CA
On-site

Who this role is best for

Aimed at mid-to-senior level engineering leaders with BESS expertise who can manage cross-functional teams and negotiate technical contracts.

Best fit for

  • Candidates with 5-10 years in BESS design and integration for utility-scale solar projects
    — “Energy storage development, design, and integration experience: 7-10 years for Director; 5-7 years for Senior Manager”
  • Individuals with a background in battery technology and performance modeling for long-term operations
    — “Strong knowledge of BESS subsystem performance and degradation (battery, PCS/inverter, thermal management, BMS/EMS), including battery storage performance modeling”
  • Professionals experienced in negotiating and enforcing technical contracts with EPC and BESS suppliers
    — “Own, write and negotiate clear and strong technical contracts for the BESS EPC contractors and BESS suppliers”

Things to consider

  • This role requires up to 25% travel, which could affect work-life balance for some candidates
    — “Ability to travel up to 25% of the time”
  • Candidates must be capable of working with legal, finance, and operations teams on a regular basis
    — “Excellent verbal and written communication skills, with the ability to work across engineering, legal, procurement, finance, and operations teams”

How to stand out

  • Highlight experience in co-optimizing solar PV and storage systems for project design
    — “Collaborate with Avantus PV design SMEs to co-optimize design of storage facility with the solar PV component of the projects”
  • Demonstrate ability to align storage performance with offtake and financing requirements
    — “Ability to support technical diligence for lenders, tax equity investors, and independent engineers, and to align performance terms with offtake and financing requirements”
  • Showcase expertise in BESS permitting and safety processes, such as NFPA and UL standards
    — “In-depth knowledge of BESS safety and permitting processes, including NFPA, CFC, and UL certification”
  • Emphasize experience in managing technical deliverables and ensuring correct designs
    — “Review BESS technical deliverables to ensure technical needs and correct designs are met”
  • Include background in utility or market operations and battery dispatch strategies
    — “Background in utility or market operations, including generator and battery dispatch and storage control strategies”
Pace · SteadyCollaboration · HighAutonomy · MediumDecision Impact · Company

Derived from job-description analysis by Serendipath's career intelligence engine.

What success looks like

  • Led successful BESS projects from development through long-term operations
  • Collaborated with key battery suppliers and EPC contractors
Typical background
7-10 years of experience in energy storage development and integration

Skills & requirements

Required

Energy Storage DevelopmentBESS TechnologyUtility-scale BESS Design And IntegrationProject Management

Preferred

PV+S ProjectsBattery Storage Performance Modeling

Stack & domain

BESS ExecutionBattery Energy Storage SystemsPV+S ProjectsControls And Scada CapabilitiesBESS EPC ContractorsBESS SuppliersUtility-scale Clean Energy ProjectsStorage EngineeringBESS Technology

About the role

Original posting from Avantus

ABOUT AVANTUS

Avantus develops, owns and operates utility-scale clean energy projects across California and the Desert Southwest. Our development pipeline of solar with integrated storage will generate enough dispatchable power to serve more than 10 million Americans, day and night. Backed by strategic investment from KKR and EIG, and building on more than a decade of industry leadership, Avantus is growing its position as an independent power producer, delivering affordable, reliable clean energy solutions to meet America’s growing energy demand.

ABOUT THE POSITION

We are seeking a highly motivated and organized candidate for a Sr. Manager or Director, Storage Engineering position. The successful candidate will demonstrate sound industry knowledge, superior communications, and detail-oriented organizational skills. This role reports to the Head of Storage Engineering.  

ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS AND RESPONSIBILITIES 

Lead internal and external cross-functional team to ensure comprehensive scope coverage of BESS execution to fit offtake, M&A buyer, and any other project needs.

Partner with key battery suppliers, EPC contractors, power plant controller providers, and inverter suppliers to estimate component cost and performance for battery energy storage systems for inclusion in PV+S projects

Collaborate with battery suppliers, BESS contractors and BESS integrator partners to build investor confidence in new technology or suppliers and push down the Levelized Cost of Storage

Own, write and negotiate clear and strong technical contracts for the BESS EPC contractors and BESS suppliers to deliver on our PPA obligations at the lowest cost and the least risk

Specify controls and SCADA capabilities of the BESS and power plant for integration with onsite PV, interconnection facilities and utility operations

Collaborate with Avantus PV design SMEs to co-optimize design of storage facility with the solar PV component of the projects

Help prepare BESS Suppliers and EPC RFPs and technical requirements, work with internal teams to hand off contracted BESS suppliers and EPC contractors to ensure and manage proper engineering, construction, schedule, commissioning, and operation of assigned PV+S projects

Work with project engineering team to support design, engineering and technical matters in dealing with project external engineering groups such as engineer of records, owners engineering, fire safety consultants and independent engineering  

Review BESS technical deliverables to ensure technical needs and correct designs are met

Lead the collaboration between BESS suppliers, BESS contractors and their consultants to assist AHJ BESS permitting process  

REQUIRED SKILLS AND QUALIFICATIONS

Energy storage development, design, and integration experience: 7-10 years for Director; 5-7 years for Senior Manager

Deep expertise in utility-scale BESS technology, including equipment selection, system design, integration, and controls, from development through long-term operations

Strong knowledge of BESS subsystem performance and degradation (battery, PCS/inverter, thermal management, BMS/EMS), including battery storage performance modeling, augmentation planning, and the impact on availability, round-trip efficiency, and capacity over the asset life

Experience with utility-scale battery supply, EPC, and long-term service agreements from the owner or buyer perspective, including negotiation, administration, and enforcement of performance guarantees, warranties, and remedies (availability, capacity, RTE, degradation, liquidated damages)

Ability to support technical diligence for lenders, tax equity investors, and independent engineers, and to align performance terms with offtake and financing requirements

In-depth knowledge of BESS safety and permitting processes, including NFPA, CFC, and UL certification

Background in utility or market operations, including generator and battery dispatch and storage control strategies

Familiarity with FERC, NERC, and CAISO/ERCOT requirements as they apply to interconnection, operations, and compliance is a plus

Excellent verbal and written communication skills, with the ability to work across engineering, legal, procurement, finance, and operations teams

Ability to travel up to 25% of the time

Bachelor of Science in a STEM field, preferably electrical or mechanical engineering

NICE TO HAVES

Preferably graduate degree in STEM or PE in power system engineering    

#LI-Hybrid

Avantus offers competitive compensation with an excellent benefits package, including 401(k) matching; comprehensive medical and dental plan options; and flexible PTO. We are an equal-opportunity employer.

The base salary range for this full-time position is listed below (plus bonus and benefits). Our salary ranges are determined by role, level, and location. The range displayed on each job posting reflects the minimum and maximum target for new hire salaries for the position in California. Within the range, individual pay is determined by work location and additional factors, including job-related skills, experience, and relevant education or training. Your recruiter can share more about the specific salary range for the applicable location during the hiring process. Please note that the compensation details listed reflect the base salary only, and do not include bonus and benefits.

Pay Range$152,363—$212,000 USD

Source: Avantus careers

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