Principal BESS Engineer, Procurement & Performance | Energy

As a Principal BESS Engineer you will lead technical and commercial advisory services for utility-scale battery energy storage systems across development procurement contracting delivery and operation. The role is particularly focused on Owners Engineer and procurement engagements where clients need clear advice on how a BESS should be sized specified evaluated and contracted to achieve its intended duty over its operating life. You will bring the technical depth to understand the system and the commercial judgement to translate that understanding into bankable requirements meaningful bid comparisons and practical risk allocation.

You will work with clients to define the duty profile and performance basis for a project develop Principals requirements and technical schedules assess OEM and integrator proposals support tender evaluations and negotiate key performance and warranty provisions. This includes net power and usable energy state-of-charge operating windows round-trip efficiency auxiliary consumption availability degradation cycling and throughput augmentation response performance reactive-power capability environmental derating warranties acceptance tests and long-term service obligations. You will also support detailed design reviews factory and site testing commissioning and performance verification.

The common thread is being able to connect technology contracts and lifecycle value. You will identify where apparently attractive offers rely on different assumptions exclusions or operating limits explain the consequences clearly and help clients make decisions that remain robust after contract award. The role will suit a BESS specialist who is equally comfortable interrogating a technical proposal leading a commercial discussion and coordinating the wider electrical civil fire grid and operational interfaces.

How youll make a difference:

• Lead BESS Owners Engineer and technical advisory engagements across feasibility procurement contracting design construction commissioning and operation.
• Establish the BESS sizing and performance basis using the intended dispatch duty grid requirements site climate operating strategy reliability requirements and lifecycle objectives.
• Prepare and review Principals requirements technical schedules and guarantees covering net power usable energy round-trip efficiency availability auxiliary consumption degradation augmentation throughput response performance and reactive-power capability.
• Lead tender evaluations and normalise competing offers by interrogating assumptions exclusions operating limits warranted curves design margins augmentation strategies lifecycle costs and technical risks.
• Support contract negotiations on performance guarantees test and acceptance methods warranties liquidated damages and remedies scope interfaces long-term service obligations operations and maintenance and augmentation responsibilities.
• Review BESS architecture and interfaces across cells modules racks containers battery management systems energy management or plant control systems power conversion systems medium-voltage systems thermal management fire safety and the grid connection; coordinate specialists and mentor team members.

Qualifications :

To be successful in this role you will be an experienced BESS engineer or technical advisor with a demonstrated record in utility-scale battery projects and a strong understanding of both technical performance and commercial delivery. You may have developed this experience with an owner developer OEM system integrator EPC contractor lender investor or engineering consultancy.

You will be known for your ability to move confidently between system sizing technical specifications vendor proposals and contract schedules. You will understand that BESS offers cannot be compared reliably without aligning duty system boundaries ambient conditions degradation assumptions augmentation strategy warranty limits test methods and the definition of net performance. Experience supporting competitive procurements and contract negotiations will be central to success in this role.

You will know your way around a BESS project from cells and racks through battery management systems thermal management power conversion systems energy management or plant control systems medium-voltage systems and the grid connection. You will understand how design safety site conditions operating strategy and contractual obligations interact over the project life. One of your strengths will be knowing where detailed specialist input is required and coordinating the right technical and commercial contributors to reach a defensible client recommendation.

The following qualifications and experience are highly desired but if you dont tick all the boxes you could still be a perfect fit for this role. Please apply all applications will be considered.

The qualities that help you thrive:

• Significant experience (8 years) in the energy sector including substantial hands-on experience with utility-scale BESS projects across development procurement delivery or operation.
• A background and experience of working in either / or a combination of consulting developer OEM integrator or EPC industries.
• Strong capability in BESS sizing and operating-duty definition including power and energy requirements AC and DC boundaries state-of-charge windows duration C-rate cycling throughput degradation and augmentation.
• Detailed understanding of BESS performance criteria and guarantees including net power usable energy round-trip efficiency auxiliary consumption availability response thermal derating degradation warranty limits and acceptance testing.
• Demonstrated experience preparing or reviewing procurement documentation evaluating and normalising bids undertaking technical due diligence assessing departures and supporting commercial negotiations.
• Sound understanding of BESS technology and interfaces across cells modules and racks battery management systems power conversion systems energy management or plant control systems medium-voltage balance of plant grid connection thermal management and fire safety.
• Experience with factory acceptance testing site acceptance testing commissioning capacity or efficiency testing and verification of contractual performance requirements is highly regarded.
• Commercial acumen and the ability to assess lifecycle value risk allocation warranties performance remedies long-term service agreements operations and maintenance obligations and augmentation strategy.
• Strong client engagement and communication skills with the ability to advise influence and build trusted relationships across technical procurement commercial and executive teams.
• Either registered or working towards professional registration on the National Engineering Register in Australia (such as RPEV or RPEQ) ideally supported by Chartered Professional Engineer (CPEng) status or equivalent international accreditation.
• A bachelor degree in electrical engineering power systems or another engineering discipline relevant to battery energy storage systems.

Additional Information :

Why youll love working with us

• Flexible work arrangements available aligned with the market and client facing role requirements
• Purchase up to 6 weeks additional annual leave per year 
• Volunteer and representation leave
• Flex public holidays swap Easter or other holidays for ones that suit you better

Ready to push the limits of whats possible

We welcome applications from individuals of all backgrounds including those with disabilities additional health or mental health needs and/or neurodiverse conditions. If you require any adjustments during the hiring process please let us know.

Applications are reviewed as they come in and the role may close earlier than expected so if this opportunity sounds like you we encourage you to apply as soon as possible.

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AECOM acknowledges the Traditional Owners and Custodians of the lands on which we our clients and our communities live and work around Australia. We pay our respects to their cultures and to their Elders past present and emerging. We are committed to connecting to Country in our work through meaningful engagement with First Nations peoples and businesses.  Find out more about our Australian Reconciliation Action Plan here:  AECOM

AECOM is the worlds trusted infrastructure consulting firm delivering professional services throughout the project lifecycle from advisory planning design and engineering to program and construction management. On projects spanning transportation buildings water new energy and the environment our public- and private-sector clients trust us to solve their most complex challenges. Our teams are driven by a common purpose to deliver a better world through our unrivaled technical and digital expertise a culture of equity diversity and inclusion and a commitment to environmental social and governance priorities. AECOM is a Fortune 500 firm and its Professional Services business had revenue of $16.1 billion in fiscal year 2025. See how we are delivering sustainable legacies for generations to come at and @AECOM.

Freedom to Grow in a World of Opportunity 

You will have the flexibility you need to do your best work with hybrid work options. Whether youre working from an AECOM office remote location or at a client site you will be working in a dynamic environment where your integrity entrepreneurial spirit and pioneering mindset are championed.

You will help us foster a culture of equity diversity and inclusion a safe and respectful workplace where we invite everyone to bring their whole selves to work using their unique talents backgrounds and expertise to create transformational outcomes for our clients.

AECOM provides a wide array of compensation and benefits programs to meet the diverse needs of our employees and their families. We also provide a robust global well-being program. Were the worlds trusted global infrastructure firm and were in this together your growth and success are ours too.

Join us and youll get all the benefits of being a part of a global publicly traded firm access to industry-leading technology and thinking and transformational work with big impact and work flexibility. As an Equal Opportunity Employer we believe in each persons potential and well help you reach yours.

Remote Work :

No

Employment Type :

Full-time