Job Description

Job Title: Functional Systems Lead

Location: Burlingame, CA

Department: ESS Engineering

Reports to: CTO

Position Type: Full Time

About the Company

Peak Energy is the first American venture to advance globally proven Sodium-Ion battery systems as the storage standard for the new era of renewable energy on a resilient grid. Sodium-Ion is cheap, readily available and safe, making it the leading contender in a rapidly evolving market.

Our leadership team is powered by decades of expertise in scaling gigawatt-level innovation at world-class companies such as Tesla, Northvolt, SunPower, Fluence, and Enovix. We are backed by strategic investment and product partners such as TDK Ventures and Eclipse Ventures. 

About the Job:

Peak Energy is seeking a Functional Systems Lead to own system-level architecture, requirements, and integration across embedded software, electrical systems, and controls for our energy storage products.

This role sits at the intersection of embedded systems, electrical engineering, and system modeling, ensuring our products are safe, reliable, and performant from cell to grid.

You will lead the definition of functional requirements, system behavior, and safety architecture, while partnering closely with embedded, hardware, and modeling teams—and may directly oversee embedded software development for safety-critical functions.

This is a highly cross-functional, hands-on leadership role ideal for someone who thrives in ambiguity and wants to shape both product and engineering direction.

Responsibilities:

• Own system-level architecture and functional definition for energy storage systems (BMS, controls, protections, EMS integration)

• Define and manage system requirements, interfaces, and traceability from cell → module → pack → system → grid

• Lead functional safety architecture, including fault detection, diagnostics, and protection strategies

• Drive systems integration across embedded software, power electronics, thermal, and mechanical subsystems

• Partner with embedded teams to guide development of real-time, safety-critical firmware (controls, protections, communication)

• Develop and validate system models (performance, thermal, electrical behavior, fault conditions) to inform design decisions

• Lead verification & validation strategy (DV/PV), including test definition, coverage, and requirements validation

• Support certification efforts (UL, IEC, IEEE), ensuring compliance at the system level

• Identify system risks and drive DFMEA, fault analysis, and mitigation strategies

• Build and mentor a high-performing systems/embedded team, setting clear ownership and technical direction

Minimum Qualifications:

• 10+ years of experience in systems engineering, embedded systems, or electrical engineering, with 3–5+ years in technical leadership

• Strong background in safety-critical systems (battery systems, automotive, aerospace, industrial, or similar)

• Experience defining and managing system requirements, interfaces, and architecture

• Deep understanding of embedded systems and real-time controls

• Familiarity with electrical systems (power electronics, battery systems, sensing, protections)

• Experience with system modeling and simulation (MATLAB/Simulink, Python, or similar)

• Strong experience with DFMEA, fault handling, and system reliability engineering

• Experience driving cross-functional integration across hardware, software, and systems teams

• Excellent communication skills and ability to operate across multiple technical domains

• Bachelor’s, Master’s, or PhD in Electrical Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, Computer Engineering, or related field

Preferred Qualifications:

• Experience with battery management systems (BMS) or energy storage systems

• Background in functional safety standards (ISO 26262, IEC 61508, UL 9540, etc.)

• Experience leading or mentoring embedded software teams

• Familiarity with grid-scale energy systems, EMS, or power systems integration
• Experience in startup or high-growth environments

Compensation and Benefits

The salary range for this role is $150k- $225k, with actual pay varying based on work location, experience, and skills. Our competitive benefits package includes flexible time off, comprehensive medical, dental, and vision coverage, a strong 401(k) plan, and equity opportunities. Join us to thrive in a supportive environment while making a meaningful impact in the energy sector!