Senior Electrical Engineer, Power Systems

Department: Engineering

Location: Hawthorne, CA

Compensation: $175K – $200K • Early Stage equity is part of our compenstaion plan

Employment Type: FullTime

Company Description:

Critical Energy is a trailblazing startup in stealth mode, poised to redefine the world of clean energy.

Our Mission:

To build an abundant, low-cost, 100% clean energy future through groundbreaking geothermal innovation.

We’re a team of passionate engineers, designers, and visionaries building cutting-edge solutions to meet the world’s energy needs with 100% clean energy. We are in the early stages of development and building our founding team. This is your chance to get in on the ground floor of something big! If you’re ready to work at a fun, fast-paced, groundbreaking organization that is positioned to revolutionize geothermal energy, apply today!

About the role

The role will involve working closely with grid interconnection engineers, thermodynamics and turbo-machinery experts, hardware design engineers, and build engineering resources.
Candidates must be willing to be flexible in their work and help do what it takes to build the startup.

We are hiring for candidates with very strong fundamentals and experience applying them in the real world including hands-on experience with hardware they have developed.

Responsibilities:

• Design and size medium voltage electrical systems for ORC geothermal power generation, including synchronous generators, MV circuit breakers, step-down transformers, neutral ground resistors, surge arresters, and associated switchgear at medium voltage.

• Design and size low voltage auxiliary power systems (480 VAC, 120 VAC, 24 VDC) including motor branch circuits, VFD-driven pump and fan loads, MCC lineups, and control power distribution.

• Evaluate and select motors, generators, drives, and protection devices considering efficiency, cost, reliability, and lead time, including both surplus/refurbished equipment and new long-lead OEM hardware.

• Support procurement of surplus medium voltage equipment including MV breakers, transformers, switchgear, PTs, CTs, NGRs, and surge arresters.

• Perform power system studies using ETAP including load flow, short circuit fault analysis, motor starting, protective device coordination, and arc flash analysis per IEEE 1584.

• Design generator protection schemes per IEEE C37.102 including specification and configuration of digital protection relays.

• Size and specify digital voltage regulators (DVR) and excitation systems, and support commissioning of AVR, PF control, OEL, and UEL functions.

• Design plant auxiliary power budgets and generator operating point analyses, including capability chart verification and reactive power planning for utility interconnection.

• Collaborate with systems engineering on controls architecture, safety instrumented systems (IEC 61511), and control system integration across plant devices.

• Ensure all designs comply with applicable standards.

• Produce and maintain 2D electrical drawings including single line diagrams, schematics, wiring diagrams, and panel layouts using AutoCAD Electrical, EPLAN, or equivalent.

• Troubleshoot and resolve technical issues across design, procurement, test, and commissioning phases.

Required Qualifications:

• Bachelor's degree in Electrical Engineering or a related field.

• 3–5+ years of experience in power generation, electrical system design, or a related field.

• Demonstrated experience with medium voltage power systems (4 kV – 15 kV class) including generators, switchgear, transformers, and protection relays.

• Experience performing power system analysis using ETAP including load flow, short circuit, coordination, and arc flash studies.

• Experience sizing and specifying motor branch circuit protection per NEC Article 430, including VFD applications.

• Strong knowledge of generator protection principles and ANSI/IEEE device function numbers.

• Experience balancing power budgets and defining system requirements for generation facilities.

• Experience specifying and sizing circuit protection systems including breakers, fuses, contactors, and switchgear.

• Familiarity with utility interconnection requirements (IEEE 1547-2018) and the generator synchronization process.

• Familiarity with safety instrumented systems and IEC 61511 principles.

• Excellent analytical and problem-solving skills with strong first-principles instincts.

• Strong communication and cross-functional teamwork skills.

• Highly self-motivated with the ability to drive tasks to completion in a fast-paced startup environment.

Basic Experience:

• 2D electrical drawings — AutoCAD Electrical, EPLAN, or similar.

• ETAP power system simulation — load flow, short circuit, coordination, arc flash.

• Medium voltage equipment procurement including surplus and refurbished MV gear evaluation.

• Experience with synchronous generator systems including protection, excitation, voltage regulation.

• Experience with VFD-driven motor systems and NEC-compliant branch circuit design.

• Experience with 0-to-1 design and development of electrical and controls hardware.

• Familiarity with PLC-based control systems and industrial communication protocols (EtherCAT, Modbus TCP, DNP3, OPC-UA).

• Past experience supporting hardware bring-up, factory acceptance testing, and commissioning.

Bonus Experience:

• Experience with ORC, geothermal, or other Rankine-cycle power generation systems.

• Experience with API 670 machinery protection systems (Bentley Nevada or equivalent).

• Experience with digital protection relay configuration (SEL, GE, or equivalent).

• Experience with digital voltage regulator commissioning (Basler DECS or equivalent).

• Familiarity with NEC Article 430 motor protection and medium voltage switchgear standards.

• Experience designing for classified hazardous areas (NEC Class I Division 2).

Compensation:

• Base salary ranges from $175-200k per annum

• Equity options

• 100% company-covered Platinum or HD/HSA (with company contribution) medical

• 100% company-covered dental and vision

• Daily catered lunch

• Several annual social and team building outings