Senior Civil Engineer - Level 4

Qcells USA Corp.; Houston (TX); Remote; USD 120,000 - 170,000; Full time

Job summary

Hanwha Qcells USA Corp is seeking a Senior Civil Engineer Level 4 to lead civil design, site development, permitting, and construction coordination for utility-scale solar and BESS projects. The role demands advanced grading, hydrology modeling, and regulatory compliance expertise.

You will mentor junior engineers, coordinate with EPC teams, and drive improvements in site development. This position reports to the Manager of Civil/Structural Engineering, with a remote schedule and up to 30%

Qualifications

• 6+ years of experience in civil site development, grading design, hydrology modeling, and permitting for utility-scale infrastructure projects.
• Bachelor’s degree in Civil Engineering; Master’s preferred.
• AutoCAD Civil 3D, HydroCAD/HEC-RAS, GIS experience.

Responsibilities

• Oversee grading optimization and site layout refinement to minimize costs.
• Lead stormwater management and hydrology modeling with regulatory compliance.
• Manage drainage studies and erosion control system design.
• Review and approve foundation designs and geotechnical analysis.
• Lead civil permitting with agencies and environmental consultants.

Skills

Civil site development

Grading design

Hydrology modeling

Permitting

Project leadership

Education

Bachelor’s degree in Civil Engineering

Master’s degree preferred

Tools

AutoCAD Civil 3D

HydroCAD

HEC-RAS

GIS

Job description

Description

Title: Senior Civil Engineer Level 4

Department: Engineering Center

Location: Irvine, CA

Supervisor: Manager of Civil/Structural Engineering

FLSA Status: Exempt

Position Status: Permanent, Full-Time

Work Status (Remote/Hybrid/In-Office): Remote

SENIOR CIVIL ENGINEER LEVEL 4

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 Senior Civil Engineer (Level 4) is responsible for leading the civil engineering design, site development, permitting, and construction coordination for utility-scale solar and battery energy storage system (BESS) projects. This role requires advanced expertise in grading design, hydrology modeling, stormwater management, geotechnical assessments, and permitting compliance.

As a senior-level engineer, this position involves managing multiple projects simultaneously, mentoring junior engineers, collaborating with EPC teams, and ensuring technical excellence in civil engineering deliverables. The Senior Civil Engineer is also expected to lead permitting efforts, engage with regulatory agencies, and drive process improvements for site development.

This position reports to the Manager of Civil/Structural Engineering, or another management personnel that the CEO of the company may designate. This position reports to the Ankney, I A office but will maintain a remote schedule of working out of their home office and the Ankney, I A office. Working hours are Monday through Friday, from 8:00am to 5:00pm or 9:00am to 6:00pm local time. This position is expected to travel up to 30%.

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

Advanced Civil Engineering Design & Site Development Leadership

• Oversee grading optimization strategies, site layout refinement, and cut/fill balance planning to minimize construction costs.

• Lead detailed stormwater management and hydrology modeling efforts, ensuring compliance with NPDES, SWPPP, and local stormwater regulations.

• Manage drainage and floodplain impact studies, designing effective retention basins, culverts, and erosion control systems.

• Review and approve foundation designs, soil stabilization plans, and geotechnical analysis for racking and battery installations.

• Optimize access road networks, land disturbance minimization strategies, and long-term drainage planning to support efficient operations.

Permitting & Regulatory Compliance

• Take full ownership of civil permitting processes, working directly with regulatory agencies, municipalities, and environmental consultants.

• Ensure project compliance with federal, state, and local zoning, land use, and environmental regulations.

• Develop and submit stormwater permitting applications, erosion control plans, and wetland impact assessments.

• Conduct civil engineering risk assessments, ensuring mitigation measures are in place for hydrology, land grading, and flood zone constraints.

Project Execution & Cross-Disciplinary Coordination

• Lead civil engineering workstreams within multi-disciplinary project teams, ensuring alignment with electrical, structural, and construction teams.

• Collaborate with EPC project managers, construction teams, and subcontractors to refine site development strategies.

• Conduct site visits and geotechnical evaluations, validating grading assumptions, soil stability, and drainage effectiveness.

• Drive quality control (QA/QC) for civil engineering deliverables, ensuring designs meet EPC execution and operational requirements.

• Troubleshoot grading conflicts, hydrology inefficiencies, and foundation engineering challenges throughout project development and construction.

Leadership & Mentorship

• Manage and mentor a team of junior and mid-level civil engineers, supporting knowledge transfer and technical training.

• Establish engineering best practices for grading design, stormwater modeling, and permitting strategies.

• Act as a key technical advisor on site development methodologies, construction feasibility, and permitting pathways.

• Participate in industry research, technology evaluation, and process improvement initiatives to enhance engineering efficiency.

• 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

• 6+ years of experience in civil site development, grading design, hydrology modeling, and permitting for utility-scale infrastructure projects.

• Bachelor’s degree in Civil Engineering; Master’s preferred.

• Expertise in stormwater management, erosion control, geotechnical engineering, and regulatory compliance.

• Software Skills:

• AutoCAD Civil 3D (Advanced)

• HydroCAD, HEC-RAS, or similar software for hydrology and floodplain analysis

• GIS tools for topographic and environmental impact analysis

• Certifications:

• PE License or NABCEP PV Professional (Preferred).

• Advanced certifications in stormwater management, floodplain analysis, or soil stabilization (Preferred).

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 30% 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 [e-mail].

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

This job position is specific to Qcells USA Corp. only and not any other Hanwha affiliates. The above-listed salary range is required by the California Pay Transparency Act and may differ depending on the location of those candidates hired nationwide. The salary range shared in the job description is for the listed position and only pertains to the candidate if they work in Irvine, CA. Actual compensation is influenced by a wide array of factors including but not limited to internal pay equity, skill set, education, licenses and certifications, geographic location, essential job duties and requirements, and the necessary experience relative to the job’s minimum qualifications. If candidates are considered for a nationwide role, then the compensation range will follow the marketability of the job function within those states. An additional discretionary bonus structure or incentives may be offered as part of the overall compensation package, in addition to the full range of medical, dental, and/or other benefits, dependent on the level and position offered.

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