NPI Quality Engineer

Qcells North America; Cartersville (GA); On-site; USD 85,000 - 120,000; Full time

Job summary

Hanwha Q CELLS in Cartersville, GA seeks an NPI Quality Engineer to own the reference device system underpinning power measurement across PV production. You will manage reference cells/modules from selection through deployment and operate cell/module solar simulators to ensure accuracy and traceability across production lines, global sites and labs.

You will coordinate with external labs for measurements, perform data analysis with SPC, and drive calibration strategies, root-cause

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in a relevant field.
• Minimum 3 years of experience in quality/measurement/metrology/calibration roles.
• Understanding of PV cell/module electrical characteristics and I–V measurement principles.
• Strong data analysis skills (SPC, correlation, MSA).
• Excellent problem-solving and analytical abilities.
• Outstanding teamwork and communication skills.
• Proactive approach to issues.

Responsibilities

• Establish and maintain the reference cell and reference module system, including selection, build, verification, deployment and re-verification.
• Plan reference cells/modules in line with new products/tech (TOPCon, bifacial, tandem).
• Select candidates and evaluate power performance and stability (I-V, EL, visual inspection).
• Determine reference values via accredited external labs and internal checks, manage deployment to sites.
• Maintain reference cell/module database and lifecycle records for traceability.
• Monitor storage/handling conditions and inspect for cracks/corrosion/power drift.
• Operate/calibrate cell and module solar simulators and I‑V measurement systems.
• Manage cell-level calibration, spectral mismatch and irradiance/temperature control.
• Collect/trend reference data; use SPC to detect anomalies; analyze long-term stability.
• Analyze correlation between in-house testers and external labs; develop calibration strategies.
• Analyze measurement uncertainty factors and drive reduction activities.
• Plan/execute round robin tests across sites/lines; analyze results.
• Investigate root causes of deviations and propose corrective actions.
• Develop and revise operation guidelines for reference cells/modules.

Skills

Data analysis

Statistical methods

Problem solving

Teamwork

Communication

Self-motivated

Proactive

Education

Bachelor’s degree in Electrical Engineering, Physics, or Materials Engineering

Tools

Solar simulators

Calibration equipment

I-V measurement systems

Job description

Description

Location: Cartersville, GA

The NPI Quality Engineer – Solar Simulator & Calibration will own the reference device system that underpins power measurement across solar cell and module production. This position manages the full lifecycle of reference cells and reference modules (golden and standard modules) – from selection, build and verification through deployment, periodic re-verification and replacement – and operates and calibrates cell and module solar simulators (cell testers and flash testers) to keep power measurement accurate, consistent and traceable across production lines, global sites and accredited external laboratories.

Responsibilities

• Establish and maintain the reference cell and reference module system, including selection criteria, build and verification processes, and the intended use and management rules for each reference tier.
• Plan new reference cells and modules in line with new products and technology changes (e.g., TOPCon, bifacial, tandem).
• Select reference cell and module candidates and perform initial evaluation of power performance and stability (I-V, EL and visual inspection).
• Determine reference values through accredited external laboratory measurements (e.g., NREL, TÜV, Fraunhofer ISE) and internal cross-checks, and manage registration and deployment to production sites.
• Maintain the reference cell/module database and lifecycle records (build date, reference values, assigned site/line, calibration, re-verification and replacement history) to ensure full traceability.
• Monitor storage and handling conditions (temperature, humidity, light exposure) and inspect reference cells and modules for cracks, corrosion or power drift.
• Operate, calibrate and maintain cell solar simulators (cell testers) and module solar simulators (flash testers), including related I-V measurement systems.
• Manage cell-level measurement calibration, including reference cell calibration, spectral mismatch and irradiance/temperature control, and verify consistency between cell and module power measurements (cell-to-module).
• Collect and trend daily, weekly and monthly reference cell and module measurement data, using SPC to detect anomalies early and analyzing long-term stability and degradation.
• Analyze correlation between in-house cell/module testers and external laboratories, identify scale gaps between sites, lines and testers, and develop calibration strategies.
• Analyze measurement uncertainty factors (temperature, irradiance, spectrum, non-uniformity) and drive uncertainty reduction activities.
• Plan and execute round robin tests of reference cells and modules across sites and lines, and analyze the results.
• Investigate root causes when measurement deviations or out-of-tolerance reference values occur, and propose corrective actions.
• Develop and revise reference cell/module operation guidelines and support their implementation at global production sites.

Required Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in a relevant field (Electrical Engineering, Physics, Materials Engineering, etc.).
• Minimum of 3 years of experience in quality, measurement/metrology, calibration or test engineering roles.
• Understanding of PV cell and module electrical characteristics and I-V measurement principles.
• Strong data analysis skills, including statistical methods (SPC, correlation analysis, MSA).
• Excellent problem-solving and analytical skills.
• Outstanding teamwork and communication abilities.
• Ability to work under pressure, self-motivated, and driven team player.
• Proactive approach toward various issues.

Preferred Qualifications

• Hands-on experience operating or calibrating cell and/or module solar simulators (cell testers, flash testers)
• Experience in solar product industries
• Knowledge of PV measurement standards (IEC 60904 series, IEC 60891) and ISO/IEC 17025 laboratory practices
• Experience with measurement uncertainty evaluation or Gage R&R studies
• Experience working with accredited external laboratories or running inter-laboratory round robin tests
• Quality certifications (ISO, Six Sigma, CQE/CRE etc.).

Physical Requirements

• Ability to stand and walk the production area throughout the workday
• Capable of reaching, pushing, pulling, or lifting as required within limits set by QCells
• Prolonged periods of sitting at a desk and working on a computer

Hanwha Q CELLS provides equal employment opportunities (EEO) to all employees and applicants for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, disability, or genetics.