Transmission Development Lead

American Terawatt is building a new industrial electric grid for the United States. Executing successfully means engaging in power development at national scale.
We design and deploy advanced power transmission systems, serving large industrial loads, hundreds of megawatts at a time. Our systems deliver electric power to everything from frontier AI datacenters to highly automated manufacturing, refineries, mines, and more.
We make interconnection fast, simple, and cheap.

On our network, generation owners get their projects online faster, delivering abundant power at competitive prices.
The backbone of American Terawatt’s network is based on long-distance HVDC transmission, anchored by software-defined ‘Macrogrids’ which actively manage local transmission between generation, storage, and loads.
THE ROLE
As a Transmission Development Lead at American Terawatt, you will:
- Identify and advance transmission development opportunities based on power availability, interconnection potential, permitting feasibility, project economics, and suitability for American Terawatt’s broader transmission network.
- Lead diligence across grid interconnection, transmission routing, permitting, land, power availability, and project delivery timelines, developing a clear view of what is achievable in practice — not just what is reflected in studies and documentation.
- Work directly with utilities, RTOs/ISOs, generation owners, landowners, developers, and large-load customers to advance projects and secure the agreements and rights needed for development.
- Evaluate alternative development pathways and make tradeoffs across schedule, cost, interconnection risk, permitting, constructability, and commercial value.
- Develop project economics and support the commercial structuring and negotiation of transmission development opportunities.
- Identify critical development risks early and proactively drive them toward resolution.
- Partner closely with engineering, project management, procurement, legal, and commercial teams to move transmission projects from early-stage opportunity through development and toward construction.
EXPERIENCE
This is a senior role requiring significant prior transmission, power, or large-scale energy infrastructure development experience.
REQUIRED EXPERIENCE
- Demonstrated experience advancing complex energy infrastructure projects through multiple stages of development, including origination, diligence, interconnection, permitting, commercial structuring, and execution.
- Track record of personally owning meaningful development workstreams and driving projects toward commercial or investment decisions — not simply analyzing opportunities.
- Strong understanding of project economics and experience building or evaluating financial models for large-scale energy infrastructure projects.
- Working knowledge of grid interconnection, transmission development, permitting, utility coordination, and realistic project delivery timelines.
- Experience navigating complex projects involving multiple external counterparties, regulatory requirements, and competing technical and commercial constraints.
PREFERRED EXPERIENCE
- Background at an independent power producer, transmission developer, utility, energy infrastructure developer, or energy team within a large technology company.
- Existing relationships with utilities, RTOs/ISOs, generation owners, developers, or other power-market participants.
- Direct experience developing high-voltage transmission, substations, generation interconnection, or other bulk-power infrastructure.
- Familiarity with HVDC transmission or long-distance bulk power infrastructure development.
POSITION DETAILS
This position reports directly to the Head of Power Development and will serve as a senior development lead on American Terawatt’s transmission projects, owning key development workstreams and helping shape project strategy from early-stage opportunity through execution.
COMPENSATION & BENEFITS
Compensation: Competitive compensation package commensurate with experience, including salary and equity participation.
Healthcare: Medical, dental, and vision coverage, including 75% coverage for dependents and spouses.
Wellness: Up to $300/month reimbursement for gym and wellness expenses, or Bay Club membership for SF-based employees.
Meals: Lunch provided daily when working from the office.
Time off: Unlimited PTO with manager approval, plus company-wide office closures for one week in June and one week in December.
Additional

perks:

Apple laptop provided, convenient SF office near the Embarcadero and public transit, and employee contribution 401(k) program.