How to apply for Senior Software Engineer I

About EnergyHub

EnergyHub is at the forefront of the clean energy transition, enabling utilities to manage distributed energy resources (DERs) like residential batteries and solar. Their platform integrates with smart grid standards to build a more sustainable and resilient energy grid. Working here means contributing directly to combating climate change through technology.

About the role

As a Senior Software Engineer I, you will design and develop backend services that power residential battery programs, integrating with protocols like OpenADR and IEEE 2030.5. Your work will enable utilities to orchestrate thousands of distributed energy resources, directly impacting grid reliability and renewable energy adoption.

A typical day

Your day might start with a stand-up meeting with your team to discuss progress on building a new endpoint for a battery program. You'll then dive into coding a Spring Boot service that parses OpenADR messages, collaborate with an OEM engineer on integration tests, and later review a peer's pull request for security compliance. After lunch, you might join a product brainstorming session on new features for utility clients, then wrap up by documenting your API design.

Who EnergyHub is looking for

• Experienced in Java/Spring and RESTful APIs, with a strong grasp of security best practices (OAuth2, JWT, API hardening).
• Familiar with energy industry protocols (OpenADR, IEEE 2030.5, OCPP) or similar IoT/smart grid standards.
• Collaborative engineer who thrives in cross-functional teams (product, engineering, OEMs) and enjoys translating requirements into robust backend services.
• Passionate about clean energy and sustainability, with a desire to apply technical skills to real-world climate solutions.

Tips for this application

• Highlight any direct experience with OpenADR, IEEE 2030.5, or OCPP in your resume and cover letter, even if from side projects or academic work.
• Emphasize your Java/Spring expertise with specific examples of RESTful APIs you've built, including security measures like authentication and encryption.
• Showcase your experience working with IoT devices or distributed systems, as EnergyHub deals with thousands of residential batteries communicating over the grid.
• Mention any familiarity with energy markets, DERMS (Distributed Energy Resource Management Systems), or utility software—this will set you apart.
• In your cover letter, explicitly connect your technical skills to the mission of enabling clean, distributed energy, showing genuine passion for sustainability.

What to cover in your cover letter

["Your specific experience with energy protocols (OpenADR, IEEE 2030.5) or similar IoT standards, and how you've applied them.", 'Your expertise in Java/Spring and building secure, scalable REST APIs, with concrete examples.', 'Your ability to collaborate with product teams and OEMs to refine requirements and deliver high-quality software.', 'Your enthusiasm for clean energy and how this role aligns with your career goals to make a tangible environmental impact.']

Research before applying

• Explore EnergyHub's platform and case studies on their website—understand how their DERMS works and the value they provide to utilities.
• Read about the OpenADR and IEEE 2030.5 standards, their use cases, and how they enable demand response and DER integration.
• Look into EnergyHub's recent news, partnerships with utilities, and any blog posts about their technology stack or engineering culture.
• Understand the broader clean energy landscape, especially the role of residential batteries in grid stability and renewable integration.

Likely interview topics

Based on the job description, expect questions about:

• Walk me through your experience with OpenADR or IEEE 2030.5. How did you implement these protocols in a real project?
• Describe a REST API you built from scratch. How did you handle authentication, authorization, and security?
• How would you design a backend service to manage thousands of residential batteries, ensuring low latency and high reliability?
• Tell me about a time you collaborated with product managers and external partners (OEMs) to refine requirements. What was the outcome?
• What are the biggest security challenges when exposing APIs to utility clients and IoT devices? How would you mitigate them?

Common mistakes to avoid

• Don't submit a generic application—failing to mention energy protocols or Java/Spring will make you blend in with other candidates.
• Avoid overpromising on security expertise without concrete examples; the role requires deep knowledge of API hardening and auth frameworks.
• Don't neglect to show passion for clean energy—this company's mission is central; a purely technical application may seem disconnected.