Utility scale battery energy storage. Owner’s SME and commissioning leadership.
Location: project based, on site. Engagement: long term contract. Travel: assignment based.
About the role
A specialty energy services partner supporting owners, developers and EPCs is hiring a BESS Commissioning Manager for long term contract work on utility scale battery energy storage projects, standalone and solar plus storage.
This is owner’s SME commissioning leadership, not a construction manager seat and not a technician seat. You own the commissioning plan, OEM and vendor hold points, cold and hot commissioning, performance testing, and turnover through energization and COD.
Construction of the BESS yard stays with the BESS Construction Manager. HV substation commissioning is a separate package. You coordinate those interfaces.
Key responsibilities
- Develop and execute the BESS commissioning plan, procedures, ITPs and schedule from mechanical completion through energization and COD.
- Lead mechanical completion walkdowns, punch list closeout, and construction to commissioning turnover.
- Lead cold commissioning: installation verification, torque, labeling, IR and megger, grounding, firmware and config reviews, and pre-functional checklists.
- Lead hot commissioning: first energization, PCS, BMS and EMS functional checks, SCADA and RTU point to point, charge and discharge scenarios, and interlocks.
- Own fire and life safety functional testing: detection, suppression, gas detection, HVAC shutdown, E-stops, and deflagration and ventilation per NFPA 855, OEM and AHJ requirements.
- Coordinate OEM field advisors, EPC commissioning teams, third party testers, utilities and owner stakeholders against test windows and hold points.
- Drive SAT and performance tests: capacity, efficiency, ramp rate, response time, availability, and warranty and KPI validation.
- Support interconnection, GIA, ISO and PPA test readiness and test energy coordination as required.
- Manage LOTO, switching plans and energization sequences; enforce NFPA 70E and site electrical safety.
- Troubleshoot system level issues across BMS, EMS, PCS, communications (Modbus, DNP3, IEC 61850) and protection.
- Review one-lines, control schematics, OEM manuals and Cx specs; close RFIs that block testing.
- Maintain Cx documentation: plans, completed ITPs, test reports, as-left settings, punch lists, owner training, and turnover and O&M packages.
- Provide daily direction and mentorship of BESS commissioning technicians; report status, risks and hold point slips.
Required qualifications
- 7+ years electrical commissioning or startup experience, with 3+ years on utility scale BESS.
- Proven lead of PCS, BMS and EMS and SCADA commissioning through energization.
- Working knowledge of NEC, NFPA 70E, NFPA 855, UL 9540 and 9540A intent, and IEEE interconnection practice.
- Ability to read one-lines, control drawings, OEM commissioning procedures and SCADA point lists.
- OSHA 30 and NFPA 70E.
- Valid driver’s license and ability to remain on site for the duration of a long term contract.
- Authorization to work in the United States.
Preferred qualifications
- Owner’s representative or owner’s SME commissioning background.
- Major BESS OEM commissioning experience (Tesla, Fluence, Wärtsilä, Sungrow, Power Electronics or similar).
- Protection and relay testing interface, MV switching, or ISO and GIA test experience.
- Hybrid solar plus storage commissioning.
- P6, Bluebeam and standard document control tools.
- PE a plus.
The contract
- Type: long term contract through Verde Solutions, with weekly invoicing and time and expenses handled through our contractor app.
- Location: project based, on site, with assignment based travel.
- Rate: up to $85 per hour, depending on experience.
- Start: as soon as possible.
To apply, send your CV using the form below. We reply to every application and we never send your CV to a client without asking you first.