Associate, Technology

Energy Impact Partners (EIP) is the world’s largest venture capital firm focused on the transition of the energy industry towards a decarbonized, electrified, digitized, and customer-centric future. EIP brings together leading innovators with some of the world’s most forward-looking energy companies to create a cleaner, more secure and resilient future.

EIP has launched a new effort focused on investing at the frontier of deep decarbonization and is seeking a technology team member to support our efforts.  The role will have two primary functions: 1) supporting technical diligence on a wide range of investment prospects, and 2) sector research and analysis to build EIP’s internal knowledgebase and benchmark investment prospects. The function will require interacting with a network of subject matter experts and other resources from academia & industry, as well as communicating complex technical information to non-technical audiences.

Applicants should have a sterling track record analyzing & communicating concepts in science and technology.  This role will primarily be focused on technology to support deep decarbonization of the economy – so a background in the physical sciences is a must. 

Key Areas of Responsibility:

Technology diligence for investment prospects in deep decarbonization

• Sift through material from technically sophisticated investment prospects to gain a fundamental level of understanding about their underlying technology
• Quickly discover and assemble resources to answer key questions about that technology
• Build simple technical and technoeconomic models to evaluate novel technologies

Network cultivation

• Grow a network that can help validate technical state of the art and help inform investment team views on novel technologies
• Attend conferences, workshops, and technology-focused events to build relationships, technical breadth, EIP’s brand in technical communities

Sector analysis

• Analyze technology areas via desktop research, fundamentals-based analysis, and interviews with technology specialists, identifying technical KPIs and understanding key technical trade-offs
• Develop frameworks for understanding emerging technology ecosystems, and create graphical representations of those frameworks (in PowerPoint)

Requirements

• A BS and MS degree in a relevant engineering discipline -- ideally chemical, electrochemical or biochemical engineering
• 2-5+ years of work experience in one or more of the following functions: research & development, design engineering, manufacturing, engineering consulting
• Background and passion for clean energy and climate technology
• Aptitude for and desire to build technical breadth
• Strong, basic engineering fundamentals and the ability to apply them to unfamiliar technologies, e.g.: dimensional analysis, materials properties, basic mechanics, open- and closed-system thermodynamics & conservation laws, transport phenomena, chemical kinetics, simple methods for equipment sizing and rating
• Ability to synthesize and critically assess complex technical data
• Experience evaluating new technologies and working with startups is a plus, but not required
• Strong writing and oral communication skills

Benefits

Compensation for this role is $130,000 and is bonus eligible.