Principal Engineer - Development

Company

Orenda is on a mission to make the grid more efficient with renewable energy projects and proprietary asset management technology. We develop, build, own and operate battery energy storage projects in dense urban environments to bridge the gap between renewables and electricity consumption.

We are a dynamic, NYC-based company at the forefront of a new industry. We are seeking highly motivated and incredibly talented individuals who wish to contribute to our important mission.

About the Team

Orenda's Project Execution Division owns the full delivery pipeline for our battery energy storage projects — carrying each project from early development through design, permitting, procurement, and construction, and into long-term asset management and operations. The division is organized into specialized departments that hand work off in a disciplined, repeatable sequence as we scale across New York City.

The Development department leads the late-stage development of each project, driving the detailed engineering and permitting work required to move a project from initial approval to construction-ready. It operates through three coordinated functions that work in lockstep: engineering (technical standards and design integrity), project management (schedule, coordination, and delivery to Notice to Proceed), and permitting (agency strategy and expediting).

About the Role

As Principal Engineer, you serve as Orenda's owner's engineer: you set and continuously raise the engineering standard for our NYC portfolio and direct the engineering partners who execute detailed design, rather than producing all design work in-house. You author the specifications that guide our engineering partners and equipment selection, ensure every design complies with those standards and applicable codes, and serve as the senior technical resource for the team. You lead through technical standards, design review, and mentorship.

You provide technical direction to our engineering partners and internal team, ensuring designs meet Orenda's standards while keeping projects on schedule. You report to the Director of Development.

This role is ideal for: a deeply technical engineer who leads by setting clear standards, developing the capability of the team, and enabling others to deliver high-quality work.

What you'll do

• Own and maintain Orenda's engineering standards and technical specifications governing the design, equipment selection, and construction of our NYC energy storage portfolio, in compliance with all applicable codes and AHJ and utility requirements.
• Author the technical specifications that guide our engineering partners and equipment selection; derive site-specific technical requirements and recommend equipment line-ups.
• Ensure design compliance — review our engineering partners' design sets for adherence to Orenda standards and consistency across engineering trades, and identify technical risks early in the design process.
• Serve as the team's senior technical resource, providing responsive support and resolving technical escalations for project management, permitting, and procurement.
• Provide technical direction and mentorship to our engineering partners and internal staff, developing the team's capability to deliver work that meets Orenda's standards.
• Coordinate with Orenda's in-house Energy Management System (EMS) team to integrate SCADA and controls requirements into project designs and ensure field systems align with our platform.
• Support procurement with technical evaluation of OEM capabilities and product fitness, and review equipment submittals.
• Incorporate feedback from the Construction and Asset Management teams to continuously improve our design standards and specifications, closing the loop between field and operational performance and design.
• Provide technical oversight during commissioning to ensure assets are built and operate as intended.
• Support new product development — as Orenda deploys new technologies or enters new markets, provide engineering evaluation of technical feasibility and adapt our standards and specifications to the new requirements.
• Document and share good engineering practices and lessons learned to raise the technical capability of the whole team.

Requirements

• Bachelor's degree in electrical engineering.
• Professional Engineer (PE) license in New York State.
• 10+ years designing MW-scale power generation or electrical infrastructure projects.
• Primary expertise in electrical engineering, with strong working knowledge across other disciplines — civil, structural, mechanical, and controls — enabling holistic design review and coordination across all trades.
• Direct experience working with Con Edison, including familiarity with their interconnection process and design standards.
• Strong command of design processes, codes, and standards, with a proven record of value engineering and innovative technical problem-solving.
• Demonstrated ability to set engineering standards and review others' work for compliance and cross-trade consistency.
• A leadership style built on setting clear technical standards and developing the capabilities of others.
• Clear about fact versus interpretation; comfortable identifying gaps in your knowledge and asking for help.

Preferred Qualifications (Bonus)

• MS in engineering.
• Knowledge of battery energy storage and other energy storage technologies.
• Familiarity with SCADA, controls, and energy management systems (EMS).
• Fluency in AutoCAD; Revit a plus.
• A keen interest in systems engineering.

Skills and Attributes

• Provides clear technical direction and enables others to deliver, focusing attention where designs must meet the standard.
• Balances technical rigor with schedule, advancing designs efficiently and managing issues through established review processes.
• Develops the technical capability of engineers and staff through mentorship and a collaborative approach.
• Communicates clearly and collaborates across engineering, project management, permitting, procurement, and external partners.
• Exercises sound judgment, prioritizing technical decisions by schedule and business impact.
• Extremely organized and process-oriented, with keen attention to detail.
• Relentlessly positive, strong work ethic, and passionate about clean energy.

Work Environment

This is a full-time, in-office position requiring work from our headquarters in Brooklyn, NY, five days a week, with regular travel to project sites within the NYC area.

Why join Orenda?

At Orenda, you'll help build the real-world infrastructure that makes the energy transition possible. You'll do this in a mission-driven culture that values ownership, accountability, continuous learning, high performance, and genuine collaboration. We work hard, move quickly, and enjoy doing it together.

In addition to the chance to do important work with a great team, Orenda offers a competitive compensation package designed to attract and retain top talent:

• Base Salary: The anticipated base salary range for this full-time position in New York City is $150,000-$420,000 per year. The final base salary will be determined on a case-by-case basis and may vary based on the successful candidate's relevant experience, skills, and qualifications.
• Bonus: This role is also eligible for a significant annual performance-based bonus.
• Benefits: Health, dental, and vision insurance; 401(k) with 3% employer match; LifeTime Fitness corporate membership; monthly commuter stipend; learning and education stipend; flexible PTO; and regular company events.

Orenda Inc. is an equal opportunity employer committed to fair and inclusive hiring and employment practices in accordance with federal, New York State, and New York City law. We do not discriminate in any aspect of employment—including hiring, promotion, compensation, or termination—on the basis of any protected characteristic, including race, color, religion, sex, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, age, national origin, disability, veteran status, or any other status protected by law.

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