Technical Specialist, Certification and Regulatory Compliance, Ford Energy

Ford Energy is a newly formed, wholly-owned subsidiary of Ford Motor Company dedicated to accelerating U.S. energy independence. Leveraging Ford’s century of manufacturing excellence and world-class battery energy storage systems (BESS) technology, Ford Energy designs, manufactures, and services grid-scale and commercial DC battery energy storage systems (BESS). Ford Energy is uniquely positioned to capture the growing demand for reliable, US-built energy storage systems. We are not just building batteries; we are building the infrastructure for the next generation of the American grid.

Why Ford Energy?
At Ford Energy, you have the backing of an industrial manufacturing powerhouse with the agility of a dedicated energy startup offering industry leading technology. We offer a competitive compensation package including performance-based bonuses, Ford vehicle discounts, and the opportunity to shape the energy strategy of one of the world's most iconic brands.

In this position... 

The Technical Specialist, Certification and Regulatory Compliance will serve as the Senior Technical Lead for certification and regulatory compliance for assigned BESS programs, ensuring architectural alignment and technical execution. This is a highly visible, internal and customer-facing leadership role responsible for the technical path to UL certification and field-deployability. You will act as the technical bridge between engineering, commissioning, Sales PMO, and external reviewers, bringing the judgment needed to define what is required for a compliant, safe, and defensible system in a high-growth startup environment.

What you'll do...

• Strategic Certification & Governance
  • Serve as the technical lead for UL certification strategy and execution, owning the compliance path across design, documentation, testing, and audit readiness.
  • Establish internal processes, checklists, and governance for certification readiness and project handoff across the BESS portfolio.
  • Define and maintain certification plans, pre-compliance assessments, and test matrices to support successful third-party reviews.
  • Monitor evolving certification standards and industry practices to provide actionable guidance for the product roadmap.
• Technical Compliance & Safety Engineering
  • Ensure BESS solutions are designed and delivered in accordance with applicable UL, NFPA, TM-2, and related codes.
  • Guide CAE simulations for virtual validation (structural, thermal, ventilation) to ensure outputs are actionable and aligned with certification objectives.
  • Oversee site-specific plume analysis and dispersion assessments to support safe deployment and permitting.
  • Review system architecture and fire safety concepts to ensure alignment with applicable safety codes.
• Project Execution & Field Readiness
  • Lead technical engagement with UL and other laboratories, coordinating testing scope, evidence packages, and failure resolution.
  • Work directly with commissioning leadership to ensure certification-related installation and witness-test requirements are executed correctly in the field.
  • Lead root cause analysis for certification failures or field deviations, driving corrective actions with speed and documented traceability.
  • Develop and maintain technical compliance artifacts, including certification packages and customer-facing evidence.
• Commercial Bankability & Stakeholder Management
  • Serve as the prime technical contact for certification laboratories and regulatory bodies. Coordinate evidence packages and represent the organization on technical matters during third-party testing and audits.
  • Interface with internal and external senior technical management to communicate requirements, risks, and technical recommendations.
  • Partner with Sales PMO and engineering to ensure certification requirements are embedded in project schedules and acceptance criteria.

You'll have...

• Bachelor’s degree in Electrical, Mechanical, Systems, or Fire Protection Engineering.
• 10+ years of experience in BESS, energy storage, or electrical equipment certification.
• Demonstrated ownership of UL certification programs for energy storage or related high-voltage systems.
• Strong working knowledge of UL, NFPA, and TM-2 codes and standards.
• Proven experience working with test laboratories, certification bodies, and independent engineering firms.

Even better, you may have...

• Master’s degree or PhD in a relevant technical field.
• Direct experience with UL 9540, UL 9540A, UL 1973, and NFPA 855.
• Experience interfacing with AHJs, insurers, lenders, and EPCs.
• Background in independent engineering or technical due diligence for energy infrastructure.
• Experience using CAE and simulation tools to support safety analysis and design verification.
• Leadership Attributes
  • Technical Bridge-Builder capable of coordinating complex requirements across engineering, sales, and external partners.
  • Position the role as a lead contributor to the development of products rather than the final arbiter of industry-wide standards
  • Strategic Risk Manager who identifies compliance risks early and establishes clear mitigation plans for project success.
  • Fluent Communicator able to distill complex regulatory concepts for both expert and non-expert audiences.
• Location & Travel
  • Flexible Location: This position is hybrid-friendly for candidates with a proven ability to deliver results outside of a traditional office environment.
  • Travel Expectations: This role requires travel to support technical reviews, validation events, commissioning, and field troubleshooting at supplier and customer sites.

You may not check every box, or your experience may look a little different from what we've outlined, but if you think you can bring value to Ford Motor Company, we encourage you to apply!

This position is leadership level 6 and ranges from $115,500-218,100.      

Final determination of salary grade will be based on candidate's skills and experience, and base salary will be set within the applicable range according to job scope, responsibility and competitive market value.

For more information on salary and benefits, click here: https://fordcareers.co/LL6FE

Company: As Ford establishes a wholly owned subsidiary focused on Battery Energy Storage Systems, this role will initially be employed by Ford and is expected to transition to the subsidiary within one year.

Visa sponsorship is not available for this position.

Candidates for positions with Ford Motor Company must be legally authorized to work in the United States. Verification of employment eligibility will be required at the time of hire.

We are an Equal Opportunity Employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, religion, color, age, sex, national origin, sexual orientation, gender identity, disability status or protected veteran status. In the United States, if you need a reasonable accommodation for the online application process due to a disability, please call 1-888-336-0660.

This position is hybrid. Candidates who are in commuting distance to a Ford hub location may be required to be onsite four or more days per week. 

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