Senior Project Design Engineer

Qcells USA Corp.; Houston (TX); Hybrid; USD 120,000 - 180,000; Full time

Job summary

Hanwha Qcells USA Corp invites applications for a Senior Project Design Engineer in Houston, TX. As a key member of the FEED team, you will design early-stage solutions for utility-scale solar PV and BESS projects, from intake through conceptual and preliminary design, supporting EPC proposals and estimating.

You will collaborate with multi-disciplinary teams, review data rooms, optimize layouts, and ensure constructible, cost-effective designs while traveling up to 30% and maintaining remote

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Electrical Engineering or related field.
• 5+ years in front-end/FEED engineering for utility-scale PV projects.
• Strong knowledge of PV site layouts and major equipment.
• Experience with AutoCAD and PV layout tools (PVcase).
• Good communication and teamwork across disciplines.

Responsibilities

• Lead FEED activities for utility-scale PV and BESS projects from intake to design handoff.
• Review data rooms, requirements, surveys, interconnection info and risks.
• Design site layouts, block configurations, equipment arrangements.
• Evaluate major equipment and perform sizing and engineering analyses.
• Provide engineering input to Estimating, Procurement, and EPC proposals.
• Coordinate with Civil, Electrical, Structural, and other SMEs.
• Support FEED to detailed engineering transition with complete handoffs.

Skills

Analytical thinking

Written and verbal communication

Project management

Multi-disciplinary collaboration

Education

Bachelor's degree in Electrical Engineering

Tools

AutoCAD

PVcase

PVSyst

Microsoft Excel

Job description

Description

Title: Senior Project Design Engineer
Department: Engineering Center
Location: Houston, TX
Supervisor: Manager of FEED Engineering
FLSA Status: Exempt
Position Status: Permanent, Full-Time

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

SENIOR PROJECT DESIGN ENGINEER

Hanwha Qcells USA Corp (Qcells USA), headquartered in Houston, TX, 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

As a key member of the Front-End Engineering Design (FEED) Team, the Senior Project Design Engineer is responsible for designing technically sound, constructible, and commercially competitive early-stage solutions for utility-scale solar PV and BESS projects. The role supports projects from initial technical intake through conceptual and preliminary design, providing the engineering basis for EPC proposals, estimating, procurement, preconstruction, and transition to detailed engineering.

The Senior Project Design Engineer reports to the Manager of FEED Engineering, or another management personnel that the CEO of the Company may designate. This position reports to the Houston, TX office and will maintain a remote schedule. 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% of the time.

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

• Lead front-end engineering activities for utility-scale solar PV and BESS projects from project intake through conceptual and preliminary design and engineering handoff.
• Review project data rooms, customer requirements, site information, surveys, technical studies, interconnection requirements, and available project documentation to identify design constraints, assumptions, risks, and missing information.
• Design conceptual and preliminary site layouts, block designs, equipment arrangements, access concepts, setbacks, and overall plant configurations.
• Evaluate and select major equipment including PV modules, inverters, trackers, transformers, and applicable balance-of-system components.
• Perform system sizing and engineering analyses including DC/AC sizing, string sizing, inverter loading, equipment quantities, and other project-specific calculations.
• Evaluate design alternatives to optimize site utilization, energy production, constructability, equipment selection, project cost, and overall EPC value.
• Review energy-generation modeling and comparative design studies using PVSyst and other applicable engineering tools.
• Prepare conceptual and preliminary engineering deliverables, including 10% design packages, Basis of Design inputs, design criteria, technical assumptions, exclusions, equipment quantities, and supporting documentation.
• Provide engineering inputs and technical support to Estimating, Procurement, Sales, Project Engineering, Preconstruction, and other stakeholders during EPC proposal activities.
• Coordinate front-end design activities with Civil, Electrical, Structural, Performance, BESS, SCADA, Substation, Transmission, CAD Designers, and applicable Subject Matter Experts.
• Participate in project kickoff meetings, design reviews, constructability reviews, and technical discussions with internal teams, customers, and vendors as required.
• Clearly communicate design decisions, technical risks, assumptions, constraints, and engineering recommendations to project stakeholders and engineering leadership.
• Support an effective transition from FEED to detailed engineering by maintaining complete and clearly documented design records and handoff information.
• Manage multiple projects and competing priorities while meeting accelerated EPC estimating, proposal, and engineering schedules.
• Standardize and continuously improve FEED engineering processes, design standards, templates, tools, and quality-control practices.
• Provide technical guidance and training to engineers, designers, and new team members.
• Perform other duties and special projects, as assigned.
• Regular attendance, in accordance with the Company's attendance policy and supervisory assignment, is an essential job duty requirement for this position.

REQUIRED QUALIFICATIONS

• Bachelor's degree in Electrical Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, Civil Engineering, Renewable Energy Engineering, Energy Engineering, or another related engineering discipline.
• Minimum of five years of professional engineering experience in the solar industry, with demonstrated experience in utility-scale PV project design.
• Experience performing conceptual, preliminary, or front-end engineering design for utility-scale PV projects.
• Strong understanding of utility-scale PV plant architecture, major equipment, balance-of-system components, and site design considerations.
• Experience evaluating site constraints and designing PV site layouts, block configurations, and major equipment arrangements.
• Strong understanding of PV system sizing, DC/AC ratios, string sizing, inverter loading, and module, inverter, and tracker selection.
• Experience evaluating design alternatives based on energy production, constructability, equipment requirements, project cost, and technical risk.
• Experience with AutoCAD or equivalent engineering design software.
• Experience with utility-scale PV layout and optimization tools such as PVcase or equivalent.
• Experience with photovoltaic performance modeling tools, preferably PVSyst.
• Ability to interpret site surveys, technical studies, equipment specifications, customer requirements, interconnection information, and engineering drawings.
• Working knowledge of applicable solar industry codes, standards, and engineering practices, including the National Electrical Code as applicable to project design.
• Strong analytical and problem-solving skills with the ability to make sound engineering decisions using incomplete or evolving project information.
• Strong written and verbal communication skills and demonstrated ability to collaborate across multidisciplinary engineering and cross-functional teams.
• Ability to independently manage multiple projects, priorities, and accelerated engineering schedules.
• Proficiency with Microsoft Office applications, particularly Excel.
• Experience supporting EPC estimating, proposals, procurement, preconstruction, or front-end engineering activities is preferred.
• Experience with BESS projects is preferred.
• Professional Engineer (PE) licensure or Engineer-in-Training (EIT) certification is preferred.

EXAMPLES OF PHYSICAL DEMANDS

• Stationary Position: frequently remains stationary up to 90% of the time and sitting up to 8 hours 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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