Senior Manager of Engineering Operations

Description

Title: Sr. Manager – Engineering Operational Excellence

Department: Engineering Center

Location: Irvine, CA

Reporting Office: Hybrid

Supervisor: VP/Head of Engineering Center

Position Status: Permanent, Full-Time

SENIOR MANAGER OF ENGINEERING OPERATIONAL EXCELLENCE

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 Senior Manager of Engineering Operational Excellence will lead efforts to enhance operational efficiency and drive continuous improvement within the Engineering Department. This role focuses on optimizing processes, addressing technical challenges, and implementing best practices to ensure operational excellence. Reporting to the VP of Engineering or other leadership delegated, the position will manage the development of systems, procedures, and tools to improve performance and execution. The role is hybrid, with a base office in Irvine, CA, and requires travel as needed.

Key responsibilities include supporting operational and strategic engineering initiatives through process optimization, research, task planning, and data-driven analysis. The role will deliver insights that enable informed decision-making in complex, evolving business environments, presenting findings to senior leadership as necessary.

In addition, the Senior Manager will collaborate closely with HQC USA's business units to align operational strategies with the company's overall growth objectives and coordinate with global affiliates to ensure consistent execution and efficiency.

Essential Job Functions And Responsibilities

• Operational Excellence & Continuous Improvement:
• Drive continuous improvement through lessons learned and data tracking, using centralized databases to share and apply best practices.
• Foster a culture of continuous improvement and operational excellence, driving initiatives that enhance efficiency, quality, and safety within the engineering team.
• Develop and implement planning processes to improve team performance and project execution.
  
  

• Strategic Leadership & Analysis:
• Analyze market, industry, and competitor trends to provide actionable insights for optimizing engineering delivery strategies.
• Develop recommendations to support the creation of a world-class engineering organization focused on operational excellence.
• Project Controls Engineering & Cost Optimization:
• Implement value engineering project control practices, identifying procedures to develop, progress, monitor engineering manhours. Develop continuous productivity, progress curves, and cost control for project engineering execution.
• Build Cost Optimization and Tracking Tool to create transparent real-live cost data for all project executions. Development of visual dashboards, bi-weekly project reporting, and other project controls related reporting will be essential.
• Project Support & Quality Assurance:
• Oversee all engineering stages of project bids, design, development, and construction, collaborating closely with Sales, EPC, EPCm, and other relevant teams.
• Ensure quality assurance and compliance with HQC best practices and procedures for ongoing projects, conducting routine peer reviews and audits.
• Vendor & Partner Relations:
• Identify and develop strategic alliances with vendors, supporting negotiations to enhance project delivery and efficiency.
• Collaborate with the supply chain team to align technology and procurement with the company's commercial strategy and operational goals.
• Team Development & Training:
• Lead training initiatives for team members and new hires, fostering knowledge transfer and skill development to enhance team capabilities.
• Compliance & Standards:
• Ensure compliance with Hanwha Q CELLS' project-specific standards and quality management systems and adherence to regulatory requirements
• Promote a proactive safety culture, modeling best practices and ensuring adherence to safety standards.
• Special Projects & Additional Duties:
• Execute special high-complexity projects with a focus on maximizing impact and innovation.
• Perform other duties and special projects as assigned by senior leadership.
• Perform other duties and special projects, as assigned.
  

Required Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Electrical, Civil/Structural Engineering, or a related field with broad engineering knowledge.
• 10 years of experience, including 5 years in corporate strategy, planning, consulting, or operational excellence roles.
• Preferred experience in renewable energy or solar industries.
• Strong verbal and written communication skills.
• Proven ability to collaborate across departments and present complex information clearly.
• Strong analytical skills, market research expertise, and capacity for logical, data-driven decision-making.
• Experience in process optimization, continuous improvement, and implementing best practices in engineering operations.
• Strong project management skills with the ability to manage multiple initiatives simultaneously.
• Familiarity with Lean, Six Sigma, or other operational excellence methodologies is a plus.
• Proficient in Microsoft Office, particularly Excel and Word.
• Self-motivated, team-oriented, and able to thrive under pressure.
• Travel: up to 30% as needed
• MBA preferred
  
  

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 hr-usa@qcells.com.

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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