Lead Electrical Engineer, BESS

Description

Lead Electrical Engineer

Westwood Professional Services, Inc.

 Westwood Professional Services, Inc. is seeking a Lead Electrical Engineer to support our Battery Energy Storage team. The position is for a lead electrical engineer to design battery energy storage systems (BESS), which includes: site electrical design, power conversion system (PCS) and battery management system (BMS) integration, medium and high voltage interconnection design, auxiliary power systems, protection and control schemes, and being the client and internal leader for the electrical engineering of projects. As Lead Electrical Engineer, the individual will coordinate with the Westwood Service Leaders and Director of Electrical Engineering to maintain firm standards and consistency as well as oversee other electrical designers. This position may also include supervision responsibilities of direct reports for timesheet/expense/PTO approval, annual growth planning, disciplinary actions, and compensation annual adjustments. 

Requirements

• Manage the electrical engineering of commercial and utility scale battery energy storage projects and be responsible for managing the electrical design budget for the project to ensure budgets are met
• Design medium voltage collection systems, step-up transformers, switchgear, and interconnection facilities for BESS projects
• Develop single-line diagrams, three-line diagrams, AC/DC schematics, panel schedules, and protection and control drawings
• Specify and integrate power conversion systems (PCS/inverters), battery management systems (BMS), and energy management systems (EMS)
• Design fire suppression systems, HVAC requirements, and auxiliary power systems specific to battery storage facilities
• Perform arc flash analysis, protective device coordination, and relay setting calculations for battery storage facilities
• Responsible for contractual electrical engineering scope, verify incorporation into design, and coordination of change orders with project manager
• Coordinate interconnection studies including system impact studies, facilities studies, and compliance with ISO/RTO requirements
• Ensure compliance with UL 9540, UL 9540A, NFPA 855, IFC, NEC Article 706, IEEE 1547, and other relevant codes and standards
• Assist project managers in responding to RFPs by preparing proposal scope and fees for the electrical engineering
• Coordinate with other project disciplines including civil engineers, structural engineers, fire protection engineers, and battery system integrators
• Schedule and plan necessary resources needed to support projects weekly
• Oversee project electrical team resources and be responsible for staff performing electrical calculations and studies such as short circuit, load flow, voltage drop, harmonics analysis, and transient stability studies
• Be the primary electrical contact for clients and coordinate with utilities, code enforcement officers, fire marshals, and independent system operators (ISOs)
• QA/QC of design work performed on projects for which you are the lead electrical engineer responsible for the project
• Maintain awareness of currently available battery technologies (lithium-ion, flow batteries, etc.), power conversion systems, safety systems, and industry best practices
• Review and evaluate battery system vendor proposals for technical compliance and performance specifications
• Collaborate with and support electrical engineering teams in other offices as projects and workload sharing between offices dictates
• Support construction of the projects by responding to contractor and owner requests including RFIs and submittal review
• Conduct site commissioning support and witness testing of protection systems, PCS, and BMS integration
• Assist Market Directors as needed for marketing efforts and creation of marketing materials surrounding electrical engineering work
• Supervise, train, and/or mentor graduate engineers, staff engineers, and design technicians

Skills and Qualifications:

• Bachelor of Science in Electrical Engineering or Power Systems Engineering Program
• Knowledge of NEC (particularly Article 706), NESC, UL 9540, NFPA 855, IFC Chapter 12, and IEEE standards (1547, 519, C37 series)
• Knowledge and proficiency in the use of electrical power system modeling programs for protection, short circuit, and power flow studies
• Approximately 4-10 years of experience in the design of electrical distribution, power generation, energy storage systems, and/or substation design
• Understanding of battery storage system components including battery cells/modules/racks, power conversion systems, transformers, switchgear, and control systems
• Working knowledge and ability to read and create construction drawings and specifications, including one-line diagrams, panel schedules, grounding plans, and conduit/cable schedules
• Proficiency with Microsoft Office products
• Professional appearance with excellent written and verbal communications skills, including ability to write detailed technical reports with minimal oversight
• Experience with writing proposals, managing project budgets, invoices and change order process, progress reports, managing project data and communicating project requirements to client and internal stakeholders
• Must have a strong work ethic along with a positive attitude
• Must be a supportive team member, able to work in a collaborative environment
• Must be self-motivated with an ability to balance multiple projects under tight deadlines without supervision
• Ability to use AutoCAD in a limited capacity

