---
title: 'Head of Operations at Critical Loop'
canonical: 'https://feeny.ai/job/head-of-operations-critical-loop-torrance-8qs8208x1s96'
type: 'job'
last_seen: '2026-10-16'
---

# Head of Operations at Critical Loop

- **Company:** Critical Loop
- **Location:** Torrance, CA
- **Compensation:** $200k–$300k
- **Employment:** full-time
- **Work type:** onsite
- **Posted:** 2026-10-13
- **Last confirmed live:** 2026-10-16
- **Apply:** https://jobs.ashbyhq.com/criticalloop/11643e50-92a7-472c-a652-01eec00f8c1e

## Job description

## About Critical Loop

Critical Loop is shaping the next generation of energy systems by building the integrated edge grid of the future. Specializing in advanced energy management and battery control systems, Critical Loop empowers businesses and communities to seamlessly unite distributed energy resources for faster, more reliable, and affordable grid access. With deep expertise in grid modernization and a passion for creating resilient, responsive energy solutions, Critical Loop drives innovation at the intersection of technology and energy.

Job Title: Head of Operations Location: Torrance, CA - on-site, with regular travel to customer sites

## About the Role

We are seeking a Head of Operations to own everything that happens from the moment our products are released for deployment: transport and mobilization, site setup and integration, field commissioning, and the 24/7 performance and maintenance of every asset in the fleet thereafter. This is an exciting builder’s role for an experienced operator who knows what good looks like at 100 MW+ scale and can build the commissioning program, crew model, service organization, and operating playbook needed to support our rapid growth. You will lead a multi-disciplinary team of software developers, electrical engineers, operations engineers, and field technicians, and own the mission control tooling that makes deployment at this pace possible. This role is not responsible for permitting, utility interconnection, or pre-construction project management, which sit with our Project Development team; it is accountable for everything from operations readiness through the operating life of the asset. Responsibilities: 24/7 Asset Operations & Maintenance

- Run 24/7 coverage for the deployed assets: mission control, on-call rotations, escalation paths, and response-time commitments.
- Build preventative and corrective maintenance programs, root-cause analysis discipline, and incident review practice.
- Establish a network operations center (NOC) instant, remote diagnosis and resolution to reduce cost per MW as we scale
- Define asset availability standards and ensure contractual performance requirements are met.

Deployment & Field Commissioning

- Hold end-to-end accountability for field execution on every deployment: mobilization and transport, site setup and integration, commissioning tests, and field inspections.
- Build and own the commissioning program
- Hold accountability for accepting an asset from Production in the operating fleet and define and own operations readiness criteria at project kickoff
- Serve as the operational voice in engineering design, integration validation, and commissioning planning.

Safety & Compliance

- Foster a culture of safety and be accountable for adherence with safety standards and emergency response protocols, incl. developing plans for critical situations and lead incident reviews
- Ensure full compliance with regulatory requirements, including utility interconnection, AHJ, and local permitting.

Vendor & Third-Party Management

- Own OEM and supplier relationships for everything the fleet depends on in the field, including escalation paths when equipment underperforms.
- Run warranty claim strategy and recovery, and hold suppliers accountable to their commitments.
- Determine where to self-perform and where to contract regional O&M partners as the fleet’s geography widens.

KPIs & Performance Improvement

- Define the operating KPI incl. availability, performance and identifying the most cost-effective operations techniques and actions.
- Build the capacity model incl. staff per MW, cycle time per deployment to ensure growth is planned rather than being reactive

People Leadership & Capability Building

- Build, mentor, and develop a high-performing team, fostering a culture of technical superiority, collaboration and accountability.
- Build and structure the operations organization to be right sized for multiple stages for growth
- Design training programs that lets Critical Loop develop technicians internally and externally rather than competing for scarce experienced hires.

## Requirements

Required

- Bachelor’s degree in Electrical Engineering, Power Systems, or a related technical field, or equivalent practical experience.
- 10+ years in field operations, commissioning, or service within energy storage, distributed generation, critical power, or a comparable field-deployed power business, with 5+ years leading teams.
- Has run a 24/7 field service or fleet operation against uptime or response-time commitments, including on-call rotations and escalation management.
- Deep hands-on electrical competence: switchgear, inverters and power conversion systems, transformers, and controls.
- Has built and run a commissioning program from scratch incl test procedures, crew certification, defect tracking, and turnover documentation
- Has owned an operations budget and shaped service agreements, LTSAs, or warranties with OEMs and contractors.
- Based in or willing to relocate to Southern California, with willingness to travel to customer sites in North America.

## Preferred

- Experience with mobile, temporary, or rental power fleets in addition to permanently sited assets.
- Utility utility coordination and interconnection of behind-the-meter assets
- Commercial and industrial customer environments: manufacturing, EV charging, and critical infrastructure and data centers.
- Experience in a startup or early-stage environment, including building functions that did not previously exist.

At Critical Loop, we're committed to rewarding and supporting our team. Our benefits package includes equity ownership through stock options, giving you a stake in our success, along with comprehensive health coverage (medical, dental, and vision) through an HRA with a generous allowance. We also provide a retirement savings plan and unlimited paid time off so you can recharge and maintain work-life balance.

Critical Loop is an equal opportunity employer. We're committed to building a diverse team and creating an inclusive workplace where everyone can thrive. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, veteran status, or any other protected characteristic under applicable law. Critical Loop is an equal opportunity employer. We're committed to building a diverse team and creating an inclusive workplace where everyone can thrive. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, veteran status, or any other protected characteristic under applicable law.

