Description
Title: Director of ESS Engineering
Department: Technology Center
Location: Houston, TX
Supervisor: Executive Vice President/ Head of Technology Center
FLSA Status: Exempt
Position Status: Permanent, Full-Time
Work Status (Hybrid/In-Office): Hybrid
DIRECTOR OF ESS ENGINEERING
Hanwha Qcells USA Corp (Qcells USA), headquartered in Irvine, CA, specializes in providing utility-scale modules, solar photovoltaic (PV), and battery energy storage systems (BESS) project development, along with Engineering, Procurement, and Construction (EPC) services for solar and BESS projects nationwide. Qcells USA delivers comprehensive turnkey solutions encompassing the entire utility-scale project lifecycle. By choosing Qcells USA for turnkey solutions, customers can reduce uncertainty and risk, leading to enhanced investment returns and contributing to a more sustainable future.
Qcells USA’s complete turnkey solutions seamlessly integrate the expertise of our Module, Development, and EPC teams, while ensuring close coordination with other vital internal groups such as Project Finance, Systems Integration, and Legal. This collaborative approach ensures that Qcells USA projects deliver exceptional value and performance. With several multi-billion-dollar investments, Qcells is pioneering the establishment of the only complete module supply chain in the U.S., including the expansion of our Georgia module manufacturing facility, which stands as the largest in the Western Hemisphere.
As an integral part of the global Qcells brand, Qcells USA benefits from a legacy of excellence in photovoltaic manufacturing. Qcells is renowned worldwide for its high-performance, superior-quality solar cells and modules. With dual headquarters in Seoul, South Korea (Global Executive HQ) and Thalheim, Germany (Technology & Innovation HQ), Qcells operates under the umbrella of Hanwha Group, a FORTUNE Global 500 company and one of the top 8 business conglomerates in South Korea.
SUMMARY
The Director of ESS Engineering will be responsible for developing Grid-scale Energy Storage System products and solutions. They will oversee the team handling project design for the battery energy storage solution, supporting the development, design, and deployment of energy storage facilities, both standalone and collocated with solar generation. The Director will be leading a team of 10 engineers, designers, and product managers.
This position reports to the Executive Vice President of Technology Center, or another management personnel that the President of the Company may designate. The position can be remote, and reports out of the Houston, TX office and working hours are Monday through Friday, from 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 40%.
Applicants must be authorized to work for any employer in the United States. We are unable to sponsor or take over sponsorship of an employment visa at this time.
ESSENTIAL JOB FUNCTION & RESPONSIBILITIES
- Provide internal subject matter expertise on battery storage technology and performance for utility-scale energy storage products and services.
- Responsible for successful completion of all ESS engineering activities, work delegation to the engineering team, and overall team work product quality.
- Develops, implements, and tracks engineering KPI program(s).
- Leads New Product Introduction (NPI) engineering activities in response to information and feedback from internal and external clients, stakeholders, and company leadership.
- Work with Product Management and Supply Chain Management to identify product efficiencies and improvements, and develop a plan and leads engineering activities to implement changes
- Leads reviews during design and prior to production to ensure product will meet design technical requirements and KPI’s
- Develop department standards, processes, and procedures
- Leads engineering scope for preparation of facilities and departments for accreditation and quality control audits
- Develops compliance training to other team members and new employees
- Ensures product documentation procedures are established and followed.
- Identifies needed changes to department structure, processes, procedures, or personnell and then effectuates necessary changes.
- Provide technical lead on supplier negotiations
- Manage and coordinate external resources such as engineering consultants, other specialized professionals, as needed, in the engineering design and development process.
- Manage energy storage product development through:
- Developing requirements for safety systems and safety-oriented operational requirements.
- Oversee early career engineers to help with their professional development.
- Providing RFP technical requirements and managing engineering vendors.
- Supporting the Creation of operational charge/discharge profiles.
- Supporting product development activities - Design, prototyping, certification, manufacturing, supply chain, and more.
- Supporting the selection of software and hardware.
- Provide technical insight in a collaborative process with other managers to determine allowable product configurations and future product/technology.
- Develop new tools, implement processes, provide feedback, and work with other teams to ensure continuous improvement of the technology and engineering.
- Regular attendance, in accordance with company's attendance policy and supervisory assignment, is an essential job duty requirement for this position
- Perform other duties and special projects, as assigned by Management
REQUIRED QUALIFICATIONS
- Bachelor's or Master's Degree in Electrical/Mechanical Engineering or related degree.
- 10+ years of professional work experience as a project engineer, electrical engineer, or systems engineer in the electric power industry, focusing on product development and deployment.
- Knowledge of battery energy storage systems, including knowledge/experience in Grid-sales Energy Storage System (Grid-scale BESS).
- Strong written and oral communication skills, including the ability to present ideas and suggestions clearly and effectively to internal and external audiences.
- Direct System Integration experience will be a plus.
EXAMPLES OF 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 40% as needed
EXAMPLES OF 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)
- Under the Office Mobilization Plan (OMP) policy, the role may transition to an onsite or hybrid arrangement, as determined by business needs and the Head of Department
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.
It is important to note that the job descriptions provided by Qcells USA Corp are not intended to be comprehensive lists of all duties, responsibilities, or qualifications associated with the positions. Duties and responsibilities may change at any time with or without notice, reflecting our dynamic and evolving work environment.
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].