For Preferred Consideration (Not Required):

• Experience and knowledge of overall design and construction of utility scale battery energy storage systems (50 MW+)
• Understanding of various battery chemistries (lithium-ion NMC/LFP, flow batteries, sodium-ion) and their electrical characteristics
• Experience with grid services applications including frequency regulation, peak shaving, capacity firming, black start, and renewable integration
• Knowledge of ISO/RTO market structures and ancillary service requirements (CAISO, ERCOT, PJM, MISO, etc.)
• Experience designing hybrid renewable + storage facilities (solar + storage, wind + storage)
• Proficiency in AutoCAD Civil 3D and electrical design software
• Electrical PE License or ability to be licensed in multiple states
• Proficiency with ETAP, SKM PowerTools, CYME, and/or DigSilent PowerFactory to model electrical power systems and perform load flow, short circuit, voltage drop, arc flash, harmonics analysis, and protective device coordination studies
• Experience with PSS/E, PSCAD, EMTP-RV, or similar software for performing transient/dynamic modeling, IBR (inverter-based resource) studies, and interconnection studies
• Experience with battery energy storage system design and modeling software (HOMER, SAM, BatteryOS, etc.)
• Experience with thermal modeling and fire safety analysis for battery systems
• Knowledge of communication protocols used in BESS (Modbus, DNP3, IEC 61850, CAN bus)
• Experience with commissioning and testing of battery storage facilities
• NABCEP Energy Storage certification or similar credentials
• Experience with microgrid design and islanding capabilities

About Westwood Professional Services, Inc. (Westwood)

At Westwood, our purpose is to create a better world for people through our work. We transform the energy grid, design resilient infrastructure, and develop communities that will flourish today and for future generations. With over 50 years of experience and a legacy of innovation, we stand at the forefront of our industry, dedicated to understanding the unique needs of the markets we serve.

Our approach revolves around people. We are committed to building a culture that attracts, retains, and develops high performers. Our team values relationships, innovation, dedication, initiative, and growth. We believe fostering a collaborative “One Team” mentality yields superior outcomes in everything we do.

We customize our technical capabilities and geographic reach to meet our clients where they are and help them realize their vision. We are partners in our clients’ success, driving to provide solutions that make a lasting difference. Safety, sustainability, and operational excellence are not just facets of our work; they are intrinsic to our identity, guiding every decision we make.

We are deeply invested in the communities we serve. Through our projects and giving-back initiatives, we enrich the lives of those we serve, engage others within our industry, and create a lasting impact on communities around the world. To us, success transcends the completion of projects; it is reflected in the lives we have positively impacted by our work.

Join us in creating a better world.

In 2025, Westwood was recognized as #77 on the ENR Top 500 Design Firms. Additionally, Westwood was ranked #5 for ENR's Top Design Firm for Solar, #6 for Battery Storage, and #3 for Wind (2025). The firm consistently ranks on the industry's top 25 lists and receives recognition for its involvement in award-winning projects nationwide.

Westwood provides equal employment opportunities to all employees and applicants for employment and prohibits discrimination and harassment of any type without regard to race, color, religion, age, sex, national origin, disability status, genetics, protected veteran status, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, or any other characteristic protected by federal, state, or local laws. We believe that diverse backgrounds strengthen our business. This policy applies to all terms and conditions of employment, including recruiting, hiring, placement, promotion, termination, layoff, recall, transfer, leaves of absence, compensation, and training.

Benefits:

Westwood offers a full suite of competitive benefits, including medical, dental, and vision insurance; Health Savings Account (HSA) with employer contribution; company-paid life and AD&D insurance; short- and long-term disability coverage; and an Employee Assistance Program (EAP). Employees are also eligible for a 401(k) with employer match, paid time off, paid holidays, tuition reimbursement, and paid medical and family leave benefits in accordance with applicable state law.

Application Deadline: The anticipated deadline to apply for this position is 7/11/2026 . If business needs require additional time to identify qualified candidates, the application period may be extended and the posting will be updated accordingly.