Electrical/Firmware & Software Engineer
Pasadena, CA

Job Description

The Company:

Point Load Power is creating cost-effective photovoltaic solar power solutions, enabling business owners to generate power at the point of use. Specifically through our PV Booster tracker and Heliopoint software, we maximize the energy output and economics of PV assets. We use innovative mechanical, electrical, and algorithmic designs to maximize the sun's energy for commercial and industrial markets.

Position Purpose:

The Electrical / Firmware / Software Engineer position is responsible for the electrical hardware, firmware, and software of the PV Booster tracker and control system. The position ensures that the tracker is designed to meet the requirements of the customers, installers, and permitting authorities while also meeting internal product cost targets.

Key Position Accountabilities:

Electrical Design - Technical ownership of the tracker control board electrical circuit design and overall system electrical and communication designs.

Firmware Development - Develop and maintain firmware for tracker control, including testing and QA.

Software Development & Deployment - Develop and maintain the Heliopoint control software, including testing and QA. Design, set up, and support the control systems for worldwide projects.

Requirements Compliance - Own and track the electrical and software requirements associated with the tracker and ensure the design complies with those requirements. This includes both performance requirements as well as business requirements such as cost and value engineering.

Hardware Testing and Certification Support - Working with the test engineer, support the testing of electrical components in the tracker. Assist with any certification testing performed by 3rd party labs either remotely or in person as needed.

Supply Chain Support - Working with Supply Chain Manager, perform design for manufacturing and assembly work to reduce tracker costs based on supplier feedback. Support the evaluation and selection of suppliers.

Field Support - Support customers and installers by creating design, permitting, installation, and maintenance documentation for the tracker product. Train new installers in proper methods of installation. Support the troubleshooting of tracker hardware installed in the field either remotely or in-person as needed.

R&D - Develop new electrical and/or software features and functionality to support continued innovation in the product line.

Requirements:

BS degree or higher in Electrical Engineering, Software Engineering, or related field with a minimum of 6 years work experience in a similar role.

Experience designing hardware for high production volumes (greater than 50,000 unit per year).

Experience with C# programming language, MS .NET framework, and object-oriented software development, including experience with:

SOLID object-oriented principles and be fluent with abstraction.

Windows C# inter-process communication (e.g. WCF) with custom serialization.

PostgreSQL databases, database normalization, and Entity Framework.

Multithreading, asynchronous operations, events, TPL (C# Tasks), WPF.

TCP/IP Communication, Serial Communication.

Experience with C programming language and ARM embedded systems for firmware development.

Ability to write testable/mockable code and run functional and unit tests.

Experience with a version control system, preferably Git.

Experience with circuit design and PCB layout using Altium Designer or equivalent software.

Position may occasionally require physical activities including climbing ladders and stooping to work on equipment installed low on rooftops.

Passion for startup company style, hands-on, engaging work to get the job done.

Strong communication and organizational ability.

Career emphasis on either Electrical / Firmware or Software engineering is acceptable as long as both disciplines are well understood.

Desirable Experience:

Strong math skills including geometry, vector operations, nonlinear optimization, and linear algebra to support tracker control and optimization algorithm development.

Experience designing UL listed products.

Experience with Photovoltaic power equipment system components.

Experience with using and maintaining Continuous Integration (especially with GitLab).

Experience with IT design including Windows Server, VMs, failover clustering, and network administration.

Experience with monitoring tools (e.g. PRTG), SQL databases, MS Test.

Point Power Load , Inc. is an Equal Opportunity Employer.