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Chief Battery Energy Storage System (BESS) Engineer

Virginia, United States (Hybrid)

Chief Battery Energy Storage System (BESS) Engineer

1 Month ago • 15 Years + • Manufacturing • Research & Development

About the job

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Job Description

Fluence seeks a Chief BESS Engineer with 15+ years of experience leading complex engineering projects in BESS or power systems. You'll own the technical strategy, ensuring seamless integration of mechanical, thermal, and battery systems, while driving innovation in energy storage.

Must have:

BESS System Design
Battery Systems
Engineering Leadership
Grid-Connected Projects

Good to have:

Agile Methodologies
Energy Markets
Simulation Tools
Digital Twin Modeling

Perks:

Global Opportunities
Innovation Culture

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About Fluence: Fluence (Nasdaq: FLNC) is a global market leader delivering intelligent energy storage and optimization software for renewables and storage. Our solutions and operational services are helping to create a more resilient grid and unlock the full potential of renewable portfolios. With gigawatts of successful implementations across nearly 50 markets, we are transforming the way we power our world for a more sustainable future. For more information, please visit fluenceenergy.com.

OUR CULTURE AND VALUES

We are guided by our passion to transform the way we power our world. Achieving our goals requires creativity, diversity of ideas and backgrounds, and building trust to effect change and move with speed.

We are Leading

Fluence currently has thousands of MW of energy storage projects operated or awarded worldwide in addition to the thousands of MW of projects managed by our trading platform—and we are growing every day.

We are Responsible

Fluence is defined by its unwavering commitment to safety, quality, and integrity.

We are Agile

We achieve our goals and meet our customer’s needs by cultivating curiosity, adaptability, and self-reflection in our teams.

We are Fun

We value the diversity in thought and experience of our coworkers and customers. Through honest, forthcoming, and respectful communications we work to ensure that Fluence is an inclusive and welcoming environment for all.

Fluence is seeking a highly qualified Chief BESS Engineer to hold ultimate technical authority over the design, development, and optimization of the company’s Battery Energy Storage Systems (BESS). This role is responsible for directing the engineering strategy, ensuring cohesive integration across mechanical, thermal, and battery systems, and driving innovation to meet evolving market demands. As the Chief Engineering Office leader, the Chief BESS Engineer provides direction and oversight to the Chief Mechanical Engineer, Chief Thermal Engineer, and Chief Battery Engineer, ensuring that all subsystems work in harmony to deliver superior performance, safety, and reliability.

As the Chief BESS Engineer at Fluence, you will:

Technical Ownership and Direction:
Lead the overall design and technical strategy for BESS, maintaining full responsibility for system-level architecture and integration.
Serve as the ultimate technical authority in Design Reviews, making decisions on design direction, performance criteria, and safety standards.
Works with Fluence’s software team to ensure seamless integration of hardware and software.
Coordination and alignment across the Enclosure, Systems and Battery engineering teams, overseeing Fluence’s Chief Engineering office.

System-Level Leadership:
Direct integration of all BESS subsystems, ensuring that mechanical, electrical, thermal management, power conversion and battery technologies work together to optimize system performance.
Set and enforce Fluence’s engineering standards across all engineering disciplines, ensuring that system architecture is scalable, efficient, and meets regulatory requirements.
Define and approve key engineering decisions, ensuring that all design choices support long-term performance, reliability, and cost-effectiveness.

Innovation and Long-Term Vision:
Develop a long-term vision for BESS evolution, ensuring the company remains at the forefront of energy storage technology.
Engage in strategic planning and product and technology roadmap development, aligning technical objectives with market trends and business goals.

Cross-Disciplinary Collaboration:
Facilitate strong collaboration between mechanical, electrical, power conversion, thermal, and battery engineering teams, ensuring that all subsystems are cohesively integrated.
Work closely with R&D, manufacturing, and product management to ensure the BESS design is aligned with customer needs, market requirements, and operational capabilities.
Oversee the resolution of complex engineering challenges, providing guidance and support across technical disciplines.

Full-System Testing and Validation:
Ensure that full system testing protocols are in place to validate the performance, safety, and reliability of BESS products under a variety of operational conditions.
Lead risk assessments, identify critical system-level risks, and establish mitigation strategies for potential technical failures.
Ensure that the system design complies with all relevant industry standards and regulatory frameworks, including UL, CE, NFPA and grid connection requirements.
Mentorship and Team Leadership:
Provide leadership and mentorship to engineers, fostering a culture of excellence, innovation, and accountability within the organization.
Ensure that technical teams are aligned on system-level goals, technical standards, and project milestones.
Build and nurture a highly skilled engineering team, encouraging cross-disciplinary learning and innovation.

What will you bring to Fluence?

Qualifications:
Bachelor's degree in electrical engineering, Mechanical Engineering, or related field (Master's or Ph.D. preferred).
15+ years of experience in battery systems, energy storage, or related fields, with proven expertise in system-level design and integration.
Strong track record of leading complex, multi-disciplinary engineering projects, particularly in BESS or power systems.
In-depth knowledge of lithium-ion and alternative battery chemistries, thermal management, and mechanical systems for energy storage applications.
Experience with large-scale, grid-connected energy storage projects and full-system testing protocols.
Demonstrated ability to provide technical leadership and direction across multiple engineering disciplines.
Strong decision-making abilities with a focus on optimizing performance, reliability, and safety.

Preferred Skills:
Experience with Agile methodologies for hardware engineering.
Knowledge of energy markets, grid operations, and regulatory requirements for energy storage systems.
Familiarity with advanced simulation tools and digital twin modeling for system optimization.

Key Skills:
Excellent problem-solving and strategic thinking capabilities.
Ability to work in diverse cultural environments with global teams and customers.
Strong communication and negotiation skills.
Demonstrated ability to drive quick resolution to issues and to innovate.

Travel: 25-40% domestic and international travel may be required.

Fluence IS AN EQUAL OPPORTUNITY EMPLOYER and fully subscribes to the principles of Equal Employment Opportunity to ensure that all applicants and employees are considered for hire, promotion, and job status without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, disability, veteran status, sexual orientation, marital or familial status.

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