Interconnection Specialist - Qcells

POSITION DESCRIPTION:

Q CELLS Energy Solution Business is looking for an Interconnection Specialist for the management of utility and ISO related communications for Commercial & Industrial scale, and small utility scale, solar and storage projects. In this position, you will lead the preparation, submission, and findings of interconnection applications.

You will be responsible for assessing the interconnection and transmission feasibility of potential new solar and storage projects, providing valuable insights to support our expansion goals. This includes determining local utility specific requirements at the project development stage and reviewing utility feedback in the project execution stage.

On our newly formed Energy Solution Team, the Interconnection Specialist will have a great opportunity to explore fast-growing energy storage markets.

This position will work from one of our east coast (Teaneck, NJ) or west coast (Irvine or San Francisco) offices when local.  Traveling to jobsites is not required for this position.

RESPONSIBILITIES

• Act as the primary point of contact for interconnection applications, coordinating efforts between internal teams and external partners. Ensure that Qcells follows program rules and design requirements. Assist project delivery by managing utility schedules, resources, and communication channels effectively.
• Forecast estimated application submittal, review, and completion times for project management teams ensuring accurate construction timelines.
• Monitor and analyze program and regulatory changes for target territories.
• Collaborate with project development teams to incorporate utility requirements into upstream processes.
• Stay informed about emerging industry trends and advancements.
• Conduct due diligence reviews for potential risks related to projects, acquisitions, and commercial transactions and propose mitigation strategies.
• Support project development, construction, and origination efforts.
• Reviewing and interpreting interconnection and transmission studies to predict capacity and deliverability.
• Lead technical discussions and negotiations with utilities and ISOs to make interconnection cost effective and timely.
• Work with utilities, transmission providers, and ISOs to coordinate interconnection requests.

REQUIRED QUALIFICATIONS
 

• Minimum of 4 years of professional experience managing the interconnection process and coordinating with utilities.
• Experience on BTM & FTM renewable projects constructed on the East coast.
• Strong administrative skills, capable of managing multiple projects simultaneously while maintaining document storage for internal parties and external stakeholders.
• Demonstrated ability in troubleshooting problems and presented creative solutions
• Assertive, able to cope with dynamic surroundings, a team player, prepared to travel
• Advanced knowledge in Microsoft office tools
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills

PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS

• Engineering or technical degree is a plus, but not absolutely necessary.
• Experience in utility generated generation interconnection studies or transmission system planning.
• Experience working with Regional Transmission Organizations (RTOs) and understanding of the Open Access Transmission Tariff (OATT).
• Familiarity with WECC, PJM, ERCOT, CAISO and/or SERC Planning Models.
• Proven experience in preparing application materials for interconnections within various RTOs and independent transmission providers.
• Experience, interest in, and general knowledge of the energy industry, especially the community solar and energy storage sectors.
• Demonstrated ability to manage multiple parallel projects and prioritize competing demands.
• Experience working with project management software platforms, such as Procore.

Hanwha Q CELLS America Inc. (“HQCA”) is headquartered in Irvine, CA, and handles sales for the North American region. It is a subsidiary of Hanwha Q CELLS Co., Ltd., one of the world´s largest and most recognized photovoltaic manufacturers for its high-performance, high-quality solar cells and modules. It is headquartered in Seoul, South Korea (Global Executive HQ) and Thalheim, Germany (Technology & Innovation HQ). Through its growing global business network spanning Europe, North America, Asia, South America, Africa, and the Middle East, the company provides excellent services and long-term partnerships to its customers in the utility, commercial, government, and residential markets. Hanwha Q CELLS is a flagship company of Hanwha Group, a FORTUNE Global 500 firm, and a Top 8 business enterprise in South Korea. HQCA recently acquired Geli, a leading developer of Energy Management System software for energy storage, solar, and other renewable resources.

The Distributed Energy (DE) team develops, invests in, and delivers distribution-connected solar and battery energy storage system (BESS) projects in North America. The DE team offers the full spectrum of BESS and PV+BESS solutions – from integrated ESS hardware and software, project development and investment to asset management and operations.