Senior Technical Program Manager

Become a Senior Technical Program Manager at Rondo Energy in Alameda, California. Lead cross-functional teams to drive product development of Rondo's Heat Battery. Enjoy comprehensive medical benefits, flexible time off, and a chance to impact the planet positively. Join Rondo Energy as a Senior Technical Program Manager in Alameda, California, and manage the development of their core product line. This role involves coordinating across engineering, product, and supply chain teams to ensure timely and budget-friendly product deployment. The ideal candidate will have a strong technical background and excellent communication skills. Enjoy comprehensive medical benefits, flexible time off, and the opportunity to make a significant positive impact on the planet.

Rondo Energy Alameda, California, United States On-site Full Time USD 190k–220k yearly UTC-08:00

Rondo Energy

Company Overview

Name

Rondo Energy

Headquarters

Alameda, California, United States

Founded

2020

Size

Employee count is not publicly specified, and as a private company, no revenue figures are disclosed; total funding raised is $82 million (source: cbinsights.com).

What They Do

Rondo Energy focuses on electrified thermal energy storage, specifically through its innovative Rondo Heat Battery (RHB) technology. This technology converts intermittent renewable electricity from sources such as wind and solar into high-temperature heat, which is stored in refractory bricks heated to temperatures between 1100-1500°C. The stored energy can then be dispatched as superheated air, process heat, steam, or power with an impressive efficiency of over 98% for extended periods, making it a viable solution for industries that require continuous high-temperature heat (source: rondo.com). Rondo's products are particularly targeted at sectors like steel, cement, chemicals, food processing, biofuels, textiles, and mining, where high-temperature heat is essential for operations. The company offers scalable systems ranging from pilot-scale deployments to larger commercial applications, catering to a diverse range of industrial needs (source: cbinsights.com). By providing a cost-effective alternative to lithium-ion batteries, Rondo differentiates itself in the market, focusing on thermal storage solutions that do not rely on rare materials, thus enhancing sustainability and accessibility for heavy industries globally (source: weforum.org).

Projects & Track Record

Rondo Energy has made significant strides in the deployment of its Heat Battery technology, with its first pilot-scale 2 MWh Heat Battery operational since 2023 at a California ethanol production facility. This deployment marks a pivotal moment for the company as it represents its initial major project in the field (source: canarymedia.com). The company has announced a total of 11 commercial developments, including 8 RHB deployments that collectively exceed 200 MWh. Notably, Rondo is working on a Heat-as-a-Service solution for HEINEKEN, which is powered by on-site solar and grid renewables, with support from major partners like EDP and the European Investment Bank (source: rondo.com). Rondo's partnerships span various industries, including food and beverage, cement production, mining, and textiles, with a total of 3 GWh in committed capacity across four major partnerships (source: rondo.com). The company's geographic presence is primarily in the United States, with its headquarters in Alameda and ongoing projects in California, while also expanding into Europe through its collaboration with HEINEKEN (source: cbinsights.com).

Recent Developments

In the past two years, Rondo Energy has successfully secured a Series B - II funding round, building on a previous $22 million Series A funding closed in February 2022. This funding was led by Breakthrough Energy Ventures and Energy Impact Partners, aimed at enhancing manufacturing capabilities and facilitating customer deliveries (source: rondo.com). The company has made headlines with its HEINEKEN Heat-as-a-Service contract, which was announced as a significant milestone in 2025, alongside the deployment of over 200 MWh across 11 commercial projects (source: rondo.com). Additionally, Rondo was granted a U.S. patent on February 25, 2025, for a thermal energy storage system that integrates with steam cracking systems, showcasing its commitment to innovation in energy storage and conversion technologies (source: cbinsights.com). While no acquisitions or mergers have been reported, Rondo continues to achieve operational milestones and gain recognition from investors for its efforts in addressing industrial heat challenges (source: canarymedia.com).

Working There

Rondo Energy's LinkedIn page indicates that the company is actively hiring for various roles primarily in engineering, manufacturing, project development, and operations. The departments include research and development focused on Heat Battery technology, sales teams targeting industrial clients, deployment teams for project execution, and support functions such as finance, reflecting the company's growth phase (source: linkedin.com). Most hiring efforts are concentrated at the Alameda headquarters, although there may be remote or project-based opportunities associated with U.S. pilots and European expansions like the HEINEKEN project (source: cbinsights.com). The company culture is characterized by a mission-driven approach to decarbonization, emphasizing collaboration with top investors and a commitment to scaling operations for profitability, as highlighted by CEO John O’Donnell in recent funding announcements (source: rondo.com). While specific employee benefits are not detailed in public sources, the venture-backed nature of Rondo suggests competitive compensation packages typical for Series B clean-tech firms in California, including potential equity options (source: linkedin.com).

Contact

Website · Careers · LinkedIn

Last updated on 2025-12-26 | Report an issue

We are looking for a Senior Technical Program Manager to manage the development of one of Rondo's core product lines. This is a highly cross-functional, high-visibility role requiring deep technical curiosity, strong systems thinking, and exceptional program leadership.

As a Senior TPM, you will coordinate across engineering, product, delivery, supply chain, and external partners to drive product development from concept through deployment. You will build structure in an evolving environment, connect the dots across teams, and ensure Rondo develops a best-in-class product, on time and on budget.

The ideal candidate is a structured thinker who learns quickly, dives into the details, and loves a technical challenge.

What You Will Do

(key responsibilities for this role include but are not limited to):

Lead program planning, including scope, milestones, resource planning, and schedule ownership.
Manage day-to-day program execution-tracking progress, identifying risks, maintaining the critical path, and ensuring the team stays focused on the highest-value work.
Develop a strong systems-level understanding of the Rondo Heat Battery and coordinate technical integration across mechanical, electrical, controls, and thermal teams.
Build alignment and drive collaboration across engineering, product, delivery, supply chain, and external partners.
Provide clear, data-driven program updates to leadership and maintain concise dashboards, metrics, and risk reporting.
Champion a culture of transparency, urgency, and operational excellence across the program team.

What You Will Bring

Bachelor's or Master's in Mechanical, Electrical, or related engineering field.
6+ years of technical program management or equivalent experience in hardware, energy systems, or complex industrial products.
Strong systems thinking skills and the ability to rapidly learn new technologies.
Demonstrated success leading cross-functional development programs with multiple technical disciplines.
Experience with scheduling and risk management tools and frameworks.
Excellent communication and interpersonal skills.

Bonus Points!

Engineering background in mechanical/electrical/systems.
Experience in both hardware engineering and project development.
Combined experience in both hardware and project development.
PMP or similar certification.
Experience working with EPC partners or multi-supplier programs.

What We Offer

Comprehensive Medical Benefits.
Dental & Vision Benefits.
Life Insurance and ADD.
Up to 12 paid holidays per year, in addition to a company week-long holiday in December.
Flexible time off policy.
401(k) plan with company match.
Cell Phone Reimbursement.
Catered lunches on-site.
Rondo HQ is close to Oakland airport - one block from the Bay - and has stunning Bay views.
An opportunity to make a huge positive impact on the planet.

This role is preferred to be on-site Alameda, California though strong candidates from different geographies open to travel will be considered. The estimated annual salary range for a candidate in the Bay Area for this role is between 190,000 and 220,000, plus equity in an early-stage, rapidly scaling global company. Additionally, you would be eligible for Rondo's excellent benefits listed above. Please note that some pay bands may have wide ranges of compensation to accommodate candidates' diverse sets of skill levels, experience, and geographic locations.