Innovation Engineer, Grid Integration/Power Generation

Thermal energy storage is transforming industrial energy and thermal power.   
Rondo is now deploying its Heat Batteries worldwide, and repowering  industrial boilers, cogeneration plants, and furnaces with intermittent renewables.  Rondo is building and  operating the world’s hottest, most efficient energy storage – storing energy as heat in the same brick material that the steel industry has used for heat storage for 150 years. Our safety, simplicity, and disruptive price point makes it possible to decarbonize the “difficult-to-decarbonize.”   We’re opening new power-to-heat and power-to-power pathways and  accelerating the transition to a sustainable future. With over $160 million in funding and partnerships across critical industrial sectors, Rondo is scaling rapidly to meet global demand. 

Rondo Energy is seeking a Senior Innovation Engineer focused on thermal power generation for AI. The maturation of our technology, delivery capacity, and IP portfolio now enable us to open a new frontier in power generation that’s critically needed to serve the world’s data center sprint: the  “plug-in hybrid thermal power plant.”  Rondo Heat Batteries deliver steam at all steam conditions found in  thermal power generation systems, up to and including supercritical cycles.  Heat battery integrated thermal power cycles achieve improvements in  flexibility, operating costs, fuel flexibility,  output, and emissions.  Drop-in boiler integration and zero-carbon steam changes time to power, permitting,  profitability, and peak power. 

We’re seeking an Innovation Engineer to help us expand the frontier of power-to-power and hybrid renewable + storage applications. In this role, you will work closely with Rondo’s innovation and engineering teams, external OEM partners, and prospective customers to develop and evaluate concepts that integrate the Rondo Heat Battery into generation assets and grid-connected systems. You will assess thermodynamic cycles, mechanical design concepts, commercial value, and help design and deliver early installations  and enable scaled deployment. 

Together we can reduce world CO₂ emissions by 10% in 10 years, and by 15% in 15 years. 

What You Will Do (key responsibilities for this role include but are not limited to): 

• Develop and evaluate technical concepts and proposals for Heat Battery integrated thermal power cycles, including simple-cycle, combined-cycle, cogeneration, and fuel conversion involving the Rondo Heat Battery.
• Lead technical engagements with power producers, OEMs, and technology partners, identify opportunities, define interface requirements, and form the basis for commercialization pathways.
• Build and manage relationships with major OEMs (turbomachinery, boilers, generators, thermal systems) to align integration strategies, validate performance, and co-develop productized solutions.
• Conduct techno-economic studies, dispatch simulations, and feasibility analyses to determine system value, operational strategies, and site-specific performance.
• Design and support pilot programs and early commercial deployments, helping test system value, validate technical assumptions, and systematize learnings for broader market rollout.
• Translate customer and partner insights into standardized solution packages, tools, and repeatable deployment processes for the commercial team.
• Work closely with Product, Engineering, and Energy Markets teams to ensure Rondo’s solutions remain technically robust, economically compelling, and aligned with evolving market needs.
• Provide technical expertise during customer meetings, presentations, and industry events to clearly articulate the value proposition of Rondo’s solutions.
• Stay current on power generation trends, grid services markets, relevant regulations, and emerging technologies to inform product and go-to-market strategies. 

What You Will Bring 

• A passion for accelerating the sustainable energy transition.
• A background in power generation, thermal systems, grid-connected storage, or related power engineering disciplines.
• Experience with new data center power infrastructure.
• Degree in Mechanical, Electrical, Chemical, or Energy Engineering (or equivalent work experience).
• +5 yrs work experience in a related role  
• Proficiency in coding (Python, Visual Basic)  and thermal power assessment (Ebsilon etc.)
• Ability to operate autonomously and self-direct toward the highest priority  
• Excellent communication and teamwork abilities  
• Innovative and results-oriented thinking  
• Outstanding presentation and oratory skills  
• Ability to connect and build trust with a wide variety of customers or potential customers  
• The ability to travel occasionally as needed for customer or investor meetings 

 Bonus Points 

• Experience in utility or IPP fleet optimization, plant design in a power EPC,  or  working directly with power generation OEMs 
• Experience with design and integration of turbomachinery, large boilers and HRSGs, or thermal energy systems.
• Experience with design and optimization of combustion turbines
• Background with grid-services markets, energy economics, or hybrid plant optimization.
• Experience leading concept development or commercialization programs for emerging power technologies.
• Prior experience in an EPC, utility, IPP, or engineering consultancy. 

Ideally this role would be performed on-site at our Alameda, California HQ. However, due to the niche nature of this role, strong candidates from other geographies will be considered. The estimated annual salary range for a candidate in the Bay Area for this role is between $120,000 and $215,000, plus equity in an early-stage, rapidly scaling global company. Additionally, you would be eligible for Rondo's excellent benefits listed above. Please note that some pay bands may have wide ranges of compensation to accommodate candidates' diverse sets of skill levels, experience, and geographic locations.  

Rondo Energy is an equal opportunity employer. We strive to create a supportive and inclusive workplace where contributions are valued and celebrated, and our employees thrive by being themselves and are inspired to do their best work. We seek applicants of all backgrounds and identities, across race, color, ethnicity, national origin or ancestry, citizenship, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, veteran status, marital status, pregnancy or parental status, or disability. Applicants will not be discriminated against based on these or other protected categories or social identities.

Rondo is committed to the full inclusion of all applicants. If reasonable accommodation is needed to participate in the interview process, please let our recruiting team know.

We proactively work to design hiring processes that promote equity and inclusion while mitigating bias.

Note to Recruitment Agencies: Rondo does not accept unsolicited agency resumes. Furthermore, Rondo Energy does not pay placement fees for candidates submitted by any agency other than its approved partners.