New Homes Solar Activation Specialist

Qcells North America

San Francisco (CA)

Hybrid

USD 87,000 - 105,000

Full time

5 days ago

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Job summary

Qcells North America is seeking a Solar Activation Specialist to lead activation and commissioning for solar and energy storage in new home developments. You will manage onsite activations and remote PV/battery activations, reporting on field dashboards, and ensure PTO readiness before activation.

The role requires hands-on construction experience and coordination across trades. Based in CA with offices in Irvine, San Francisco, or Teaneck, NJ, the position blends 70% field work with 30% onsite

Qualifications

Minimum 5+ years of professional work experience with a business or related field, or 8+ years with an associate’s degree.
2+ years of work experience in solar is required.
Strong written and verbal communication skills; customer-facing experience preferred.

Responsibilities

Attend new community kickoff meetings and site walkthroughs tied to field operations.
Coordinate with Project and Field Managers to resolve commissioning issues and prevent delays.
Guide installers, builders, and homeowners through commissioning and activation sequences; assist with troubleshooting.

Skills

Computer skills

Time management

Communication skills

Customer service

Independent work

Multi-channel engagement

Analytical problem solving

Education

Bachelor's degree in business or related field

Associate's degree in related field

Job description

POSITION DESCRIPTION

QCELLS Home Energy Solutions is seeking a Solar Activation Specialist to lead the activation and commissioning support of solar and battery systems installed in new home developments. In this role, you will manage onsite scheduled activations and remote PV/battery activations, while maintaining and reporting on remote/field dashboard performance. You’ll partner closely with the Field Manager during installation to complete commissioning and system power checks, ensuring each home is prepared for remote activation prior to receiving Permission to Operate (PTO). Key responsibilities include conducting job site visits (SPCs) within new home communities to confirm installers are completing contracted commissioning scopes on schedule and to best-in-class quality standards. You will also support wireless device setup (when applicable), troubleshoot solar/battery issues, and deliver a strong customer experience by building positive relationships with homeowners. The ideal candidate is a hands‑on construction professional with experience supporting new home builders and coordinating across residential trades, including framing, electrical, HVAC, plumbing, roofing, photovoltaics, and energy storage.

This position will be based out of one of our offices in Irvine, CA; San Francisco, CA; or Teaneck, NJ, with a potential in‑office schedule set at the direct manager’s discretion in accordance with the company policies and procedures. Remote work may be considered for exceptional cases. This role will be 70% field / 30% onsitebased and overtime may be required as needed.

Responsibilities

Attend new community kickoff meetings, preconstruction walkthroughs, and other key stakeholder meetings tied to field operations.
Partner with Project and Field Managers to resolve commissioning issues quickly and prevent activation delays. Provide clear, consistent field status updates to Project Management, Field Manager, and Activations Manager.
Coordinate with builders, installers, and internal operations to remove technical or logistical blockers before and during construction.
Guide installers, builders, and homeowners through commissioning and activation sequences, including hands‑on mechanical and electrical troubleshooting when needed.
Serve as the technical SME on Q CELLS PV and ESS mechanical and electrical systems for builders, installers, and field operations.
Plan and optimize travel routes using software and strong navigational judgment to maximize site‑visit efficiency and consistently hit activation targets.
Inspect installations for as‑built discrepancies that could impact inspections, performance, or compliance (layout, electrical specs, labeling, placards).
Own commissioning quality, on‑time phase completion, and adherence to scope of work.
Conduct quality audits of solar contractor PV and battery installations and verify alignment to internal standards and industry best practices. Validate project milestones in Salesforce, including date of entry and photo review to support work order management.
Support permitting and inspection activities as needed, including permit pickup/submittal and hosting AHJ inspections, support inventory reconciliation when requested, including in‑person cycle counts with procurement/supply chain and support the Service team by troubleshooting startup systems that are offline or experiencing issues prior to activation of work order closeout.
Travel as needed to support existing and new communities. Use of personal vehicle or assigned fleet vehicle (GPS‑enabled).
Deliver high‑quality customer service and maintain positive homeowner relationships through knowledgeable, timely, professional support.
Configure wireless devices and connect PV/ESS equipment to the internet when applicable; provide homeowner orientation on monitoring applications.
Monitor and maintain Salesforce activation dashboards and reports (SPCs, Activation Report, Signal Sent Report, NCC Report). Maintain accurate documentation, including service requests, activation of work orders, and all work performed.
Continuously improve remote and onsite activation cycle times through disciplined dashboard management and strong attention to detail.

