Director of Development Engineering

Description

 

Title: Director of Development Engineering
Department: Engineering Center
Location: Irvine, CA
Supervisor: Head of Engineering Center
FLSA Status: Exempt

Position Status: Permanent; Full-time

Work Status: Hybrid

DIRECTOR OF DEVELOPMENT 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 Development Engineering is responsible for leading all technical work for Utility Scale Project Development and for the management and growth of development engineers. This position reports to the VP/Head of Engineering Center or another senior management personnel that the CEO of the company may designate. This position reports to the Irvine, CA office but will maintain an In-Office or hybrid schedule of working out of their home office and the Irvine, CA 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% of the time.

ESSENTIAL JOB FUNCTION & RESPONSIBILITIES

A)    Interconnection Support

Feasibility & Risk Assessment

• Lead assessments of project feasibility and associated risks for utility-scale solar and ESS projects.
• Evaluate interconnection risks and propose mitigation strategies during the project development phase.

External Consultant & Vendor Management

• Manage external engineering consultants to ensure timely delivery of engineering studies, reports, and other deliverables.
• Foster relationships with third-party vendors and consultants, ensuring compliance with project timelines and technical standards.

Quality Control & Compliance

• Perform quality control on all engineering deliverables, ensuring accuracy and precision.
• Review and approve external vendor data, such as inverter, battery, and transformer specs, ensuring adherence to utility interconnection requirements.
• Ensure compliance with all federal, state, and utility interconnection standards, keeping projects aligned with regulatory requirements.

Internal Coordination & Project Handoff

• Liaise regularly with internal teams including PMO, Project Finance, and EPC to support project maturation.
• Assist in seamless project handoff to the PMO and EPC teams for projects ready for execution.

Utility & ISO Application Support

• Provide technical oversight for utility and ISO interconnection application development.
• Collaborate with external consultants and internal engineers to gather required data for interconnection studies.

Drawing Packages & Technical Documentation

• Create, review, approve, and maintain technical drawing packages, energy production models, and other key project documentation such as Bills of Materials (BOM), scopes of work, and vendor specifications.

B)     Project Development Support

Design & Technical Oversight

• Manage technical needs across all stages of project development, from conceptual design to detailed system design deliverables.
• Ensure that system designs meet local, state, and national regulatory codes, as well as stakeholder requirements.

External Resources Management

• Coordinate external consultants such as structural, civil, and electrical engineers, geotechnical and topographical surveyors, and other specialized professionals.
• Oversee environmental impact assessments and other regulatory compliance measures, ensuring project adherence to environmental standards.

Project Documentation & Cost Estimation

• Assist in the development and review of project schedules, cost estimation, Bills of Materials (BOM), budgets, and scopes of work.

• Work closely with procurement teams to secure vendor quotes and ensure competitive pricing for key components.

Continuous Improvement & Design Optimization

• Provide recommendations for improving project designs, plans, and processes to enhance efficiency and reduce costs.
• Regularly evaluate project designs to identify opportunities for optimization, such as through innovative technology use or design simplifications.

Energy Modeling & Sensitivity Analysis

• Perform energy generation modeling for solar projects using PV Syst and other tools.
• Conduct sensitivity analyses to predict how different variables (e.g., shading, weather, equipment choice) impact energy production and project economics.

Support During Construction

• Provide ongoing technical support throughout the construction phase, working closely with the EPC team to ensure successful project execution.
• Attend site visits as needed to oversee project implementation and resolve any engineering-related issues.

General

• Augment existing and develop new supplier / engineering firm relationships in partnership with supply chain team, align technology/procurement with commercial strategy;
• Extensive technical experiences on photovoltaic and energy storage projects;
• Supervise the technical planning for contract preparation;
• Report on the planning and technical design, and present it to the Vice President of Engineering;
• Responsible for reporting the planning process to the client;
• Preparation of technical documentation in the quoting process;
• Develop the planning abilities and processes within the team;
• Work in a team to develop and improve the system standards;
• Assist with technical training to other team members and new employees
• Collaborate with team members when necessary to ensure effective communication and results
• Work closely with the team to define company processes and metrics, and plan and allocate resources across existing programs to ensure strategic alignment and needed technical trainings;
• Build a quality culture of continuous improvement that enhances company efficiency and engineering quality;
• Drive a safety culture that embraces both a “Responsibility to act” and “Show by Example” approach;
• Supervising compliance with Hanwha Q CELLS – project specific standards;
• Supervising compliance with the requirements of the Hanwha Q CELLS quality management system;
• Perform other duties and special projects, as assigned.

REQUIRED QUALIFICATIONS

• Degree in Electrical Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, or related Renewable Energy field
• Minimum of 10 years of experience in utility-scale solar and/or energy storage projects
• Aleast 5 years in a leadership or management role, and mentoring engineering teams
• Relevant work experience in Utility Scale Project Development for Solar and BESS Systems
• Experience with utility interconnection processes, ISO/RTO requirements, and grid integration of renewable energy projects, Knowledge of the National Electric Code (Strongly Preferred)
• Experience with PV powerplant energy product and optimization (PV Syst)
• Willingness to travel, at least 30% of the time
• Experience working internationally
• Ability to motivate and develop others
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills

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)

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

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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