Scope of Job
PowerFlex, an EDF Renewables company, is a leading national provider of intelligent onsite energy solutions that support carbon-free electrification and transportation. The Company delivers integrated solar, storage, EV charging, and microgrid systems, to businesses and organizations. As a single full-service provider, PowerFlex customizes clean technology solutions to help clients achieve their energy and sustainability goals. Through the comprehensive PowerFlex X platform, PowerFlex leverages patented smart software to control, monitor, and optimize a client's distributed energy resources to reduce cost and maximize return on investment. Our technology was developed at Caltech, deployed with research partners like NASA, proven-out with customers like Netflix and Children’s Hospital, and now scaling to fleets, corporations, and municipalities nationwide.
The Hardware Design Engineer will help bring the design of products from PowerFlex’s cutting edge-portfolio deployed at the edge to the next level. This role will be responsible for the design, selection, and integration of devices and assemblies for PowerFlex’s hardware product portfolio with focus on edge networking, communications and compute needs. This position is a highly hands on and dynamic position centered on bringing hardware products to market. These hardware solutions are deployed at customer sites to perform critical controls, communications and monitoring functions that integrate solar, battery storage, and electric vehicle charging resources at edge locations to into our industry leading cloud Adaptive Load Management and monitoring platform.
The portfolio of hardware products includes those built or assembled by PowerFlex, such as the Nexus controls and monitoring platform, those resold by PowerFlex such as EVSE chargers, and major distributed energy products that are purchased from strategic vendors such as energy storage systems, metering devices, and third-party control systems. These include electric vehicle (EV) chargers, Battery Energy Storage (BESS) systems, photovoltaic (PV) generation, and smart switchgear for behind the meter installations.
The Hardware Design Engineer will work with hardware engineers, software developers, and product-management, to select and optimize hardware components, evaluate COTS devices for use in our product, assemble and test finished devices. The ideal candidate should have the aptitude to enable state-of-the-art IoT communications and computing hardware along with a sound background in electrical engineering fundamentals. With a keen eye for detail and proven expertise, this role will drive our organization forward by building rigorous and automated testing procedures utilizing the latest equipment in renewable energy dispatch and electric vehicle charging technology. The IoT Hardware Design Engineer will be the driving force behind ensuring our hardware-software integration efforts deliver to our customers while we push the boundaries of functionality and design.
Location
This role will be based out of our Mountain View Office and will be in-person 90% of the time. We will only be able to consider applicants who are local to Mountain View or are willing to relocate.
Responsibilities
- Design and select hardware products that meet product specifications
- Collaborate with the product management team to understand business, market, and shape technical specifications
- Develop secure, adaptable, and scalable wired and wireless communication network solutions for control and monitoring applications of electric vehicle, battery storage, power generation, and ancillary edge devices
- Maintain meticulous documentation and contribute to design reviews and test activities to enhance product quality
- Analyze and improve the performance of wired and wireless communication systems and devices
- Write rigorous testing plans and evaluate test data to ensure products meet specifications
- Design testing apparatus and data acquisition interfaces to facilitate product QA where applicable
- Work closely with assembly and quality assurance teams to ensure product quality
- Solicit input on common failure modes or mistakes in implementation from client groups as well as propose potential solutions
- Remain current on applicable regulatory and industry compliance requirements including electrical, mechanical and communications standards
- Interface closely with hardware and software development teams to ensure that cohesive product developments are successful with internal project teams
- Conduct technical benchmarking against competitive products and supplier
- Value engineering to ensure product costs remain within specifications
- Conduct training and education of project execution team members on new products or product features
- Visit customer sites for first article product rollout and validation of product installation and performance
- Provide first line of technical support for internal groups and conduct root cause failure analysis
Qualifications
Education/Experience
- Bachelor’s Degree in mechanical engineering, electrical engineering, computer science or equivalent discipline / work experience. Masters or higher preferred.
- 5+ years in relevant hardware product design or development position
- Demonstrated success in product design for IoT applications.
- Experience in IoT network automation and/or DevOps experience for industrial or business applications
- Experience installing, integrating, and debugging complex systems
- Experience creating test automation with test measurement equipment
Skills/Knowledge/Abilities
- Strong understanding of electrical, mechanical, and communications design documentation
- Skilled in IoT component specification and selection
- Skilled in the fundamentals of cellular and wireless communications concepts including standard protocols and hardware
- Ability to understand common industrial communications principles, such as Modbus, DNP, CANBUS and wired ethernet communications
- Mature knowledge of industry standard electric vehicle communication standards and protocols (i.e. OCPP & IEC15118)
- Motivated by working cross-functionally with engineering, design, and product teams and working hands on with test equipment and products under test
- Ability to understand when investing in automation is appropriate and comfortable working with or creating tooling to do so
- Familiar with manufacturing test software tools such as LabView and Python
- Excellent technical writing skills including product documentation, test plans, technical specifications
- Ability to remain calm under pressure use strategic thinking to prioritize among competing tasks
- Ability to respectfully challenge peers, and welcome those who challenge you
- Process oriented and committed to continuous improvement
- Passion for sustainability and driven by the desire to make a significant impact in the renewable energy sector
CompensationThe pay range for this position is $130,000 - $160,000 annually. This position is eligible for PowerFlex's comprehensive Health and Welfare plans including but not limited to medical, dental, vision, 401(k) retirement plan and paid time off. The total compensation for this position may include an annual performance bonus (or other incentive compensation, as applicable). PowerFlex's compensation packages carefully consider a candidate's qualifications, experiences, and education in relation to the position.
Physical Requirements
Work in both office and hands on test and assembly environment. Prolonged periods of sitting at a desk and working on a computer. Must be able to lift a minimum of 50 pounds at times.
Working Conditions
Approximately 70% of the time is spent in the office environment, utilizing computers, telephones, and general office equipment. 20% of time in test labs and assembly facilities. Up to 10% of the time is spent traveling to conferences or meetings or field traveling to project sites and vendor facilities
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DEI Statement
Our company-wide approach to diversity, equity and inclusion is focused on our workplace, community, and business outcomes. We believe DEI is a key component to our mission of delivering renewable solutions and leading the transition to a sustainable energy future. As such, we strive to become a more diverse, equitable and inclusive workplace by increasing access and development opportunities for underrepresented talent. Our aspiration is to build a culture of belonging and accountability by creating opportunities for growth and continuous listening to ensure actionable progress.
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