BESS Engineering Lead

Job description

We’re a team of friends bound together by a mission to preserve our planet for future generations through innovative energy solutions and modern infrastructure. Intersect develops, constructs, and operates the most ambitious power and data center infrastructure in the country by co-locating industrial demand with dedicated gas and renewable power generation. Intersect was acquired by Google in March 2026 and operates as an independent subsidiary. We are developing and constructing multiple gigawatts of energy and data center projects in the U.S., enabling more data center and generation capacity to come online faster. We’re on an aggressive growth trajectory and looking for people hungry to tackle the largest energy challenges on the planet. **Location & Team Gatherings** Intersect has been a fully flexible workplace since its founding in 2016. We’ve been very intentional about the way we do things. We are not work-from-home, hybrid, or in-office - we are any and all of those options! Deepening social connections and offering shared experiences is a cornerstone of the way we work. We connect as a team at our Team Week experiences four times a year and at our recently established Hub locations - SF Bay Area, NYC Metro Area, NY; Denver, CO; Austin, TX; Calgary, AB; and Toronto, ON. We are currently looking for candidates located within 60 miles of any of the listed hubs to foster more in-person connections while maintaining our flexible remote culture. **About this role** As part of Intersect's Engineering team, you'll lead the technical direction and engineering scope for utility-scale battery energy storage systems (BESS) and integrated clean energy projects. You'll take ownership of battery architecture, power conversion technology, safety compliance, and system-level trade-offs from early-stage development through contracting, detailed design, and construction. Working closely with development, commercial, and project finance teams, your technical rigor will directly drive LCOS optimization and asset resilience across our power infrastructure portfolio. In this role, you will interface directly with equipment suppliers, engineering partners, and Independent Engineers to de-risk high-stakes energy storage deployments. You'll bridge deep electrical engineering fundamentals with commercial awareness, establishing technical standards that support Intersect's rapid growth and commitment to long-term asset value. **Team overview** This team plays a critical role in advancing Intersect's mission to accelerate the clean energy transition. The Engineering team partners closely across development, land, finance, construction, and operations to design high-performing, resilient power infrastructure. Joining this team means steering technical decision-making on complex utility-scale assets and collaborating with multidisciplinary experts who value innovation, technical authenticity, and long-run value creation. **What you'll do** Own Technical Design & System Performance - Full ownership of electrical design, system sizing, equipment arrangement, electrical modeling, and balance-of-system design for standalone and hybrid ESS projects. Actively coordinate the owner’s engineer and the EPC-EOR. - Ensure storage systems meet contractual offtake requirements and financial model assumptions over the life of the asset - Ownership of technical inputs to support achieving the lowest levelized cost of energy/ storage while maintaining constructability and operational reliability Drive Cross-Functional Optimization - Lead cross-functional design efforts across Development, Land, Finance, and Engineering to align cost, production, land use, and performance - Identify technical risks and opportunities early, quantifying impacts and mitigation strategies - Support Procurement and Operations teams with technical expertise throughout project lifecycle Lead Technical Commercial Strategy - Serve as technical lead in energy storage technical contract and PPA negotiations, delivering cost-optimized and constructable solutions - Support EPC RFP processes and commercial supply agreements by clearly defining and safeguarding technical requirements and minimizing project risks. - Act as ESS technical lead for Independent Engineer diligence and project financing processes Advance Technology & Engineering Standards - Lead equipment and technology selection, evaluating lithium-ion and alternative storage technologies for bankability and performance - Develop and maintain technical specifications, design standards, EPC exhibits, vendor requirements, and testing protocols - Build and enhance internal engineering tools using AI platforms like Claude and Gemini or software (VBA, Matlab, Python, or similar) to generate fast, accurate performance modeling - Interface with ESS integrators, vendors, EPCs, and Owners Engineers to ensure technical alignment - Uphold the highest environmental health and safety standards across all engineering decisions **What you'll bring** - BS in Electrical Engineering or equivalent; Master’s or PhD is a plus - Minimum 4 years of experience leading technical scope for utility-scale PV and/or battery storage projects across development, design, contracting, and construction phases - Deep technical expertise in lithium-ion battery systems, including chemistries, system architecture, optimization levers, cost drivers, lifecycle considerations, and construction challenges - Strong understanding of utility-scale power conversion systems, transformers, skidded inverters, and battery technologies; PV engineering experience is a plus - Working knowledge of applicable codes and standards (NEC, IBC, IFC, NFPA, UL, IEC, UL9540A, UL1741, etc.) across permitting, design, construction, and operations - Experience supporting Independent Engineer diligence and interfacing with project finance stakeholders - Familiarity with alternative storage technologies (flow batteries, hydrogen, flywheels, compressed air, etc.) is a plus - Proficiency in AI platforms, scripting and automation tools such as VBA, Matlab, Python, or similar - Background in power plant controls architecture and SCADA is a plus - Commercial mindset with strong focus on LCOE/LCOS optimization and risk quantification - Ability to thrive in a cross-functional environment, guiding discussions across engineering, land, production modeling, cost, and development dependencies - Strong project management skills with the ability to prioritize effectively in a fast-paced growth environment - Collaborative, solutions-oriented approach aligned with Intersect’s mission and growth mindset