Commissioning Engineer - Mainspring Energy, Inc.

Company Overview

Driven by our vision of the affordable, reliable, net-zero carbon grid of the future, Mainspring has developed a new category of power generation — the linear generator — that delivers local, scalable, and fuel-flexible power to help accelerate the transition to the net-zero carbon grid.

The unique combination of attributes offered by Mainspring’s linear generator enables applications on both the commercial and utility sides of the meter for the $816B global electricity equipment market. We serve a wide range of Fortune 500 customers across markets and industries as well as top-tier utilities and other gridside providers.

We are looking to build relationships with people who share our values:

• Pragmatic Optimism. Building a new category of world-class power generation requires the optimism of ambition and creativity, balanced with practicality to solve problems efficiently. The challenges that arise are opportunities for growth.
• Excellence without Ego. We bring expertise and commitment to creating the best customer experience, from sales to deployment and service, just as we apply deep technical rigor to building and delivering world-class products. We strive for excellence and behave as leaders with the humility to acknowledge our challenges, both collectively and as individual contributors.
• Proactive Collaboration. The integration and cross-disciplinary nature of Mainspring’s business requires intentionally seeking out others who bring different skills, perspectives, and priorities. Our culture of inclusion and respect extends beyond our team to interactions with our partners and customers.

Mainspring is based in Menlo Park and has partnered with top-tier investors and utilities such as Khosla Ventures, Bill Gates, NextEra, and American Electric Power. More information can be found at www.mainspringenergy.com.

Responsibilities

A key enabler of Mainspring’s mission is the ability of its team to design systems that solve customer problems in the cross section of resiliency and clean power supply. This includes visiting customer sites, engaging with customers to understand their needs, and participating in the configuration & startup of custom clean power solutions based on our linear generators. Mainspring seeks a Commissioning Engineer with emphasis in power systems controls applications to architect customer solutions that get deployed in practice.

As a Commissioning Engineer, you will:

• Serve as technical lead for the controls architecture and solution design on customer sites.
  • Including overseeing and designing site network architecture, programming of relays, PLCs, microgrid controllers, HMIs, etc.
• Resolve installation issues, procedures, and methods by working with project management, engineering, and contractors.
• Specify controls devices and architecture, program and test controls at customer sites.
• Lead the investigation of product or system problems, understands causal mechanisms, recommends appropriate action, and documents results
• Provide advanced technical support for other field technicians troubleshooting complex systems.
• Write scope of works, installation instructions, and sequence of operations for the controls architecture.
• Support cost estimating of the various controls strategies.
• Work with and onboard third party vendors for nationwide support.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Electrical engineering, Mechanical engineering, Controls Engineering, or related technical degree/experience required.
• At least 5 years experience working with distributed energy systems (backup generation, CHP, batteries for resiliency), including performing the site visits and producing the single line diagrams and plan drawings (CAD)
• Experience and knowledge of inverter based power systems and equipment
• Understanding of electrical system principles and safety procedures
• Hands-on, practical experience in installation/commissioning of industrial equipment including the ability to interpret schematic diagrams and technical specification documents
• Prior Senior or Lead Engineer equivalent work experience in a relevant discipline area with a demonstrated track record of technical problem solving and quality decision making.
• Past responsibility for onsite startup and testing of complex power generation projects including switchgear, automation PLC/HMI, protective relays, industrial control networks, etc.
• Proven ability to perform detailed fault finding on complex control systems with strong attention to detail, problem solving and a high level of accuracy
• Strong command of after-market resiliency challenges, topology, and solutions (domain expertise of controls solutions around resiliency projects a plus)
• Intricate knowledge of microgrid controls solutions, devices, programming, technical challenges and constraints, energy management systems, controls architecture.
• Excellent organization, documentation, and communication skills
• Ability to problem-solve, think creatively, and timely resolve personnel and project related issues
• Ability and interest in nationwide travel up to 50% of the time.

The Bay Area salary for this role is $135k-$170k base + pre-IPO stock + benefits. This position can be on-site or remote. The salary will be adjusted to reflect local market conditions based on employee location as well as the experience of the employee.

Does your experience not meet all of our posted requirements? Studies have shown that some people are less likely to apply to positions unless they meet every listed requirement. At Mainspring, we are committed to building a diverse, inclusive, flexible, and collaborative environment, so if you want to help us transition the world to clean and affordable electricity, and don’t meet all posted requirements for a particular role, we’d still love to hear from you. Mainspring can sometimes be flexible enough to shift responsibilities for the right person, or otherwise identify open or upcoming roles that may better fit your professional background.

In more traditional words, Mainspring Energy, Inc is an Equal Opportunity Employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, or protected veteran status and will not be discriminated against on the basis of disability.

This compensation and benefits information is based on Mainspring Energy's estimate as of the date of publication and may be modified in the future. We generally do not negotiate on salary once we have made an offer. The level of pay within the range will depend on a variety of job-related factors that may include location, relevant prior experience and/or education, or particular skills and expertise. New hires joining the company tend to be paid within the starting base pay range noted above, with opportunities to increase pay over time based on development of additional skills, competencies, and company-specific knowledge.