Senior Electrical Engineer - Power Systems Integration
Other Engineering
Menlo Park, CA, USA
USD 130k-153k / year + Equity
About Mainspring
Mainspring Energy manufactures and delivers fuel-flexible, low-emissions local power solutions that rapidly add new capacity and deliver reliable, affordable, and sustainable electric power. The company began commercial shipments of its Mainspring Linear Generators in 2020 and today has hundreds of megawatts in advanced development and field operations for leading Fortune 500 companies, data centers, and utilities. Mainspring also partners with global energy leaders including AEP, NextEra Energy Resources, Schneider Electric, and more.
The core values that ground our work, guide our decisions, and connect us together:
- Pragmatic Optimism
- Excellence without Ego
- Proactive Collaboration
Job Overview
Responsibilities
- Lead the selection, sizing, and configuration of industrial grid-interactive off-the-shelf (OTS) inverters
- Lead the troubleshooting and root cause analysis of complex hardware issues arising in the field, lab, or during testing of grid forming and grid following inverters and AC power systems
- Configure and tune inverter parameters for stable operation across grid-forming and grid-following modes
- Design system-level tests to validate grid-edge behaviors, including low-voltage ride-through (LVRT) and frequency response
- Analyze AC power waveforms, power quality, and fault behavior to diagnose system issues
- Ensure system compliance with grid interconnection standards such as IEEE 1547, UL 1741, and local utility requirements
- Perform critical design reviews and collaborate cross-functionally with mechanical, thermal, controls, test engineering and software engineers to ensure holistic system performance and manufacturability
Qualifications
- Bachelor's or Master's degree in Electrical Engineering or a related field
- 5+ years of hands-on experience working with power inverters or power conversion systems
- Strong troubleshooting skills with AC power systems, including waveform analysis, fault behavior, and system stability
- Comfort working on high voltage systems (400-800 Vac, up to 1500Vdc) in both a laboratory and industrial field environment
- Experience with industrial communication protocols (Modbus TCP/RTU, CANbus, SunSpec) for power electronics control
- Working knowledge of NEC (NFPA 70), specifically regarding grounding, conductor sizing, and overcurrent protection for power generation systems.
- The ability to work independently and own complex technical problems from initial identification through final resolution
Bonus
- Demonstrated experience in the development, deployment, or optimization of grid-scale energy projects
- Expertise in Protection & Control (P&C), including programming SEL or Basler relays and coordinating with utility engineers for grid interconnection
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.
130000 - 153000 USD a year
This position is onsite at our Menlo Park HQ. The salary will be adjusted to reflect local market conditions based on employee location as well as the experience of the employee. Along with the base salary, Mainspring offers pre-IPO stock options + benefits.