Senior Controls Engineer, Power Plant Controller (PPC)

Description
Title: Senior Controls Engineer, Power Plant 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 requirements into engineering specifications
Meet with cross-functional teams to align product strategy and execution
Conduct research and stay current on market trends and influences
Engage with suppliers to optimize designs around manufacturing capabilities
As a remote employee, demonstrate professional ethics to manage your time and deliver on project schedule expectations
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
Bachelor’s degree in electrical engineering, controls engineering, Computer Science, Power Systems, or related field or equivalent (advanced degrees are valued and may be applied to the professional experience requirements)
7+ years in power systems, controls, automation, SCADA, renewable energy, or power plant control systems; 5+ years directly supporting PPC, PV plant controls, BESS controls, or inverter-based resources
Hands-on commissioning and troubleshooting experience for utility-scale PV, BESS, or hybrid plants, including work under COD schedule pressure
Strong knowledge of plant-level active/reactive power control, voltage regulation, power factor control, frequency response, ramp-rate limits, curtailment, POI metering, and grid-code/interconnection requirements
Development experience with industrial control platforms and tools such as Codesys or AcSELerator for SEL RTAC
Practical experience with Modbus TCP/RTU, DNP3, IEC 61850, OPC UA, Ethernet/IP, SCADA HMI, network diagnostics, and time synchronization
Ability to interface effectively with EPCs, owners, utilities, ISOs, OEMs, inverter/PCS suppliers, EMS/BMS vendors, SCADA vendors, and field crews
Advanced analytical and mathematical skills
Excellent communication skills
Preferred Qualifications
Experience with Typhoon HIL, IEC 61131-3 languages, Structured Text, Function Block, C/C++, Python, or similar
Utility/ISO witness testing and renewable interconnection compliance in markets such as CAISO, ERCOT, PJM, MISO, SPP, NYISO, or ISO-NE
Familiarity with IEEE 2800, IEEE 1547, NERC-related requirements, utility generator interconnection requirements, and site-specific grid codes
Simulation/modeling exposure using PSCAD, PSS/E, PSLF, TSAT, MATLAB/Simulink, or similar tools; experience with automated regression testing is a plus
PE license
Solar industry experience
Demonstrable experience delivering on engineering requirements in a process-driven product development environment
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 10% 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 o

Work arrangement
Yes