Lead Engineer (Transmission & Distribution)

Location: Memphis, Tennessee; on-site only, not remote or hybrid. Travel up to 25% to other sites, factories, vendors, and OEMs.

Company

xAI develops AI systems intended to improve understanding of the universe and support humanity's pursuit of knowledge.

What you will do

• Design, build, operate, and maintain high-capacity electrical infrastructure for AI training campuses.
• Own systems from generation terminals and the point of interconnection through medium-voltage buses, including switchyards, collector transmission, and main power transformers.
• Lead utility and balancing-authority interconnection activities through application, studies, protection alignment, metering, telemetry, and service-agreement exhibits.
• Define high-voltage switchyard architecture, campus protection philosophy, and the model of record for load flow, short circuit, coordination, arc flash, and stability studies.
• Manage generation interfaces, including excitation and governor behavior, synchronizing, generator protection, black start, and station service.
• Direct Design, Operations/Build, Protection & Controls, and Power System Engineering functions as the team expands.

Requirements

• Bachelor's degree in electrical engineering, computer engineering, physics, or another engineering discipline.
• 10+ years of experience in transmission, substation, or generation interconnection engineering focused on high-power, high-voltage systems.
• Experience taking a project through utility or ISO interconnection to energization.
• Knowledge of IEEE C37, IEEE 80, NESC, and applicable NERC standards; experience with 161 kV, 230 kV, or 345 kV GIS or AIS systems.
• Experience with power systems analysis tools such as ETAP, SKM, PSS/E, PSCAD, ASPEN, or Matlab.
• Willingness to work on-site in Memphis, perform hands-on work in hazardous environments, work extended hours and weekends, provide 24/7 emergency on-call support, travel up to 25%, and hold a valid driver's license.

Nice to have

• Professional Engineering license or active intention to pursue a PE license.
• Large-load interconnection experience with TVA, MLGW, or comparable municipal or federal power arrangements.
• Experience leading multidisciplinary engineering teams.

Culture & Benefits

• Small, hands-on team focused on engineering excellence and direct contribution to the mission.
• Flat organizational structure with leadership based on initiative and consistent delivery.
• Work includes supporting construction, energization, operations, factory witness testing, and other sites.
• Safety responsibilities include NFPA 70E compliance, arc-flash labeling, energized-work permits, qualified-worker training, and switching authorization.