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BESS · HV/LV · Battery · all of France

BESS, HV/LV and battery recruitment technical and quality directors

Technical, quality and storage R&D directors, approached in post by an engineer, under exclusive mandate.

The four areas

  • 60-90k€

    battery / BESS engineer, national basis

  • 5

    leadership hires at Nidec, batteries business

  • 10days

    for the shortlist

  • 3weeks

    to hire, direct search

They entrust us with their leadership rolesNidecCap'bornesIDEX 5,0/5 · 112 Google reviews

Volta Executive · BESS · HV/LV · BatterySalaries: Energy & Transition Barometer 2026

01 · The essentials

In 30 seconds

Store electricity,connect it, convert it

What we recruit

The technical and quality directors, storage R&D and electrical studies managers, then BESS and power conversion engineers and MV/HV grid connection project managers.

Who it is for

BESS system integrators, power conversion manufacturers, battery makers, HV/LV installers and design offices, EV charging operators.

How

Every candidate is challenged by an engineer on BESS architectures, power electronics, HV/MV/LV studies and IEC standards. No three-hour briefing to explain what a BMS, a PCS or a selectivity study is.

The proof

Nidec: five leadership hires for the batteries business. Cap'bornes: an EV charging engineer and salesperson, filled against a competing firm.

Electrical engineer checking the battery management system in a storage container
BESS container · BMS check

What we recruit

  • Storage technical director
  • Quality director
  • Battery R&D manager
  • Electrical design manager
  • Battery / BESS engineer
  • Power conversion engineer
  • MV/HV project manager
  • EV charging project manager

02 · The problem

Why these roles stay empty

The storage market is accelerating,the talent pool is not keeping up

The battery / BESS engineer and the MV/HV grid connection project manager are rated at critical scarcity in the 2026 Energy & Transition barometer.

  1. Profiles with three skill sets

    Electrochemistry, power electronics, grid studies: few people hold all three, and they are in post.

  2. Conventional channels do not respond

    At Nidec, adverts and job boards were ineffective. The right candidate was found in 24 hours through direct search.

  3. Every delay is paid for twice

    A product that slips and a grid connection that moves back in an already saturated queue.

2

roles in the sector rated at critical scarcity : BESS engineer and MV/HV project manager

Source: 2026 Energy & Transition barometer

Work out the cost of your empty position

03 · The practical case

Practical case · Nidec

Five leadership hiresfor Nidec's batteries business

Nidec Conversion is building its BESS storage business in the Loire. It needed a quality director on the executive committee and four R&D and electrical managers, at the same time.

BESS site in Roche-la-Molière, Loire
BESS site · Roche-la-Molière (42)
D+5assessed by an engineer

New site · new positions created

Nidec · BESS storage, Loire (42)

Quality director (executive committee), R&D, product development, inverter control, electrical

The context
A new site for the batteries business, two positions created, and scarce profiles: power electronics, V-cycle, certification, HV, MV and LV chain.
The challenge
Conventional channels were ineffective. For the R&D product development manager, they needed a manager able to lead a team in liaison with the group.
What we did
Search in the large electrical engineering groups. The future hire is approached on day 1, technically assessed by Florian on day 5, then presented in a shortlist of five profiles.
The result
Offer made and signed the same day, in August 2026, start in November. The interview schedule spread over the summer stretched the assignment to fourteen weeks.

  • 5

    positions run simultaneously

  • D+1

    candidate approached

  • D+5

    assessed by an engineer

  • 1 day

    between offer and signature

  1. D+1Approached: R&D manager at a large electrical engineering group
  2. D+5Technical assessment interview with Florian
  3. ShortlistFive profiles presented to the client
  4. AugustOffer made and signed the same day

Read the full case study

In the same field

  • Fast-charging station for electric vehicles2 positions filledIllustration

    EV charging · 2 positions

    Cap'bornes · EV charging installer

    EV charging engineer and salesperson, against a competing firm

    • 2positions filled
    • 3 monthsversus 6 to 9 in the sector
    • < 60available profiles

    Another firm had already been mandated. Both hires were filled through direct search, for a fast-growing multi-site charging point installer.

    Read the full case

04 · The field

Four areas covered

From the containerto the delivery substation

Profiles at the intersection of electrochemistry, power electronics and grid studies.

BESS · stationary storage

Battery containers, system integration, power conversion systems, BMS, testing and commissioning.

BESS engineer €60–90kCritical

05 · The market

Job market

Two roles rated criticalin the 2026 barometer

The battery / BESS engineer and the MV/HV grid connection project manager are among the roles rated at critical scarcity in the 2026 Energy & Transition barometer.

