PV Applications Engineer

Q-Cells North America - Santa Clara, CA

Full-time - Mid Level

Santa Clara, CA

251-500 employees

Utilities

About the position

The Application Engineer will serve as the primary owner of compatibility topics between photovoltaic (PV) systems and balance of system (BOS) components, providing both pre-sales and after-sales support to customers. This role involves addressing certification and qualification issues, offering expert opinions on compatibility, and ensuring effective communication with internal and external stakeholders. The position is based in Irvine or the Santa Clara/Bay Area, CA, and requires up to 20% travel.

Responsibilities

• Align with factories and organizations on technology roadmap, product offerings, features, and introduction timelines.
• Own PV application topics, including racking compatibility, inverter compatibility, and module-level power electronics compatibility.
• Serve as the internal and external contact for expert advice, compatibility sign-off, and system design assistance on mechanical, structural, and electrical system design topics.
• Provide pre-sales application engineering support to internal teams and customers, including testing application cases and creating application notes.
• Offer after-sales application engineering support, assisting customers with project designs, constructions, commissioning, operations, maintenance, and troubleshooting.
• Conduct product training and promote Qcells North America solutions to customers and the sales team; represent the company at trade shows and conferences.
• Stay updated on PV technologies and industry trends by participating in technical meetings and industry shows.

Requirements

• BS Degree in Engineering or Physical Sciences with 6 years of relevant experience, or MS Degree with 4 years of relevant experience in the PV or racking industries.
• Expertise in at least one area of PV racking, inverter systems, testing, certification, or PV products.
• Familiarity with US product safety, building codes, electrical codes, and PV certification standards.
• Demonstrated successful customer support track record in a fast-paced tech industry.
• Extensive experience working with cross-functional teams and individuals of diverse backgrounds.
• Strong professional integrity and ownership of assignments.
• Self-motivated with a proven track record of reliability and work ethic.
• Good communication skills with customers, management, and internal teams.
• Excellent command of English and good business acumen.

Nice-to-haves

• Experience in the residential, commercial, and utility segments of PV racking.
• Knowledge of micro-inverters, optimizers, and electrical system components.

Benefits

• Competitive salary and benefits package
• Opportunities for professional development
• Participation in industry conferences and trade shows