Position Summary

We are seeking a highly experienced Lead Mechanical Engineer specialising in Battery Energy Storage Systems (BESS) to join our growing Energy Storage Division. The successful candidate will own the end-to-end mechanical design, structural analysis, and certification of 20-foot ISO containerised battery enclosures and related infrastructure, from concept through commissioning. This is a senior individual-contributor and technical-leadership role that directly influences product architecture, manufacturing partners, and regulatory compliance strategy — including the full suite of relevant IEC and international standards.

Key Responsibilities

Enclosure & Container Design
Lead the full mechanical design lifecycle of 20-foot battery container/enclosure systems, including structural frames, base skids, wall panels, roofing, doors, and lifting lugs.
Develop and own 3D CAD models and detailed engineering drawings (GD&T) for fabrication, using SolidWorks, CATIA, or equivalent parametric tools.
Define and manage BOM structures, part numbering, and revision control in PLM/PDM systems.
Specify and select enclosure materials (steel, stainless, aluminium, composites) based on corrosion class, fire rating, and thermal requirements.
Design internal layout for battery rack integration, cable management, thermal management, and auxiliary equipment (HVAC, fire suppression, electrical panels).
Drive Design-for-Manufacture (DFM) and Design-for-Assembly (DFA) reviews with contract manufacturers.
Ensure container dimensional and structural interface compliance with ISO 668 and ISO 1496-1 (series 1 freight container specifications).
Structural Analysis & FEA
Perform and lead structural analysis of enclosure assemblies under seismic, wind, snow, dead, and live load combinations per applicable codes (IBC, ASCE 7, Eurocode EN 1993 as needed).
Conduct or oversee Finite Element Analysis (FEA) using ANSYS, Abaqus, or SolidWorks Simulation for stress, fatigue, buckling, and modal analysis.
Specify and review welder qualifications, weld procedures (WPS/PQR), and non-destructive examination (NDE/NDT) requirements.
Produce and review structural calculation packages for permit submission and third-party PE-stamped peer review.
Regulatory Compliance & Certification
Ensure all designs meet FEMA requirements for Flood Insurance Rate Map (FIRM) zones, including flood-proofing, elevation certificates, and FEMA 348/FIA-TB-2 compliance.
Lead UL 9540 / UL 9540A, NFPA 855, IFC, and NEC 706 compliance reviews for containerised BESS installations.
Interface with Authorities Having Jurisdiction (AHJs), PE stamp requirements, and third-party certification bodies (UL, TÜV, Intertek, Bureau Veritas).
Manage seismic qualification per ICC-ES AC156, IBC Chapter 16, and ASCE 7-22 for site-specific risk categories.
Coordinate with EPC partners and site civil engineers on foundation loads, anchor bolt design, and geotechnical interface.
Apply and interpret the full IEC BESS standards suite across mechanical design, safety, environmental, and transport domains — see dedicated IEC Standards section below.
Thermal & Environmental Management
Define thermal management strategy (liquid cooling, HVAC, ventilation) to maintain cell and BMS temperatures within OEM-specified limits across ambient design range (typically 30°C to +50°C).
Conduct or review CFD analyses (Fluent, FloEFD, or similar) for internal airflow and hotspot mitigation.
Specify ingress protection (IP) ratings per IEC 60529 and NEMA enclosure classifications; design door seals, cable gland arrays, and ventilation baffles accordingly.
Ensure environmental endurance of enclosure per IEC 60068 test series (thermal cycling, damp heat, salt mist, vibration, shock).
Fire & Safety Systems Integration
Define mechanical interface requirements for aerosol, FM-200, CO, or water-mist fire suppression systems per NFPA 855 and OEM requirements.
Specify deflagration venting panels, explosion-proof fittings, and duct penetration seals per IEC 60079-series (ATEX/IECEx) and NEC Class I Div 2 requirements.
Specify minimum ventilation rates for battery rooms/enclosures per IEC 62485-3 to prevent accumulation of flammable off-gases.
Collaborate with safety engineering to execute HAZOP, FMEA, and PHA for mechanical systems per IEC 62933-5-2 risk assessment methodology.
Battery Module & System Interface
Define mechanical mounting, vibration isolation, and thermal interface requirements for battery racks and modules, ensuring compliance with IEC 62619 and IEC 63056.
Verify UN 38.3 transport qualification evidence for all lithium cell and module assemblies; specify shock and vibration isolator requirements to maintain qualification compliance after installation.
Specify module-level mechanical boundary conditions (load paths, clearances, cable routing) in coordination with battery OEM and electrical teams.
Technical Leadership & Project Management
Act as technical lead and mentor for junior/mid mechanical engineers on the BESS product team.
Drive design reviews (PDR, CDR, FDR) and manage action items to closure.
Coordinate across electrical, controls, civil, and procurement disciplines to maintain interface control documents (ICDs).
Develop and execute mechanical qualification test plans (vibration, drop, IP, thermal cycling) with internal and external test labs.
Support project management on schedule, scope, and risk for mechanical deliverables.

