Interconnection Manager

Job Description

This is a pivotal role helping shape Tesla’s presence on the U.S. power grid - identifying where generation and large loads can connect most competitively, then de-risking those projects through the full interconnection lifecycle. In support of Tesla’s mission of building a world of amazing abundance, you will combine strategic grid insight with hands-on process ownership across battery energy storage systems (BESS), generation, and customer/load interconnections.

Unlike a purely transactional queue-management role, this position partners early with development, product, and commercial teams to screen points of interconnection (POIs), evaluate hosting capacity and upgrade risk, and prioritize the highest-value locations before capital is committed. You will then lead projects through ISO/RTO and utility processes—coordinating studies, negotiating agreements, and influencing market rules - so Tesla and its customers can interconnect faster, with clearer cost and schedule certainty.

Job Responsibilities

• Strategic siting & POI optimization: Identify and evaluate optimal generator and load locations by assessing transmission topology, available transfer/hosting capacity, queue congestion, upgrade likelihood, and commercial viability—informing site selection, project sizing, and market-entry decisions alongside development and commercial teams
• Interconnection due diligence & de-risking: Perform rigorous due diligence on projects in study phases across ISO/utility queues; interpret study results; forecast network upgrade costs, deposit/at-risk exposure, and schedule risk; and recommend mitigation strategies that protect project economics and COD timelines
• End-to-end interconnection ownership: Lead Tesla generation and load projects from application through commercial operation—navigating complex ISO/RTO and utility processes, coordinating engineering deliverables and modeling packages, managing study milestones, and ensuring compliance with tariffs, interconnection agreements, and reliability standards
• Agreement negotiation & commercial outcomes: Drive negotiation and execution of interconnection agreements and related commercial terms (schedules, milestones, cost allocation, security) with transmission owners, utilities, and ISOs to secure favorable, bankable outcomes
• Market intelligence & process reform: Track and disseminate changes in interconnection requirements (study processes, timelines, modeling, cost allocation, cluster rules). Participate in ISO/RTO stakeholder working groups to shape rulemaking that affects Tesla and its customers, and translate policy shifts into actionable internal strategy
• Cross-functional strategy support: Partner with development, engineering, product, legal, finance, and commercial teams on new market entry, new product introduction, load growth, and tariff/rule interpretation—providing clear recommendations on risk, cost, timeline, and path-to-interconnect
• External stakeholder leadership: Build trusted relationships with ISOs/RTOs, transmission owners, utilities, consultants, and industry forums; represent Tesla’s technical and commercial interests while unblocking projects through proactive engagement

Job Requirements

• Degree in electrical engineering or a related engineering field, or equivalent experience
• Minimum 5+ years in interconnection, transmission planning, or grid integration with a renewable/storage developer, generator owner/operator, large-load customer (e.g., data center/industrial), power systems consultant, utility, or ISO/RTO
  
• Demonstrated strategic mindset: experience using interconnection and transmission insight to influence siting, portfolio prioritization, or development decisions—not only processing queue applications
• Working knowledge of generator and/or large-load interconnection and transmission planning processes in one or more of: ERCOT, CAISO, PJM, SPP, MISO, SERC, NYISO, ISO-NE, WECC, and major utility territories
• Proven ability to interpret interconnection studies, assess upgrade and schedule risk, and communicate tradeoffs to technical and non-technical stakeholders including leadership.
• Strong cross-functional collaboration, negotiation, and stakeholder management skills with ISOs, utilities, transmission owners, and internal partners
• Ability to manage multiple complex projects, set priorities under shifting timelines, and deliver clear, decision-ready recommendations in a fast-paced environment