Senior Controls Engineer, Power Plant Controller

Description

Title: Senior Controls Engineer, Power Plan Controller (PPC)
Department: Tech Center
Location: United States
Supervisor: Director, Automations & Controls
FLSA Status: Exempt
Position Status: Permanent, Full-time
Work Status: Remote

SENIOR CONTROLS ENGINEER, POWER PLANT CONTROLLER (PPC)

Hanwha Qcells USA Corp (Qcells USA), headquartered in Houston, 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 Development, Module, 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

This position provides critical engineering support to the design, project development, and commissioning of power plant controller products within the EPC Tech Center. This position reports to the Director, Automations & Controls, or another management personnel that the CEO of the Company may designate. This position is Remote, reporting to the Houston, TX 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 10%.

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 end-to-end Power Plant Controller (PPC) software delivery for utility-scale PV, BESS, and hybrid projects, from requirements definition through release, commissioning, and operations support.
• Translate owner, EPC, utility, ISO, and interconnection requirements into practical plant-control functions, test plans, and project-specific configurations.
• Coordinate PPC integration with plant SCADA, EMS/BMS, inverters/PCS, metering, substation systems, and vendor interfaces to support reliable plant operation.
• Lead software validation, factory/site acceptance testing, commissioning, and utility witness testing; ensure controls perform safely, predictably, and in compliance with project requirements.
• Serve as senior escalation owner for field issues, leading troubleshooting, root-cause analysis, corrective actions, and clear technical communication across internal and external stakeholders.
• Develop reusable engineering standards, commissioning procedures, documentation, and mentoring practices that improve software quality, field readiness, and execution consistency.
• Travel expected approximately 30% depending on project phase; must be comfortable working in active construction, substation, and power plant environments while following site and electrical safety procedures.
• Create product testing requirements and develop standard practices
• Assist with the creation and/or revision of product installation and maintenance manuals
• Develop and manage product FMEA documents and reports
• Facilitate product certification through direct engagement with external test labs
• Build and refine economic models including component cost, supply logistics, installation labor, and product performance
• Ensure compliance with industry standards and established design codes
• Perform value engineering on existing components to optimize and reduce cost
• Resolve product issues by performing root-cause failure analysis
• Confidently communicate design recommendations to peer and management level audiences
• Convert market requiremen