IEC & INTERNATIONAL STANDARDS REFERENCE

The table below lists the primary IEC and related international standards the candidate must be able to apply, interpret, and cite in design documentation, test plans, and certification submissions. This list reflects the current BESS regulatory landscape; the candidate is expected to monitor IEC TC 120, TC 21, and TC 21A work programmes for emerging revisions.

Standard

Scope & Subject

BESS Mechanical Applicability

A | BESS System-Level — IEC TC 120 (IEC 62933 Family)

IEC 62933-1

EES systems — Terminology and definitions

Baseline vocabulary for all BESS documentation

IEC 62933-2-1

Unit parameters and testing methods — Basic requirements

Container-level acceptance test procedures & KPIs

IEC 62933-2-2

Performance and capacity testing — Cycle-life & calendar-life

Structural and thermal design life verification

IEC 62933-3-1

Planning and performance assessment of EES systems

Container sizing, layout, and system modelling

IEC 62933-4-1

Guidance on environmental issues

LCA, material restrictions, end-of-life design

IEC 62933-4-2

Requirements for environmental assessment

Disposal, recycling, RoHS/REACH interface

IEC 62933-5-1

Safety requirements for grid-integrated EES systems

Overarching safety framework, grid-connected containers

IEC 62933-5-2

Safety requirements — electrochemical-based EES systems

Hazard ID, risk assessment, protective measures

B | Cell & Battery Safety — IEC TC 21 / TC 21A

IEC 62619

Safety requirements for secondary Li cells — industrial applications

Thermal runaway prevention, BMS req., abuse tolerance

IEC 63056

Safety requirements for secondary Li cells for EES systems

System-level integration safety; complements IEC 62619

IEC 62485-3

Safety requirements — stationary batteries (ventilation)

Minimum ventilation rates for battery enclosures

IEC 62485-5

Safety requirements — stationary use of lithium-ion batteries

Container installation rules for Li-ion systems

IEC 61427-1

Secondary cells for renewable energy storage — stand-alone systems

General requirements and cycle endurance testing

IEC 61427-2

Secondary cells for renewable energy storage — on-grid applications

Grid-connected performance and endurance criteria

IEC 62620

Secondary cells — alkaline & non-acid electrolytes

Applicable for alternative chemistry containerised BESS

C | Transport & Handling

IEC 62281

Safety of Li cells/batteries during transport

Type-testing, shipping label, packaging compliance

UN 38.3

Lithium battery transport testing (UN Manual Part III

38.3)

Altitude, thermal, vibration, shock, short-circuit tests; isolator specification

ISO 668

Series 1 freight containers — classification & dimensions

20-ft container dimensional & interface compliance

ISO 1496-1

Series 1 freight containers — specification & testing

Stacking, racking, lashing, forklift/crane loads

ISO 6346

Freight containers — coding, ID, and marking

Container labelling and identification requirements

D | Environmental & IP Protection

IEC 60529

Degrees of protection provided by enclosures (IP Code)

Seal design for doors, glands, vents; IP rating testing

IEC 60068-1/2-x

Environmental testing — procedures (temperature, humidity, salt, vibration, shock)

Qualification test plan for container environmental endurance

IEC 62271-1

High-voltage switchgear and controlgear — common specifications

MV equipment interface inside BESS containers

IEC 62271-202

HV/LV prefabricated substations

Integral MV/LV transformer switchgear in container

E | Fire, Hazardous Atmosphere & Electrical Safety

IEC 60079-series (ATEX/IECEx)

