Project Development Jobs in California (NOW HIRING)

Peak Energy

Job Title: Project Development Manager

Location: Burlingame, CA

Department: Commercial (Projects)

Reports to: Director of Development

Position Type: Full Time

About Peak Energy

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, Apple, Powin, Enovix, Zipline, Solid Power, and Fluence. We are backed by strategic investment and product partners such as TDK Ventures and Eclipse Ventures.    

We are a team of engineers, operators, entrepreneurs, and partners driven by a shared ambition to set the new performance standard for renewable energy and grid resilience.   

About the Role - Project Development Manager

Peak Energy is seeking a Project Development Manager to drive the development of utility-scale energy storage projects from permitting through interconnection, offtake, construction, and commissioning.

The Project Development Manager will own the development of a portfolio of projects across various stages of development, working alongside the Development, Project Engineering, and Strategy leads to secure land, obtain permits, manage interconnection, build community relationships, and ensure each project is technically and financially viable. You will collaborate closely with all members of a small team, and help represent Peak externally with landowners, regulators, and development partners.

This is an opportunity to take ownership of full project lifecycles while building toward broader development leadership within Peak's growing storage portfolio.

What You'll Do (Responsibilities)

Project Development & Execution

• Manage full-cycle project execution — from site identification, land acquisition, permitting, and environmental due diligence through interconnection, offtake, construction, and commissioning.
• Manage project schedules, budgets, and financial model inputs; coordinate project economics with finance and engineering to ensure commercial viability.
• Own stakeholder engagement: interface with landowners, local officials, and permitting agencies to secure approvals and community support.
• Oversee permitting and compliance across local, state, and federal requirements; research requirements and produce actionable permitting and zoning memos that accurately summarize discretionary risk.
• Track and manage landowner payments, contractual requirements and deadlines, and reporting requirements, building internal tracking systems to ensure nothing gets missed.
• Manage third-party consultants and internal development teams to achieve development goals.
• Support construction and commissioning activities alongside engineering and operations, ensuring a smooth transition from development to execution.
• Track and report progress: maintain project documentation, budgets, schedules, and risk registers; provide transparent updates to leadership.
• Drive interconnection strategy: track utility milestones and coordinate technical studies with ISOs/RTOs.
• Represent Peak externally, building relationships with utilities, EPCs, and development partners to support the long-term project pipeline.
• Travel as needed (up to approximately 30% of the time) to sites, county and public meetings, and landowner visits to advance project milestones.

What You'll Bring (Qualifications)

• Bachelor's degree in Business, Environmental Science, Engineering, Energy, or a related field.
• 3-5 years of experience in utility-scale renewable energy project development (solar, wind, or storage).
• Demonstrated track record advancing projects from site control through NTP, including land acquisition, permitting, interconnection, and stakeholder management.
• Familiarity with zoning, permitting, and environmental review processes at the county and state level.
• Working understanding of power markets, site feasibility, and project economics.
• Familiarity with Smartsheet, Excel, or other budgeting and scheduling tools.
• Strong written and verbal communication skills, with experience engaging communities, regulators, and landowners.
• Ability to manage multiple complex projects and priorities autonomously in a fast-paced environment.
• Willingness to travel for site visits, public meetings, and partner engagement.

Preferred Qualifications

• Direct experience developing utility-scale battery storage projects.
• Existing relationships with utilities, ISOs/RTOs, EPCs, or permitting authorities.
• Experience negotiating land agreements and presenting at public or regulatory hearings.
• Familiarity with IRA incentives, tax credits, and energy market structures.
• Past experience in a startup environment.

Peak Energy is committed to building a diverse and inclusive workforce. We strongly encourage women, people of color, and individuals from underrepresented groups to apply. We value skills, potential, and perspective over specific credentials. If you're excited about this role but your experience doesn't look perfect on paper, we still want to hear from you.

Our Core Values

• Speed Through Focus - Move fast but understand why. Focus on the goal, don't sacrifice quality.
• Mission Over Self - It's about the greater good; confident humility. Take ownership and accountability.
• Face the Brutal Truth - Transparency, honesty, big picture curiosity. Fearless decision making.
• Be a Good Person - Kindness, collaboration and teamwork.

Compensation & Benefits

The salary range for this role is $120,000-$170,000, 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
• Strong 401(k) plan
• Equity opportunities
• Many great work perks

Join us to thrive in a supportive environment while making a meaningful impact in the energy sector!

At Peak Energy Technologies Inc., we believe that a diverse and inclusive workplace makes us a more capable, innovative, and competitive company. We welcome people who represent diversity in their backgrounds, ethnicities, cultures, and experiences. Peak Energy Technologies Inc. is an equal opportunity employer, aiming to reach our company's full potential by cultivating an inclusive workforce. We do not discriminate on the basis of race, color, ancestry, religion, national origin, sexual orientation, citizenship, marital or family status, disability, gender identity or expression, veteran status, or any other legally protected status.