Product Development Engineer

Job Title: China Product Development Engineer

Department: Engineering Centre of Excellence

Location: China, Home-based

About Lightsource bp

Lightsource bp is a global leader in the development and management of solar energy projects. We are a 50:50 joint venture with bp with a mission to help drive the world’s transition to low carbon energy.

Our goal is to play a vital role in shaping the future of global energy delivery with a global growth strategy of developing 25GW of solar by 2025.

With solar set to increase tenfold in the next 20 years, we are well-positioned to capitalize on this growth. By joining the Lightsource bp team, you will ‘be the change’ on the world’s energy transition to a more sustainable future.

We pride ourselves on our entrepreneurial spirit as we continue to push the boundaries of an ever-changing energy landscape. By choosing a career with us, you can expect a challenging and fulfilling role surrounded by people who are passionate and have brilliant ideas about sustainable technology, innovation and making the world a better place.

What You’ll do (the role)

Summary

This role will collaborate as one of our Subject Matter Experts in the LSbp Engineering Centre of Excellence, based in China.

The successful candidate will join a diverse and dynamic team who support the existing global solar portfolio development, construction and operation. This role will focus on building deep technical communication bridges between key SMEs (namely, but not always limited to PV modules, inverters and BESS equipment) and key global suppliers with strong R&D and Manufacturing capacities in China.

Close coordination with ECE’s SMEs, Innovation, Procurement, Quality, O&M and Asset Management teams are key tasks for this Global role.

Duties and responsibilities

Engineering Support

• Scouting renewable market to evaluate best technologies, manufacturers and products suitability for LSbp’s fleet of projects, as well as reliability, product performance, manufacturing capacity, etc. taking advantage of the role location in China,
• Support SMEs to continuously update Global PV modules, inverters and BESS equipment Road Maps,
• Support SMEs and coordinate with Chinese manufacturers’ counterparties in any PV modules, inverters and BESS equipment troubleshooting in operating projects,
• Support SMEs to maintain Functional Technical Specifications, Standards, Certifications, Digital files, and Data Sheets for PV modules, inverters and BESS equipment, QA/QC requirements, design requirements, H&S guidelines, etc.
• Develop and disseminate a deep understanding of each technology marketplace, both currently and future outlook,
• Develop and disseminate a people and technical functions map for each key supplier, not only in the Chinese facilities but also in the markets that LSbp operates, to facilitate a comprehensive view for LSbp engineering community,
• Development of a positive interface with key PV modules, inverters and BESS equipment manufacturers,
• Discuss and seek for approval to pilot and testing projects, both in the manufacturers’ facilities and in any other facility identified by LSbp, to get early real operational and independent data for innovative products.

Procurement and Business Support

• Identify supplier development and improvement opportunities and propose business cases in coordination with Procurement Supplier Development Manager and commercial/development teams as applicable,
• Monitor supply market’s contractor pool, technology, innovation and cost trends regularly,
• Support SMEs to release quarterly PV modules, inverters and BESS equipment Approved Product List (APL) acceptable to LSbp,
• Support SMEs to update and optimize total cost of ownership (Capex, Opex) of PV modules, inverters and BESS equipment and its life cycle,
• Work with procurement department to negotiate supply contracts or cooperation agreements with vendors when applicable,

Who we’re looking for

Knowledge & Experience

• Experience undertaking electrical calculations, electrical design or product evaluation for PV modules, inverters and BESS equipment,
• Experience in detailed PV modules, inverters and BESS equipment design using specialized calculation or modelling software,
• Experience in on-site construction of utility scale ground mounted PV plants,
• Familiarity with international electrical design codes,
• Familiarity with different PV modules, inverters and BESS equipment technologies,
• Familiarity with QA tests (FAT methodologies, FMEA) for PV modules, inverters and BESS equipment,
• Experience in complex technical-commercial processes related to utility PV modules, inverters and BESS equipment,
• Familiarity with the requirements of Asset Management (electrical hazards investigation, retrofit upgrades, technical due diligence),
• Ability to work with variety of software packages, such as Microsoft Word, Outlook, PowerPoint, Excel, to produce correspondence and documents and maintain presentations, records, spreadsheets and databases,
• Ability to produce Excel vba based tools and spreadsheets.
• Experience in a similar role is a key advantage,

Why you’ll make a great member of the team

Personal & Work Skills

• Excellent oral and written communication skills. Ability to discuss complex situations with others both in person and remotely.
• Strong analytical skills and attention to detail to identify root cause technical issues.
• Strategic thinking abilities.
• Flexible, reliable, assertive, consistent & with a “can do” attitude.
• Forward thinking, a problem solver and solution provider (solution oriented)
• Able to promote a positive working culture within the team and in a cross-functional areas role
• Team player, Self-starter, self-motivated and self-confident.
• Present yourself with integrity, credibility and professionalism.
• Ability to prioritize and great manager of time
• Driving license and availability to travel around 25% of time

Education & Experience

• Degree or master’s degree. in Electrical Engineering or similar,
• Fluent English spoken and written.
• Fluent Chinese spoken and written.
• Additional languages are a plus.
• Significant amount of professional experience in technical roles in the PV modules, inverters and BESS equipment marketplace or equivalent,
• Experience in using quantitative methods and data analytics tools (python, R, SQL) to investigate field data is a plus

Why you’ll want to work for us

Our company is a place where you can be yourself and grow; a place where your ideas and opinions matter.

Be you

We pride ourselves on being an inclusive community, where every individual is valued and treated with respect.

Be responsible

Our culture is driven by our core values. From operating safely to ensuring our solar projects are responsible and promote biodiversity. 

Be recognized

Alongside a competitive salary, we offer a variety of benefits.

Be inspired

Beyond your day-to-day working life at Lightsource bp, there’s a variety of initiatives that will contribute to your own personal development. Initiatives to get involved with including our charitable causes, supporting our solar honey project or our sustainability initiatives.

Our Core Values

Lightsource bp truly cares about creating a sustainable future through safe, responsible and meaningful low carbon energy projects. Our core values of Safety, Integrity, Respect, Sustainability and Drive are the guiding principles for everything we do. 

https://www.lightsourcebp.com/careers/