Explosive atmospheres — equipment & protection

Ventilation design, zone classification, Ex-rated fittings

IEC 62368-1

AV/IT equipment — safety requirements

BMS electronics, control panels, HMI inside enclosure

IEC 60086-4

Primary batteries — safety of lithium batteries

Auxiliary/UPS lithium circuits within enclosure

F | Grid Integration & Power Quality — IEC TC 77 / TC 57

IEC 61000-4-30

Power quality measurements — methods

Grid interconnection monitoring & acceptance

IEC 61000-6-1/2/3/4

EMC — generic emission & immunity standards

Enclosure shielding, cable routing, bonding

IEC 61850

Communication systems for power utility automation

SCADA/BMS interface definition inside enclosure

IEC 61727 / IEEE 1547

Distributed energy resources — grid interconnection

AC point-of-interconnection grid code compliance

G | Quality, Safety Management & Functional Safety

IEC 61508

Functional safety of E/E/PE safety-related systems

SIL determination for BMS protective functions

IEC 62061

Functional safety — machinery

Safety integrity requirements for container interlocks

ISO 9001:2015

Quality management systems

Design and manufacturing process control

ISO 14001:2015

Environmental management systems

Applicable to supply chain and product lifecycle

Qualifications

Education

Bachelor's degree (B.E. / B.S.) in Mechanical Engineering from an accredited institution — required.
Master's degree (M.E. / M.S.) in Mechanical, Structural, or Systems Engineering — preferred.
Professional Engineer (PE) license — highly preferred; or demonstrated progress toward licensure.

Experience

10–15 years of progressive mechanical engineering experience, with a minimum of 5 years directly in BESS, energy storage, or high-power industrial enclosure design.
Proven track record of taking 20-foot ISO-standard containerised systems from concept to certified, field-deployed product.
Hands-on experience with structural analysis under seismic and wind codes (ASCE 7, IBC, or international equivalents).
Direct experience navigating FEMA floodplain compliance for outdoor energy storage installations.
Experience with UL 9540 / NFPA 855 certification pathways — required.
Demonstrated working knowledge of the IEC 62933 series and IEC 62619 / IEC 63056 — required.
Familiarity with ISO 668 / ISO 1496-1 container standards and UN 38.3 transport qualification — required.

Technical Skills

CAD: SolidWorks (preferred), CATIA V5/V6, Creo, or NX — advanced 3D modelling and drawing release.
FEA: ANSYS Mechanical, Abaqus, or SolidWorks Simulation — independent analysis capability.
CFD: Fluent, FloEFD, or equivalent — thermal/airflow modelling.
US Codes & Standards: ASCE 7, IBC, NFPA 855, UL 9540/9540A, NEC 706, FEMA 348, IFC, ICC-ES AC156.
IEC / International Standards: IEC 62933 (all parts), IEC 62619, IEC 63056, IEC 62485-3/-5, IEC 61427-1/-2, IEC 60529, IEC 60068, IEC 60079, IEC 62281, UN 38.3, ISO 668, ISO 1496-1.
GD&T: ASME Y14.5 proficiency for drawing interpretation and creation.
Manufacturing: Sheet metal fabrication, structural steel welding (AWS D1.1/D1.3), surface finishing, and assembly processes.

Preferred Qualifications

Experience with lithium-ion chemistry BESS products (LFP, NMC) and cell/module/rack-level thermal interface requirements.
Familiarity with IEC TC 120 work programme — ability to track standard revisions and assess impact on product design.
IECEx / ATEX equipment selection and zone documentation experience.
ICC-ES report management or PE-stamped calculation package submission experience.
Exposure to utility-scale project environments and EPC execution models.
Six Sigma Green Belt or equivalent continuous improvement qualification.

COMPETENCIES & ATTRIBUTES

Strong analytical mindset with the ability to defend engineering decisions with calculations and test data.
Clear technical communicator — able to present to executives, customers, and AHJs with equal fluency.
Ownership mentality: comfortable driving decisions across cross-functional teams without direct authority.
Standards-fluent: reads primary IEC/ISO documents directly rather than relying solely on third-party summaries.
Detail-oriented in document control while maintaining sight of the system-level objective.
Adaptable to a fast-paced, project-driven environment with shifting priorities.

What We Offer

Competitive base salary commensurate with 10–15 years of specialised BESS experience.
Performance bonus, equity / profit-sharing programme (role dependent).
Comprehensive health, dental, and vision insurance.
Employer-matched retirement plan (401k or equivalent).
Professional development budget: certifications, conferences, IEC/ISO standards access.
Flexible hybrid work arrangement for non-project-critical periods.
Opportunity to shape flagship products at the forefront of the global energy transition.

Lead Mechanical - BESS