  1. Battery / BESS engineer

    Gigafactories, stationary storage, a fast-growing market. Fixed annual gross, national basis (Energy & Transition Barometer 2026).

    €60-90kCritical

  2. MV, HV grid connection project manager

    Saturated grid connection queues. Fixed annual gross, national basis (Energy & Transition Barometer 2026).

    46–69k€Critical

  3. EV charging project manager

    Pay rise since 2020, driven by the scarcity of these profiles (Roles in short supply 2026, Volta Executive).

    +30-45%High

06 · Our assessment

An engineer who assesses

What we checkin a technical interview

  1. Stationary storage

    BESS integration, BMS, power conversion, testing and commissioning.

  2. HV, MV and LV chain

    Transformers, switchgear, substations, MV/HV grid connection.

  3. Electrical studies

    Load flow, short circuit, protection, selectivity, earthing.

  4. Battery industry

    Product development up to TRL 8/9, certification, industrialisation.

  5. Industrial electrical engineering

    Main LV switchboards, panels, design offices, electrical works sites.

  6. Standards and grid

    IEC standards, grid codes, connection compliance: the vocabulary is tested from the very first conversation.

07 · Pay

7 roles · 2026 benchmarks

Salary barometerBESS, HV/LV & battery 2026

7 key roles, fixed annual gross, national basis. Open a row to read the expected skills and typical assignments.

Battery / BESS engineerGigafactories, stationary storage€60-90kCritical

Skills required

  • Architecture of a BESS system: cells, modules, racks, containers
  • Command of the BMS and thermal management
  • Integration with power conversion (PCS)
  • Testing, commissioning and performance monitoring

Typical assignments

  • Sizing of a stationary storage system
  • BMS and PCS integration
  • On-site commissioning
BESS / energy storage R&D engineerProduct development, TRL 8/9€55-90kCritical

Skills required

  • BESS product development (V-model, TRL 8/9)
  • Command of electrochemistry and the BMS
  • Qualification and safety testing
  • Drafting of specifications and requirements

Typical assignments

  • Development of a BESS module
  • Ageing tests
  • Industrialisation of a storage product
Power conversion engineerPower electronics, inverters, grid forming€50-85kCritical

Skills required

  • Design of inverters and power converters
  • Command of grid forming and grid following
  • Power electronics (SiC, GaN)
  • Compliance with grid codes

Typical assignments

  • Development of a grid-forming inverter
  • Grid connection compliance
  • Integration into a BESS
Energy storage technical directorTechnical leadership of the storage business unit€90-130kVery high

Skills required

  • Technical leadership of a storage business unit (R&D, product, industrialisation)
  • Management of teams of engineers and laboratories
  • Product strategy and roadmap
  • Relations with customers and technical partners

Typical assignments

  • Launch of a BESS range
  • Pre-industrialisation of a product
  • Leadership of a structuring R&D project
MV / HV grid connection project managerSaturated grid connection queues€46-69kCritical

Skills required

  • Studies and applications for MV and HV grid connection
  • Delivery substations and MV/LV substations
  • Coordination with the grid operator
  • Management of costs, deadlines and acceptance

Typical assignments

  • MV connection of a storage site
  • Creation of a delivery substation
  • Follow-up of a connection agreement
Electromechanical / electrotechnical technicianStrong competition between sectors€40-50kHigh

Skills required

  • HV/LV electrical engineering: panels, main LV switchboards, protection
  • Reading of electrical diagrams
  • Electromechanical diagnosis and maintenance
  • Lockout and electrical safety certifications

Typical assignments

  • Commissioning of electrical equipment
  • Preventive maintenance of an MV/LV substation
  • Troubleshooting on an industrial site
EV charging project managerElectrical engineering, site works and regulation€42-61kHigh

Skills required

  • Multi-site rollout of EV charging points
  • Command of LV and MV connections
  • Compliance with the LOM law and public procurement
  • Coordination of installers and commissioning

Typical assignments

  • Rollout of a charging point network
  • Grid connection of a charging hub
  • Public EV charging contract

Source: Energy & Transition Barometer 2026 and Volta Executive benchmarks · fixed annual gross, national basis, excluding variable pay and bonuses

Les métiers de l’énergie dans le Baromètre des salaires 2026

08 · The method

The Volta Executive method

Hire a BESS technical directorwithin 3 weeks

A 1-hour scoping session and a scorecard, mapping of the search ecosystem, a shortlist within 10 days, a hire within 3 weeks. The 3 weeks run from scoping to the chosen candidate, offer accepted, when the five key success factors are in place. The candidate's notice period, often three months for a manager in post, then comes on top.

