Description

Electrical Engineer, Utilities (Power Distribution & Switchgear)

Position Summary

Hanwha Qcells Georgia operates a vertically integrated solar manufacturing facility in Cartersville, GA, covering Ingot, Wafer, Cell, and Module production. The Electrical Engineer is responsible for the safe and reliable operation, maintenance, and expansion of the plant's medium-voltage (MV) and low-voltage (LV) power distribution system — including switchgear, circuit breakers, protective relays, automatic transfer switches (ATS), and power monitoring — in a 24/7 critical manufacturing environment.

Key Responsibilities

Power Distribution Operation & Maintenance

• Operate, inspect, and maintain MV/LV switchgear, VCB/ACB/MCCB, transformers, ATS, and associated control and protection equipment.
• Plan and execute preventive and predictive maintenance programs, including NETA-based testing (insulation resistance, breaker functional and timing tests, relay testing).
• Prepare and execute switching orders and LOTO in accordance with NFPA 70E and site safety procedures.

Protection & Control

• Maintain protective relay settings and logic (e.g., SEL, Basler, and other OEM relays); verify settings against coordination and arc flash studies.
• Perform firmware updates, retrieve event records and oscillography, and analyze trip events.
• Test and troubleshoot ATS controllers, transfer schemes, interlocks, and breaker control circuits.

Power Monitoring & Integration

• Maintain digital power meters and Modbus communication; resolve point mapping and communication issues between switchgear and FMCS/SCADA.
• Use power monitoring data to identify abnormal conditions, load trends, and power quality issues.

Troubleshooting & Reliability

• Serve as first-line technical responder for electrical events, trips, and equipment failures; lead root cause analysis and corrective action reports.
• Participate in the on-call rotation for after-hours electrical emergencies.

Projects & Expansion

• Support plant capacity expansion and modification projects: review switchgear submittals and drawings, attend FAT/SAT, oversee installation, and participate in commissioning (Level 3–5) and turnover.
• Coordinate with switchgear OEMs, EPC/electrical contractors, vendors, and Georgia Power.

Documentation & Technical Support

• Maintain one-line diagrams, panel schedules, as-built drawings, relay setting records, and critical spare parts lists.
• Provide technical guidance and training to electrical technicians and operators.

Minimum Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Electrical Engineering or a closely related field.
• 2+ years of hands-on experience in installation, commissioning, testing, or maintenance of MV/LV switchgear in industrial, utility, or data center environments.
• Working knowledge of protective relays, circuit breaker control circuits, and ATS operation.
• Ability to read and interpret one-line, three-line, schematic, and wiring diagrams.
• Familiarity with NEC, NFPA 70E, and OSHA electrical safety requirements.
• Proficiency in Microsoft Office, especially Excel.
• Ability to communicate effectively in English with contractors, vendors, and plant personnel.

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience with a switchgear manufacturer (OEM) in manufacturing, field service, or site installation and commissioning of MV/LV switchgear.
• Hands-on experience configuring protective relays (settings, logic, firmware) and extracting and analyzing event/waveform data.
• Experience replacing, configuring, or testing ATS controllers and transfer schemes.
• Experience with Modbus-based power monitoring and integration with FMCS, BMS, or SCADA systems.
• Field experience on large-scale U.S. industrial or mission-critical projects (manufacturing plants, battery plants, data centers), including Level 3–5 commissioning.
• Knowledge of ANSI/NETA testing standards.
• Electrical engineering certification or license (e.g., FE/EIT, or an equivalent international electrical engineering license).
• OSHA 10/30 certification; NFPA 70E qualified person training.

Working Conditions

• Work in a 24/7 manufacturing facility, including electrical rooms, substations, and outdoor areas.
• Participation in on-call rotation and occasional after-hours, weekend, or shutdown work.
• Required to wear PPE, including arc-rated clothing, as specified by task.
• Ability to climb ladders, work in confined or elevated spaces, and lift up to 50 lbs.

Hanwha Q CELLS provides equal employment opportunities (EEO) to all employees and applicants for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, disability, or genetics.