Required Qualifications

Bachelor’s degree in business or related field with 5+ years of professional work experience or an associate’s degree in related field with 8+ years of professional work experience including a minimum of 2+ years of work experience in solar.
Strong computer skills, including data entry, email, and navigating CRM platforms.
Excellent time management and organizational abilities. Strong multitasking skills — comfortable handling phone calls, emails, and CRM updates simultaneously.
Excellent written and verbal communication skills.
Customer service experience or related client‑facing role.
Ability to work independently with minimal supervision as well as manage a schedule independently and meet time‑sensitive field priorities.
Comfortable with high‑volume customer engagement across multiple channels with a focus on continuous quality and productivity monitoring.
Strong organizational, analytical, and problem‑solving skills; proactive, process‑driven, and focused on long‑term solutions

Preferred Qualifications

Background in construction, roofing, solar, and/or electrical or 5+ years in project management and 3+ years in field operations/operations management supporting solar and storage in new home communities.
Ability to read, interpret, and execute master plans and PV/ESS design sets with strong attention to detail and sound judgment to optimize layouts and system specifications.
Clear verbal and written communication skills, including the ability to present contractor performance updates to internal and external stakeholders
Ownership mindset and ability to thrive in a fast‑paced, high‑growth environment
Valid driver’s license with a clean driving record (must maintain)
Ability to perform jobsite visits in compliance with Q CELLS and OSHA safety requirements
OSHA 30 certification
Hands‑on commissioning and activation experience across major platforms (Tesla, Enphase, Franklin, SolarEdge, QOMMAND PV/ESS)

Compensation

In accordance with applicable pay transparency laws, the anticipated annual base salary for this position is:

Zone 1 (Bay Area, NYC): $95,000 – $114,000
Zone 2 (CA, NJ, NY): $87,100 – $104,500
Zone 3 (All Others): $79,200 – $95,000

The applicable salary range is based on the employee’s primary work location. Individual compensation will be determined based on qualifications, relevant experience, education, skills, internal equity, and other business‑related factors.

Hanwha Q CELLS America Inc. (“HQCA”) is a Qcells company, one of the world’s largest manufacturers and providers of solar photovoltaic (PV) products and solutions. Headquartered in Irvine, California, HQCA has been rapidly expanding its business in North America through the expansion of products and solutions, including distributed energy solutions, direct‑to‑homeowner solar sales and financing, and EPC services. We provide an opportunity to be part of an exciting and growing world‑class global business in an interesting and expanding industry of the future.

Physical, Mental & Environmental Demands

Mobility

Standing

20% of time

Sitting

70% of time

Walking

10% of time

Strength

Pulling

up to 10 Pounds

Pushing

up to 10 Pounds

Carrying

up to 10 Pounds

Lifting

up to 10 Pounds

Dexterity(F = Frequently, O = Occasionally, N = Never)

Typing

Handling

Reaching

Agility(F = Frequently, O = Occasionally, N = Never)

Turning

Twisting

Bending

Crouching

Balancing

Climbing

Crawling

Kneeling

The salary range is required by the California Pay Transparency Act and may differ depending on the location of those candidates hired nationwide. Actual compensation is influenced by a wide array of factors including but not limited to, skill set, education, licenses and certifications, essential job duties and requirements, and the necessary experience relative to the job’s minimum qualifications.