Job OverviewMainspring is seeking a versatile Senior Electrical Systems Engineer to serve as the technical anchor for our site packaging and power integration strategy. Blending application engineering and macro power systems design, you will own the high-level requirements, boundary definitions, and execution of our modular power conversion skids which include integrated platforms housing grid-tied inverters, transformers, control hubs, and auxiliary Balance of System (BoS) equipment. In this cross-functional role, you will act as the primary technical lead managing 3rd-party skid design firms and manufacturers. Simultaneously, you will own the hardware-to-software interface for our Linear Generator sites, managing the full design lifecycle for the Industrial Control Panels (ICP) and site-level communication networks that serve as the "brain" inside our modular infrastructure.
Responsibilities- Define high-level architectural requirements and electrical boundary constraints for modular, deployment-ready power conversion skids scaling from local microgrids to utility-scale plants
- Manage 3rd-party skid design firms and fabrication partners to ensure alignment with technical standards, cost targets, and project timelines
- Design and implement I/O mapping for control and safety systems, including E-Stop synchronization, blackstart triggers, and ground-fault detection using Modbus/TCP-based edge devices
- Architect robust site-level communication networks, including managed VLAN structures and fiber/copper hybrid topologies for high-demand environments
- Be the primary technical interface for outsourced design firms and panel manufacturers, ensuring high reliability designs, UL 508A compliance and manufacturing scalability
- Lead technical reviews and coordinate with contract manufacturers to drive cost-reduction, design-for-manufacturability (DFM), and UL 508A certification
- Manage the physical and electrical interfaces between the linear generator and external balance-of-system equipment, such as external grid-tied inverters
QualificationsYou should have...
- Bachelor's or Master's degree in Electrical Engineering or a related field.
- 5+ [Senior] or 8+ [Staff] years of demonstrated experience developing industrial control panels and integrated systems
- Demonstrated experience in systems integration, modular skid packaging, or industrial control platform development
- Strong understanding of industrial DC/AC power distribution, grid-tied inverters, transformers, grounding architectures, SCADA and safety standards
- Strong understanding of relay logic, and industrial communication protocols (Modbus, Ethernet/IP)
- Demonstrated experience integrating complex hardware platforms with third-party software controllers or utility-level aggregators
- Experience with UL 508A standards, control panel layout, and thermal management in outdoor environments (-30C to 50C)
- Proven ability to manage complex project dependencies, including hardware fitment within tight spatial constraints
Bonus- Familiarity with grid-tied inverters, battery pre-charge circuits, or Linux-based industrial PCs.
- Experience with PLC programming, Microgrid or SCADA system integration
$157,000 - $185,000 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.
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.
