Principal Electrical Systems Engineer - Battery Storage

Fluence is seeking a Principal Electrical Systems Engineer for Battery Storage in Bengaluru, India. This senior role involves leading system design and optimization for grid-scale Battery Energy Storage Systems (BESS), ensuring compliance with standards and customer needs. Responsibilities include overseeing system architecture, conducting load flow studies, mentoring engineers, and collaborating with cross-functional teams. Candidates should have 12-18 years of experience in Electrical Systems Design for renewables.
As a Principal Systems Engineer, you will lead and drive system-level design, integration, and optimization for grid-scale Battery Energy Storage Systems (BESS). This senior role will focus on delivering innovative, safe, and cost-effective solutions while ensuring compliance with global standards and alignment with customer needs.

Key Responsibilities Include:
• Develop and oversee system architecture for multi-MW BESS projects, integrating battery systems, power conversion systems (PCS), transformers, communication hardware, controls, and auxiliary power systems.
• Review system requirements, ensuring compatibility and performance across all components. Drive the overall electrical system design and validation process.
• Lead advanced load flow studies, short-circuit analysis, protection coordination, Harmonic , EMC and arc flash studies to ensure system reliability, safety, and grid compliance.
• Develop and approve single-line diagrams (SLDs), power flow configurations, and control schematics for complex energy storage solutions.
• Act as the technical authority for New Product Introduction (NPI), guiding design processes, lifecycle management, and risk assessments for the BESS system.
• Collaborate with cross-functional teams (mechanical, thermal, software, testing) to ensure end-to-end system integration and alignment with customer and project goals.
• Oversee system performance analysis, focusing on efficiency optimization, energy losses, and dynamic system modeling to validate performance under various operating conditions.
• Provide leadership in selecting and validating key electrical components, including breakers, relays, fuses, inverters, transformers, batteries, and low-voltage switchgear.
• Review and ensure product compliance with global and regional standards (UL 9540, NFPA 70, IEC, NEC, IEEE). Lead the certification processes and safety compliance audits.
• Direct and mentor engineers in hardware testing strategies, FAT/SAT protocols, and prototype validation processes, ensuring systems meet stringent quality benchmarks.
• Collaborate with vendors to evaluate, qualify, and optimize electrical subcomponents, fostering strategic partnerships.
• Lead critical failure mode analyses (DFMEA) and root cause assessments (RCA) to ensure system reliability and continuous improvements.
• Act as a technical advisor, providing expertise to project development, commissioning, and operations teams while incorporating feedback into system enhancements.
• Deliver system-level documentation, including technical manuals, interface guides, and site design recommendations for internal teams and external stakeholders.
• Drive innovation by identifying opportunities for scalability, cost reduction, and process improvements across the product lifecycle.
• Mentor and develop engineering teams, fostering technical excellence, collaboration, and leadership within the organization.

Job Qualifications & Skills
• Education: Bachelor’s or Master’s degree in Electrical Engineering (Full-Time) or equivalent.
• Experience: 12-18 years of experience in Electrical Systems Design for Renewables (BESS, Solar, Wind) or Power Generation industries, with a strong focus on system-level engineering.
• Technical Expertise:
• Experience in designing, validating, and integrating BESS systems, including component selection and system sizing.
• Proven expertise in power flow studies, short-circuit analysis, protection coordination, harmonic analysis, and arc flash studies.
• In-depth knowledge of batteries, PCS, inverters, transformers, BMS, controls and low/medium-voltage switchgear.
• Strong understanding of grid compliance and global standards (IEEE 1547, UL 9540, IEC 62933, NFPA 70, NEC).
• knowledge of tools like ETAP, MATLAB Simulink, or EMTP-RV for electrical system simulations is plus.
• Experience with the NPI process and familiarity with tools such as JIRA, JAMA, TestRail, or similar product lifecycle management platforms is preferred.
• Strong presentation, documentation, and technical communication skills, with the ability to interface effectively with global teams and executive stakeholders