## About Critical Loop

## Core Business
- **Primary industry**: Energy infrastructure, distributed energy resources (DER), battery energy storage systems (BESS), microgrids.
- **Target customers**: B2B / enterprise – industrial manufacturing, data centers, utilities, critical infrastructure, and EV fleet operators.
- **Mission**: “We’re building a world where energy is abundant and accessible on demand.” The company also states it aims to “accelerate access to reliable power, even where it’s otherwise impossible.” [criticalloop.com](https://www.criticalloop.com/about)

## Products & Services
- **Modular Battery Storage Systems**: Relocatable, megawatt-scale batteries that can be deployed in weeks to provide fast, flexible capacity.
- **Microgrid Cabinet**: A smart, scalable cabinet that integrates different power sources (grid, battery, renewables) into a single controlled system.
- **Control Software**: Proprietary platform for orchestrating power sources, real-time monitoring, diagnostics, and optimization.
- **Full‑Spectrum Energy Solutions**: End‑to‑end project development including financing, design, permitting, deployment, and ongoing operations & maintenance.

## Market Standing
- **Valuation / Market Cap**: Not disclosed.
- **Key Metric**: 50 MWh deployed, scaling to 100+ MWh in 2026, with a stated path to 5–10 GWh within five years. The company operates 55+ active control nodes under actual utility contracts. [criticalloop.com](https://www.criticalloop.com/)
- **Notable Investors / Partners**: Not publicly disclosed. The team includes former leaders from SpaceX, Palantir, Tesla, and Rivian, and the company works with “blue‑chip customers” and utilities.
- **Growth Signals**: Rapid scaling of deployed capacity; 67 employees (as of mid‑2026); active hiring across hardware, software, and business development roles; operating in California with utility contracts.

## Competitive Advantages
- **Speed to power**: “Get megawatts in weeks, not years” – a key differentiator in a market where grid interconnection often takes 5+ years.
- **Configurable platform**: Combines grid power with a proprietary battery fleet, allowing the same hardware/software stack to serve multiple industries (manufacturing, data centers, utilities, etc.).
- **Aerospace‑level engineering**: Founding team from SpaceX, Palantir, and Tesla brings rigor in safety, reliability, and system integration.
- **Proven in the field**: Systems already deployed in extreme conditions with real utility contracts, not just prototypes.

## Strategic Focus
- **Current priorities**: Scale deployed capacity to 100+ MWh in 2026, expand industrial customer base, and deepen partnerships with utilities to close grid gaps. The company is solving the “time‑to‑power” problem that limits business growth in the U.S.

## Why Work Here
- **Culture**: “No endless meetings. No busywork. Just real problems, real ownership, and shipping things that matter.” Early‑stage, fast‑paced environment with a bias toward action. [criticalloop.com/careers](https://www.criticalloop.com/careers)
- **Location & work model**: Engineering roles (Senior Mechanical Engineer, Senior Electrical Engineer, Hardware Technical Program Manager) are listed as “Long Beach (On‑site).” Other roles may vary.
- **Notable perks**:
  - Equity ownership (stock options) for all team members.
  - 401(k) retirement savings plan.
  - Individual Coverage Health Reimbursement Arrangement (ICHRA) – a monthly allowance to choose health, dental, and vision plans.
  - Generous paid time off (unlimited for some roles, 15 days for others) and unlimited sick leave.

## Sources
1. [criticalloop.com](https://www.criticalloop.com/) – Main company site with product, deployment, and mission details.
2. [criticalloop.com/careers](https://www.criticalloop.com/careers) – Careers page with culture, perks, and open roles.
3. [criticalloop.com/about](https://www.criticalloop.com/about) – About page with mission, speed‑to‑power narrative, and customer segments.
4. [criticalloop.com/team](https://criticalloop.com/team) – Team page listing co‑founders and leadership backgrounds.
5. [jobs.ashbyhq.com/criticalloop](https://jobs.ashbyhq.com/criticalloop) – Active job listings with salary ranges and location details.

## Other roles at Critical Loop

- [Environmental Health & Safety Officer](https://feeny.ai/job/environmental-health-safety-officer-critical-loop-torrance-1xy8y6q0cd0d) — Torrance, CA
- [Head of Production](https://feeny.ai/job/head-of-production-critical-loop-torrance-cpq1713atke4) — Torrance, CA
- [Inventory Buyer - BESS Systems](https://feeny.ai/job/inventory-buyer-bess-systems-critical-loop-torrance-7ewe0prt8pxr) — Torrance, CA
- [Mechanical Engineer](https://feeny.ai/job/mechanical-engineer-critical-loop-long-beach-erqr8p9a7mex) — Long Beach, CA
- [Engineering Technician](https://feeny.ai/job/engineering-technician-critical-loop-torrance-kr35etnjj59m) — Torrance, CA
- [Site Operations Engineer](https://feeny.ai/job/site-operations-engineer-critical-loop-long-beach-cnv56fdmhyhk) — Long Beach, CA
- [Quality Engineer (Build Operations)](https://feeny.ai/job/quality-engineer-build-operations-critical-loop-torrance-jry874ms4v94) — Torrance, CA
- [Manufacturing Engineer - Mechnical](https://feeny.ai/job/manufacturing-engineer-mechnical-critical-loop-torrance-tn6yp99j33jg) — Torrance, CA
- [Manufacturing Engineer - Electrical](https://feeny.ai/job/manufacturing-engineer-electrical-critical-loop-torrance-aew2f6ng813y) — Torrance, CA
- [Lead Quality Engineer (Build Operations)](https://feeny.ai/job/lead-quality-engineer-build-operations-critical-loop-torrance-e4eqtkmpafpr) — Torrance, CA