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Menlo Park, California, United States
Remote only
Mainspring Energy manufactures and delivers fuel-flexible, low-emissions local power solutions that rapidly add new capacity and deliver reliable, affordable, and sustainable electric power. The company began commercial shipments of its Mainspring Linear Generators in 2020 and today has hundreds of megawatts in advanced development and field operations for leading Fortune 500 companies, data centers, and utilities. Mainspring also partners with global energy leaders including AEP, NextEra Energy Resources, Schneider Electric, and more.
The core values that ground our work, guide our decisions, and connect us together:
Mainspring is seeking a high-energy, commercially driven Director of Origination to lead our commercial strategy and transaction execution across Municipalities, Electric Cooperatives, and IOUs.
This is an executive-level, outward-facing origination role for a natural networker and dealmaker. You will be responsible for bringing an established "rolodex" of utility and public power relationships, pitching Mainspring’s value proposition, opening doors at the executive level, and driving high-value, complex transactions from initial handshake to financial close.
If you thrive on the road, love hosting counterparties, excel at translating market tailwinds into executed contracts, and bring deep transaction experience in the power sector, this role is built for you.
Drive Commercial Growth: Lead the sourcing, structuring, negotiation, and closure of high-value commercial arrangements—including equipment sales, long-term service agreements (LTSAs), capacity contracts, and project partnerships—with Public Power counterparties (Munis, Co-Ops, IOUs)
Leverage & Expand Your Network: Serve as the primary face of Mainspring in the Public Power sector. Mobilize your existing relationships with utility executives, procurement leads, board members, and energy traders to rapidly originate new pipeline opportunities
Be the Ultimate Brand Ambassador & Entertainer: Represent Mainspring at industry conferences, regional association meetings (APPA, NRECA, EEI, regional ISO meetings), dinner tables, and customer sites. Comfortable commanding a room, hosting key decision-makers, and building authentic, long-term trust
Capitalize on Demand Drivers: Position Mainspring's Linear Generator as the primary solution for urgent utility needs, including data center interconnection delays, load growth, generation retirement replacement, and firm capacity requirements
Lead Complex Negotiations: Structure and negotiate term sheets, MOUs, equipment purchase agreements, and customized commercial structures alongside internal legal, regulatory, product, and finance teams
Navigate Utility Procurement: Lead responses to competitive solicitations (RFPs), integrated resource planning (IRP) engagements, and bilateral partnership pursuits
Shape Product Strategy: Feed real-time market intelligence, customer pain points, and utility requirements back to Mainspring’s product, engineering, and executive leadership teams to influence product roadmaps
Minimum Qualifications:
Experience: 16 years of total experience in the North American power or clean energy sectors, with at least 8 years of direct transaction experience in an outward-facing origination or commercial role with direct access to counterparties
Track Record: Proven history of originating, negotiating, and closing complex, high-value energy transactions (equipment sales, PPAs, BTAs, capacity contracts, or large infrastructure agreements) with Munis, Cooperatives, and/or IOUs
Public Power Expertise: Deep working knowledge of Public Power procurement processes, G&T (Generation & Transmission) co-op structures, board governance, RTO/ISO market rules, and utility financial models
Travel Flexibility: Willingness and ability to travel up to 50%, including client dinners, conference circuits, site visits, and last-minute travel to close deals
Behavioral & Relationship Attributes:
Outgoing & Executive Presence: Highly charismatic, extroverted, and confident navigating everything from boardrooms to informal dinners. Exceptional ability to build instant rapport with senior utility leaders
Deal Closer & Networker: Self-starter who brings an active, portable network ("rolodex") of utility, co-op, and municipal decision-makers and counterparties
Commercial Instincts & Acumen: Deep understanding of power economics, capacity markets, spark spreads, tax credits (IRA/OBBBA), project finance (NPV, IRR), and grid interconnection mechanics
Cross-Functional Leader: Ability to orchestrate internal technical, regulatory, and finance experts to solve complex customer challenges cleanly and quickly
Preferred Qualifications:
Bachelor’s Degree in Business, Engineering, Economics, or related field (MBA or advanced degree preferred)
Deep existing network across specific regional wholesale markets (e.g., PJM, ISO-NE, NYISO, MISO, ERCOT, SPP, SERC, or WECC)
Does your experience not meet all of our posted requirements? Studies have shown that some people are less likely to apply to positions unless they meet every listed requirement. At Mainspring, we are committed to building a diverse, inclusive, flexible, and collaborative environment, so if you want to help us transition the world to clean and affordable electricity, and don’t meet all posted requirements for a particular role, we’d still love to hear from you. Mainspring can sometimes be flexible enough to shift responsibilities for the right person, or otherwise identify open or upcoming roles that may better fit your professional background.
In more traditional words, Mainspring Energy, Inc is an Equal Opportunity Employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, or protected veteran status and will not be discriminated against on the basis of disability.
This compensation and benefits information is based on Mainspring Energy's estimate as of the date of publication and may be modified in the future. We generally do not negotiate on salary once we have made an offer. The level of pay within the range will depend on a variety of job-related factors that may include location, relevant prior experience and/or education, or particular skills and expertise. New hires joining the company tend to be paid within the starting base pay range noted above, with opportunities to increase pay over time based on development of additional skills, competencies, and company-specific knowledge.
