Solar Quality Engineer

Job Title:

Location:

Employment Type:

Reports To:

Company Overview:

Established in 2005, Phelan Green Energy (PGE), stands as a global leader and pioneer in renewable energy, headquartered in Cape Town, South Africa. With offices spanning seven countries across four continents, PGE spearheads sustainable solutions worldwide, ranging from Solar PV, Green Hydrogen, and Derivatives to Battery Energy Storage.

PGE has installed over 500MWp of Solar PV capacity globally and invested in various renewable energy developments worldwide. The Phelan Family has developed and owns a land portfolio of over 30,000 hectares to meet its current and future solar and green fuel land requirements.

The vision of Phelan Green Energy is unwavering: to achieve the lowest cost of green energy globally. With a determined team of experienced executives, the company continuously innovates and moulds the future of sustainable energy, pioneering advancements such as green hydrogen production. PGE is committed to providing viable solutions as the world undertakes the challenging and vital journey of decarbonization.

PGE is utilizing its extensive solar knowledge and track record to power gigawatt-scale green hydrogen and ammonia processing plants in South Africa, Peru, and Egypt. PGE has, over the past 3 years, designed and optimised a standard, innovative green hydrogen and ammonia platform. The fully modular platform will be built over 3 phases and will produce up to 80,000 tons per annum of green hydrogen, with an electrolyser capacity of 1 GW, which will be converted to 440,000 tons per annum of green ammonia at each international location, with plans to double production volumes as global demand increases. The modular approach increases efficiency and decreases cost,s which adheres to Phelans objective of being the lowest cost producer of green energy globally.

Position Summary:

The Quality Engineer will be responsible for ensuring the quality of solar power plant materials and components during the manufacturing phase. This role focuses on inspection, testing, and quality control to guarantee that all materials comply with industry and project standards, regulatory requirements, and customer expectations. The ideal candidate will have 57 years of relevant experience in quality engineering, preferably within solar, power, or industrial manufacturing environments.

Key Responsibilities

Material Inspection & Testing

• Conduct inspections of incoming raw materials, semifinished, and finished products such as solar PV modules, structures, electrical equipment, and cables to ensure conformance to specifications and standards.
• Develop and implement inspection plans, test methods, and sampling procedures for manufacturing processes; oversee testing activities and monitor quality throughout the production cycle
• Maintain comprehensive documentation for all inspections, tests, non-conformance reports, and corrective actions taken

Quality Assurance & Control

• Prepare, review, and update Project Quality Plans, Control Plans, and Procedures, ensuring compliance with ISO and project-specific requirements
• Ensure adherence to all Quality Management System (QMS) and Environmental, Health, and Safety (EHS) standards throughout manufacturing and supply chain processes
• Conduct regular audits of suppliers, manufacturing facilities, and site operations to validate contractor and vendor compliance with quality requirements

Supplier & Vendor Evaluation

• Perform quality inspections at supplier locations and coordinate with procurement teams to qualify and monitor the performance of suppliers and subcontractors.
• Review suppliers quality documentation, certificates, and conformity to technical and contractual standards

Reporting & Continuous Improvement

• Identify and investigate quality issues, initiate root cause analysis, and develop corrective/preventive actions to resolve manufacturing problems and improve processes
• Monitor KPIs related to product quality, report to management, and provide regular updates on quality performance.
• Support training initiatives for shop floor and site personnel on quality protocols and standards

Desired Qualifications

• Bachelors degree (B.E./B.Tech or Diploma) in Mechanical, Electrical, Civil, or Materials Engineering, or a related field
• 57 years of experience in quality assurance/control in the solar industry, power sector, or manufacturing environments connected to large-scale engineering projects
• Strong knowledge of quality standards (e.g., ISO 9001), quality tools (5S, 8D, root cause analysis), and relevant codes/regulations in the solar and manufacturing sector
• Experience in preparing and managing quality documentation, inspection records, test reports, and NC/complaint trackers
• Proficient in MS Office and quality management systems; excellent documentation and reporting skills
• Good communication and interpersonal abilities, with a proactive, detail-oriented approach to problem-solving.

Preferred Skills

• Experience auditing suppliers and contractors for solar power or industrial manufacturing projects.
• Familiarity with documentation and compliance related to environmental and occupational safety standards.
• Commitment to continuous improvement and customer satisfaction

Work Location & Travel

• The position may require periodic travel to vendor/supplier sites, manufacturing locations, and solar project sites.

Why Join Us:

• Be part of a pioneering team in the green hydrogen industry.
• Work on innovative and impactful renewable energy projects.
• Opportunities for professional growth and development.
• Collaborative and inclusive work environment.

If you are passionate about driving sustainable energy solutions and possess the technical expertise required for this role, we invite you to apply and join our mission to build a greener future.