  1. Day 1

    A 1-hour scoping session and a scorecard

    One hour with the future manager, not just HR. We come out with the three results expected at twelve months, the real budget including variable pay, and a scorecard ranking each skill: essential, necessary, useful, bonus.

    Deliverable: Scorecard approved by the manager

  2. Days 1 to 3

    Map the search ecosystem

    The companies, sites and roles where the profile really exists: competitors, suppliers, customers, neighbouring sectors doing the same job under another name. We know how many people fit the scorecard before writing the first message.

    Deliverable: A quantified talent map

  3. Within 10 days

    A shortlist within 10 days

    Three to five candidates approached directly, met, assessed against the scorecard by an engineer, presented with their motivations and real salary expectations. Not a pile of CVs.

    Deliverable: 3 to 5 reasoned profiles

  4. Within 3 weeks

    A hire within 3 weeks by direct search

    Two interview rounds at most, with the direct manager. The package and the counter-offer are prepared before the final interview: the offer goes out within 24 hours and the chosen candidate says yes.

    Deliverable: Offer accepted, start date set

On these profilesThe mapping covers BESS integrators, battery and power conversion manufacturers, electrical design offices, HV/LV installers and EV charging operators active in France. The first message talks about PCS, BMS, load flow, FAT and SAT.

  • Replacement guarantee of 3 to 6 months
  • Onboarding follow-up over 90 days
  • Confidentiality, NDA on request
  • Published fees: 25% of the annual gross package for one position, 23% per position from two similar positions entrusted together, one-third deposit, exclusive mandate

The recruitment process, step by step

09 · References

They talk about it

Whatour clients and candidates say

We hired two new team members in 2025. Florian is responsive and proactive.

Marc-Antoine Leprince · operations director and co-founder, Cap'bornes

Who we work with

  • BESS system integrators
  • Power conversion manufacturers
  • Battery, cell and module manufacturers
  • HV/LV installers and design offices
  • EV charging operators and installers

Our full track record

10 · Questions

5 questions

Frequently asked questionsBESS, HV/LV & battery

Which profiles should you hire for a BESS project?

A BESS project draws on several trades: the battery / BESS engineer (system architecture, BMS, integration), the power conversion engineer (inverters, PCS, grid forming), the HV/MV/LV electrical studies manager (load flow, short circuit, protection, selectivity, earthing), the MV/HV grid connection project manager and electrotechnical technicians for commissioning. Depending on the maturity of the company, a technical director, a quality director and an R&D manager are added, as on the Nidec assignment followed by Volta Executive.

What is the difference between an EV charging profile and a BESS profile?

An EV charging project manager (electric vehicle charging infrastructure) masters the multi-site rollout of charging points, LV and MV connections, public procurement and legal obligations (LOM law). A BESS engineer works on the design and integration of stationary storage systems, with skills in electrochemistry, BMS, power conversion and grid studies. The two profiles are not interchangeable, even though both work on electricity and grid connection.

What salary for a BESS engineer in 2026?

According to the Energy & Transition Barometer 2026, a battery / BESS engineer sits between €60k and €90k fixed annual gross, national basis, excluding variable pay and bonuses, with a critical scarcity rating. Volta Executive benchmarks for neighbouring roles: BESS R&D engineer €55-90k, power conversion engineer €50-85k, storage technical director €90-130k. An MV/HV grid connection project manager sits between €46k and €69k.

What are the hiring timelines in BESS, HV/LV and batteries?

At Volta Executive, the shortlist arrives within 10 days and the hire is concluded within 3 weeks through direct search, for an engineer as for a director, provided there is a reply within 48 h and the mandate is entrusted exclusively. The candidate's notice period then comes on top.

Which energy sectors does Volta Executive recruit in?

Volta Executive recruits across five areas of expertise: energy recovery (EfW, biomass, SRF, district heating), industry and manufacturing, BESS with high and low voltage and batteries, industrial decarbonisation and energy efficiency. In storage, the firm recruits profiles from stationary storage, power conversion, MV/HV grid connection and the battery industry.

First confidential conversation

You are hiring in BESS,HV/LV or battery?

Technical director, quality director, R&D manager, BESS or power conversion engineer. First confidential conversation, NDA on request, no commitment.

Our terms

Reply within 48 h · shortlist within 10 days · hire within 3 weeks

Our other areas of expertise

See also