Senior Control Panel Designer

Location: Berkeley, CA or Weirton, WV Work Arrangement: Onsite strongly preferred; remote work may be considered during the contract period. Must relocate to Berkeley, CA or Weirton, WV upon conversion to a permanent position. Job Type: long term contract Experience: 5+ years with a Bachelor's degree or 3+ years with a Master's degree Industry: Battery Energy Storage Systems / Electrical Engineering / Power Systems Job DescriptionAbout The Role Form Energy is seeking an experienced Senior Control Panel Designer to join its BMS Hardware & Electrical Systems team and support the development, validation, and deployment of next-generation battery energy storage systems. This role will lead the end-to-end design of industrial control panels, including electrical schematics, panel layouts, wiring diagrams, power distribution architecture, component selection, and production release. The ideal candidate will have strong hands-on experience with EPLAN, industrial control panel design, UL 508A compliance, NEC standards, and high-voltage electrical systems. The Senior Control Panel Designer will work closely with Electrical Engineering, PCB Design, Systems Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, Manufacturing, and Test teams to ensure safe, reliable, and manufacturable control panel solutions. A key area of responsibility will be supporting the Auxiliary Management Unit (AMU), which interfaces with board-level electronics across Form Energy's battery systems. Key Responsibilities Industrial Control Panel DesignDesign and develop industrial control panels in compliance with UL 508A and NEC (NFPA 70) requirements. Create detailed electrical schematics, panel layouts, wiring diagrams, and interconnection drawings using EPLAN. Develop panel-level electrical architecture for battery energy storage and industrial power applications. Ensure designs meet electrical safety, reliability, manufacturability, and applicable regulatory requirements. Electrical Power Distribution and Component SelectionDesign power distribution and control circuits for systems operating at voltages up to 600 VAC and 2000 VDC. Perform wire sizing, current calculations, branch circuit protection, and component coordination. Select and integrate electrical components, including circuit breakers, fuses, transformers, rectifiers, drives, connectors, wire harnesses, relays, and related hardware. Develop grounding, wiring, and protection strategies to support safe and reliable system operation. Controls Integration and System-Level Electrical DesignIntegrate control panels with PCB assemblies (PCBAs), sensors, control electronics, and system-level hardware. Support electrical interface design and integration for the Auxiliary Management Unit (AMU). Collaborate with electrical and systems engineers to resolve interface issues and ensure compatibility across subsystems. Support hardware integration, troubleshooting, and design improvements throughout the product development lifecycle. High-Voltage Testing and ValidationDevelop and execute electrical validation procedures for control panel assemblies. Support high-voltage testing, including hipot testing, insulation resistance testing, and functional validation. Ensure compliance with applicable electrical safety procedures during testing and commissioning. Investigate test failures, identify root causes, and implement corrective actions. Vendor Management and Manufacturing SupportCoordinate with third-party control panel fabrication vendors to communicate design requirements and manufacturing specifications. Review vendor drawings, fabrication plans, wiring implementations, and assembly documentation. Support prototype builds, design reviews, factory acceptance testing, and production release. Resolve manufacturing and assembly issues while ensuring quality, cost-effectiveness, and design consistency. Reliability, Risk Assessment, and Continuous ImprovementParticipate in Design Failure Mode and Effects Analysis (DFMEA) and panel-level failure analysis. Identify potential electrical, thermal, and integration risks and recommend mitigation strategies. Support root-cause investigations and corrective and preventive actions. Improve panel designs for reliability, serviceability, safety, and ease of manufacturing. Cross-Functional CollaborationPartner with Mechanical Engineering on enclosure design, thermal management, component placement, and physical integration. Work with Electrical Engineering, PCB Design, Systems Engineering, Manufacturing, and Test teams to resolve technical challenges. Maintain accurate engineering documentation, bills of materials (BOMs), and design revision records. Support troubleshooting, field deployment, and ongoing product development activities. Required Qualifications Bachelor's degree in Electrical Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, or a related engineering discipline with at least 5 years of relevant experience; OR a Master's degree with at least 3 years of relevant experience. Strong proficiency in EPLAN electrical design software. Demonstrated experience designing and developing industrial electrical control panels. Must-have experience with UL 508A and familiarity with NEC (NFPA 70) requirements. Strong understanding of electrical schematics, panel layouts, wiring diagrams, and electrical interconnections. Experience with power distribution, branch circuit protection, wire sizing, grounding, and control circuit design. Hands-on experience selecting and integrating panel-level electrical components, including breakers, fuses, transformers, rectifiers, drives, connectors, and wire harnesses. Experience working with high-voltage electrical systems, ideally up to 600 VAC and/or 2000 VDC. Practical experience with hipot testing, insulation resistance testing, electrical validation, and high-voltage safety procedures. Experience coordinating with third-party panel fabrication vendors throughout design, manufacturing, testing, and acceptance. Ability to interpret electrical specifications, engineering drawings, and technical documentation. Strong analytical, troubleshooting, communication, and cross-functional collaboration skills. Ability to work independently in a fast-paced engineering and product development environment. Preferred Qualifications Experience with Battery Energy Storage Systems (BESS), electric vehicles (EVs), renewable energy, utility infrastructure, industrial automation, or power systems. Experience with Design Failure Mode and Effects Analysis (DFMEA), functional safety, and reliability engineering. Familiarity with PLM and product development tools such as Arena, Siemens Teamcenter, JIRA, JAMA, or similar platforms. Understanding of hardware and software integration boundaries. Experience supporting prototype development, production ramp-up, and engineering change management. Exposure to security-conscious industrial control systems or critical infrastructure environments. Experience working with multidisciplinary engineering teams on complex electrical and electromechanical systems. Work Location and Relocation Requirements Preferred work locations are Berkeley, California, or Weirton, West Virginia. Onsite work is strongly preferred to support engineering collaboration, hardware integration, testing, and manufacturing activities. Remote work may be considered during the contract period, depending on project requirements and approval. Candidates must be willing and able to relocate to Berkeley, CA, or Weirton, WV, upon conversion to a permanent position. Ideal Candidate Profile The ideal candidate is a hands-on electrical design professional with strong EPLAN expertise and a proven background in industrial control panel design. They should understand UL 508A requirements, electrical power distribution, high-voltage testing, component selection, and vendor-led panel fabrication. Candidates with experience in battery systems, energy storage, EVs, or industrial power applications will be particularly relevant. The successful candidate will be comfortable owning panel-level electrical design from initial concept through validation, manufacturing, and production release. How to Apply Interested candidates with relevant industrial control panel design experience are encouraged to apply. Please submit an updated resume highlighting your EPLAN expertise, UL 508A knowledge, control panel design projects, high-voltage experience, and availability to work onsite or relocate upon permanent conversion. Keywords: Senior Control Panel Designer, Electrical Panel Designer, Industrial Control Panel Design, EPLAN, UL 508A, NEC NFPA 70, Electrical Schematics, Power Distribution, High Voltage, 600 VAC, 2000 VDC, Hipot Testing, Insulation Resistance Testing, Wire Sizing, Circuit Protection, Electrical Design, Battery Energy Storage Systems, BESS, DFMEA, Panel Fabrication, Electrical Systems Engineering. Skills: industrial control,energy,control panel design,eplan,battery,control panel,voltage