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San Jose, California, United States
Hybrid
is position is listed on behalf of a partner company, who manages all applications and next steps. Our partner is looking for a Sr./Staff Compliance Engineer based in the United States.
Join an innovative clean-energy organization developing thermal batteries designed to deliver affordable, reliable heat and power to industry, data centers, and the grid. In this senior technical role, you will establish and lead compliance strategy for next-generation thermal energy storage systems as they move from development toward high-volume production. You will help shape industry codes and standards while ensuring product safety, performance, cost, and deployment readiness are optimized together. Working across engineering, testing, product development, projects, and environmental health and safety, you will build robust safety cases and practical certification pathways. Your expertise will influence regulatory frameworks and accelerate safe, predictable deployment across domestic and international markets. This is an opportunity to make a meaningful impact in a fast-growing clean-energy environment that values collaboration, humility, creativity, and mission-driven work.
Own compliance strategy across product design, testing, and deployment, defining certification boundaries, supporting evidence, and module-to-plant dependencies.
Partner with module, plant, and test engineers to assess hazards, safe failure behavior, and compliance requirements, and coordinate necessary analyses and testing.
Develop reusable safety cases supported by engineering analysis and test evidence, and establish collaborative relationships with Authorities Having Jurisdiction (AHJs), Nationally Recognized Testing Laboratories (NRTLs), and other certifiers.
Lead codes and standards advocacy with NFPA, ASME, ASHRAE, UL Standards & Engagement, and other relevant organizations. Participate in working groups, propose technical language, and build support for appropriate requirements.
Work with engineering teams to determine when design changes are necessary and when advocating for improved standards is the better approach.
Guide project-level certification strategy before product listing is established. Evaluate jurisdictional requirements and the cost, schedule, and probability of field certification versus alternatives, including state machinery designation.
Align project, commercial, and engineering stakeholders on certification approaches while minimizing demands on core project execution teams.
Develop a long-term UL/NRTL certification strategy aligned with the product roadmap, supporting the transition from field certification to high-volume factory production.
Build and maintain a comprehensive codes and standards database for current and future products across domestic and international markets, translating complex requirements into actionable engineering guidance and traceable design, manufacturing, and commissioning processes.
Recommend environmental design standards, including ASCE 7, IEC 62305, and IP ratings, for thermal energy storage, balance-of-plant, and electrical systems.
Determine environmental survival and operability requirements, establish target-market environmental conditions, and advise when region-specific product configurations may be necessary.
Develop the company’s product safety and reliability policy in partnership with EH&S and reliability teams, incorporating industry practices such as ISO 12100, risk acceptance criteria, design-gate hazard analysis, and management of change for safety-critical designs.
Travel approximately 15–25% for standards meetings, AHJ and certifier engagements, and project-site visits.
Bachelor’s degree or equivalent in mechanical, electrical, chemical, fire protection, or a related engineering discipline, with 8+ years of experience in product compliance, certification, safety engineering, or codes and standards for energy, industrial, or high-hazard equipment.
Strong first-principles safety judgment, including the ability to reason from hazards and failure behavior to requirements, prioritize human safety and real risk, and use standards as tools rather than relying exclusively on prescriptive code language.
Pragmatic and flexible approach to developing simple, effective, risk-based requirements while balancing engineering and commercial tradeoffs.
Hands-on experience certifying and permitting novel or first-of-a-kind equipment, including direct engagement with AHJs and NRTLs or certifiers such as UL, CSA, TÜV, or Intertek.
Working knowledge of codes and standards governing energy storage and industrial energy facilities, such as NFPA 855, NFPA 70/NEC, UL 9540, ASME, IFC/IBC, and ASCE 7.
Experience developing safety cases and supporting hazard analyses and test programs, including FMEA, HAZOP, and fault tree analysis.
Strong technical communication, persuasion, and consensus-building skills, with the ability to influence standards committees, regulators, certifiers, and internal engineering leaders.
Ability to navigate ambiguity, identify and prioritize compliance risks, drive issues toward resolution, and escalate appropriately.
Commercial judgment and understanding of how compliance decisions affect product cost, schedule, and deployment risk.
Comfort and fluency with leading AI tools such as Claude, ChatGPT, and Gemini, including identifying workflows that could be automated.
Commitment to a mission-driven, collaborative culture, demonstrating humility, openness, resilience, and a team-first mindset.
Additional qualifications considered an asset:
Active involvement in standards development organizations such as NFPA, ASME, ASHRAE, UL Standards & Engagement, or IEC, including drafting proposed code language.
Experience with thermal energy storage, battery energy storage, high-temperature systems, or pressure equipment.
Experience transitioning products from field certification to NRTL listing for high-volume production.
Familiarity with state-by-state permitting, particularly in the Midwest and Texas, including Texas, Missouri, Minnesota, Kansas, Iowa, Nebraska, South Dakota, and Illinois.
Knowledge of international codes and standards, including IEC, European Union, and Australian frameworks.
Experience developing or implementing company safety and reliability policies, risk acceptance criteria, or management-of-change processes based on ISO 12100, IEC 61508, or similar standards.
Experience in hardware startups, emerging industries, or first-of-a-kind deployments.
Professional Engineer (PE) license or fire protection credentials.
Annual salary: $171,000–$235,000 USD, with the final offer determined by experience, credentials, expertise, and role-related qualifications.
Equity compensation in the form of stock options.
Premium health benefits package.
Life and disability insurance.
401(k) plan with employer contributions.
Flexible spending accounts.
Flexible paid-time-off policy.
Flexible and inclusive holiday observance.
Paid volunteer time off.
Work arrangement: Hybrid, based in San Jose, California.
Travel: Approximately 15–25% for professional and project-related engagements.
