Controls Engineer

This is your chance to join the rapidly growing commercial solar energy business. 

FlexRack by Qcells is an integrated solar company that offers custom-designed, fixed tilt ground mount and single-axis solar tracking systems in the commercial and utility-scale solar mounting industries. FlexRack by Qcells also offers full services, including engineering, geotechnical, pullout testing, field, and layout design services to address the actual site conditions of a project site. FlexRack by Qcells has completed over 3.5 GW of solar racking installations in over 40 U.S. states, 9 Canadian provinces and across the globe.

SUMMARY 

The Controls Engineer will work with the engineering and research and development teams to gain a thorough understanding of the company’s current solar tracker controls systems and assist in the in-house development of new control systems. This position reports to the Head of Engineering and Research and Development, or another management personnel that the President of the Company may designate. This position is located in the Highland Hills, Ohio area. The position will be hybrid working 4 days in office and one day remote. Working hours are Monday through Friday, from 7:00am - 4:00pm or 8:00am to 5:00pm or 9:00am to 6:00pm local time. Overtime and weekend working hours may be required as needed. This position is expected to travel up to 25%. 

ESSENTIAL JOB FUNCTION & RESPONSIBILITIES - Cross Functional Management

• Gain a thorough, in-depth knowledge of the company‘s current solar tracker control systems
• Become key point of contact for customer’s controls related issues
• Gain thorough understanding of PV project site controls commissioning requirements
• General knowledge of PV power plant electrical design and controls related electrical requirements.
• Work with the engineering and research and development teams to develop and implement solar tracker control system strategies. 
• Work with controls system architect of the Tracker Manufacturer power plant systems engineering team to integrating with system, data science, software, and firmware engineering teams of the company 
• Become familiar with the overall controls architecture, including existing tracker-related (e.g., NCUs, RSUs, TCUs, SPCs, Datahub)
• Act as the in-house subject matter expert for industry best practices, compliance, and standards around PPC/SCADA, NERC CIP, NERC Mod, applicable IEC/UL, and IEEE standards. 
• Become familiar with system controls documentation, including technical requirements, network and controls, wiring diagrams, IO address lists, SCADA/PLC architecture diagrams, BOMs 
• Support Field Services Team in site commissioning (installation & troubleshooting of field issues) 
• Support Technical Product Management teams in defining power plant block controls architecture short- and long-term roadmaps. 
• Knowledge and understanding of National Electrical Code (NEC) requirements as it related to solar power plant design. 

ESSENTIAL JOB FUNCTION & RESPONSIBILITIES - Product Strategy

• Follow market trends and forecast needs for product enhancement 
• Work with development team to develop strategy for continuous innovation for product lines and work processes 
• Research customers' business practices and needs relative to new features and products. 
• Propose new solutions based on customer input, surveys, imaginative interpretation of user needs, market needs analysis, and known technological solutions. 
• Develop value-based pricing and compelling business models for development products. 
• Contribute to annual and quarterly product roadmaps. 

REQUIRED QUALIFICATIONS

• Bachelor’s Degree in Engineering (Electrical Preferred) 
• Master’s Degree in Engineering a Plus 
• 3 years of related experience 
• FPGA Experience a Plus 
• Experience modelling power plant controls 
• Experience with various communication protocols, including Modbus TCP/IP, CAN, Zigbee, SCADA 
• Experience in Utility Solar Market
• Familiarity with UL Certification 
• Familiarity with international codes and standards 
• Microsoft Office Suite 
• Ability to Travel up to 25% 
• Professional Engineer a Plus 
• NABCEP Certification a Plus 

PHYSICAL DEMANDS

• Stationary Position: frequently remains stationary up to 90% of the time and sitting up to 8 hours in a day 
• Move/Traverse: infrequently bend, stand, stoop and/or walk 
• Carry Weight: infrequently carry weight and/or lift objects (light to heavy) weighing up to 10 pounds 
• Hearing and Speech: frequently communicates with the ability to hear and talk on a regular basis with employees, coworkers, and all personnel matters; must be able to exchange accurate information in these situations 
• Sight: frequent use of sight to detect images on computer, office documents, and office objects near and far 
• Climb: occasionally ascends/descends on stairway to get to office upper and lower floors 
• Travel: up to 25% as needed 

WORK ENVIRONMENT

• Regular professional, office business setting 
• Noise level ranges from low to moderate (if in office setting) 
• Noise level ranges from moderate to high (if on construction worksite)

Hanwha Qcells is proud to be an at-will Equal Opportunity Employer and prohibits discrimination against race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender perception or identity, national origin, age, marital status, pregnancy, citizenship, disability, protected veteran status and any other classification protected by applicable federal, state or local law.

This policy applies to all terms and conditions of employment, including recruiting, hiring, placement, promotion, termination, layoff, recall, transfer, leaves of absence, compensation and training.

We are committed to the full inclusion of all qualified individuals. As part of this commitment, Hanwha Qcells will provide reasonable accommodations to all qualified individuals with disabilities to participate in the job application or interview process, to perform essential job functions, and/or to receive other benefits and privileges of employment. Please contact us to request accommodations at [email protected].

Nothing in this statement shall imply implicitly or explicitly a guarantee of employment outside our at-will employment opportunity.

FLEXRACK by Qcells is proud to be an at-will Equal Opportunity Employer and prohibits discrimination against race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender perception or identity, national origin, age, marital status, pregnancy, citizenship, disability, protected veteran status and any other classification protected by applicable federal, state or local law. This policy applies to all terms and conditions of employment, including recruiting, hiring, placement, promotion, termination, layoff, recall, transfer, leaves of absence, compensation and training.

We are committed to the full inclusion of all qualified individuals. As part of this commitment, FLEXRACK by Qcells will provide reasonable accommodations to all qualified individuals with disabilities to participate in the job application or interview process, to perform essential job functions, and/or to receive other benefits and privileges of employment. Please contact us to request accommodations [email protected].

Nothing in this statement shall imply implicitly or explicitly a guarantee of employment outside our at-will employment opportunity.