Principal Transmission & Grid Integration Manager - NorthStar Clean Energy

NorthStar Clean Energy decarbonizes the economy by providing clean energy and carbon management solutions to utility, municipal, commercial, and industrial customers enabling them to meet their sustainability and business goals. Additionally, we own and operate natural gas assets throughout the United States. To learn more about NorthStar Clean Energy, please visit www.northstarcleanenergy.com.

This position is with NorthStar Clean Energy, a CMS Energy company, and is not a position of employment with Consumers Energy.   

 

NorthStar is seeking a Principal Transmission & Grid Integration Manager to serve as a key technical leader driving how our renewable, thermal, and storage assets connect to and perform on the grid. This role offers a high degree of ownership across the full project lifecycle—from early-stage feasibility and siting through interconnection, construction, and grid synchronization.

You will operate with significant independence, shaping transmission strategy while partnering closely with internal teams and external stakeholders including ISOs/RTOs, utilities, and consultants. This is a highly collaborative role with meaningful impact across our growing development portfolio.

What You'll Own

• End-to-end interconnection strategy for a diverse portfolio of renewable, thermal, and storage projects
• Transmission planning decisions that directly influence project viability, cost, and timelines
• Interconnection queue management, ensuring progress from application through execution
• Technical analysis and recommendations that guide leadership decisions and portfolio optimization
• External stakeholder engagement, representing NorthStar in industry forums and technical working groups
   

Key Responsibilities

• Develop and lead transmission and interconnection strategies for new and existing projects
• Independently manage the full lifecycle of interconnection processes across ISOs/RTOs (e.g., MISO, ERCOT, PJM)
• Perform and guide advanced power flow, stability, and congestion analyses using tools such as PSS®E and PowerWorld
• Conduct transmission feasibility studies, cost estimates, and system modeling in partnership with consultants
• Provide clear, data-driven recommendations to internal stakeholders and senior leadership
• Ensure compliance with FERC/NERC standards while proactively assessing regulatory and market changes
• Collaborate cross-functionally with development, engineering, construction, regulatory, and operations teams
• Build and maintain strong relationships with utilities, transmission providers, regulators, and industry partners

How You'll Work

• High ownership: You’ll lead strategy and decision-making in a complex, evolving technical environment
• Independent execution: You’ll be trusted to solve ambiguous challenges and move initiatives forward
• Cross-functional collaboration: You’ll work across disciplines and influence outcomes beyond your immediate scope
• External engagement: You’ll represent NorthStar in key industry conversations shaping grid integration

What You Bring

• 7–10+ years of experience in transmission planning, interconnection, or renewable energy engineering
• Deep expertise in grid operations, interconnection processes, and transmission systems
• Strong knowledge of renewable generation and energy storage technologies
• Experience with tools such as PSS®E, PowerWorld, AutoCAD, Mathcad, or HOMER Pro
• Working knowledge of FERC/NERC standards and regulatory frameworks
• Proven ability to lead technical initiatives and collaborate across teams
• Strong analytical, organizational, and communication skills

Education & Certifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Electrical Engineering, Energy Systems, or rela