Associate Validation Engineer

At Canadian Solar, our vision is to make lives better by bringing electricity powered by the sun to millions of people worldwide. As a leading manufacturer of solar panels, inverters, and energy storage solutions, we've been an industry front-runner since our founding in 2001. Our commitment to sustainability is reflected in all parts of our organization as we navigate the complexities of a booming industry.

Throughout Canadian Solar's subsidiaries, e-Storage, Recurrent Energy, MSS and CSI Solar Co., we invest in our employees' growth. Our training programs and promotional opportunities ensure we all can continue to learn. We understand the importance of work-life balance and provide various flexible work options to support our employees' well-being. Join our team to "Make the Difference" by creating a lasting positive impact on the world and the communities where we operate.

Position Title: BESS Associate Validation Engineer

Department: Engineering

Entity: CS e-Storage

Reports To: Sr. Deployment Engineering Manager (AMER)

Location: Remote, Canada & US

Position Summary:

The Associate Validation Engineer plays a pivotal role in leading hands-on integration, functional testing, and coordination for utility-scale Battery Energy Storage Systems (BESS). Combining field coordination with technical execution, this role is responsible for authoring test procedures, executing subsystem-to-system validation, and diagnosing complex hardware, software, and industrial networking issues across PCS, BMS, and EMS platforms.

Key Responsibilities:

• Coordinate schedules and manage logistics for BESS subsystem/system testing (PCS, EMS, BMS, BCI, safety systems)—including test equipment inventory, tool shipments, site access, and field personnel.
• Maintain validation test plans, issue logs, execution trackers, and punch lists, delivering regular progress reports to internal and external project stakeholders.
• Track open validation issues and collaborate cross-functionally with internal development teams, technical leads, and vendors to facilitate timely resolution.
• Support field teams with current validation documentation and revision control, ensuring pre-test conditions are satisfied and executed in compliance with project standards and timelines.
• Contribute to the optimization of validation workflows, testing methodologies, tools, and standardized templates.
• End-to-end ownership of integration and validation documentation—authoring detailed test procedures, defining acceptance criteria, executing tests directly or directing third parties, analyzing raw test logs against pass/fail criteria, and completing test reports.
• Design test architecture setups, including physical wiring, hardware interfaces, auxiliary equipment, and software tools.
• Own and execute all validation tasks related to Canadian Solar vertically integrated product line, included but not limited to BESS, Inverters and Plant Controllers with support from cross-functional engineering teams.
• Perform hands-on testing, signal analysis, and hardware/software/communications troubleshooting across BESS, BCIs, PCS, and BPC control hardware during integration testing.
• Interface and collaborate with third-party certifying labs and agencies (NRTLs such as UL, CSA, Intertek) to coordinate and execute validation testing required for system-level safety and compliance certifications.

Related Experience:

• 2+ years in energy, renewables, industrial controls, or utility-scale infrastructure projects.
• Experience supporting validation, integration, or commissioning efforts involving power systems, automation, or SCADA.
• Exposure to or familiarity with BESS-related subsystems such as PCS, EMS, BMS, or protective relaying.
• Familiarity with or exposure to product certification standards (including but not limited to UL 9540, UL 1741, UL 1973, and UL 1998) and working with accredited testing laboratories.
• Hands-on experience with technical documentation, test execution tracking, and issue management tools (e.g., Excel, Jira, SharePoint, Trello, Smartsheet).
• Understanding of electrical single-line diagrams, network block diagrams, and validation workflows.
• Experience collaborating across engineering, operations, and field service teams.

Personal Qualifications:

• Highly organized and detail-oriented; capable of juggling multiple validation tasks across different projects.
• Strong written and verbal communication skills, with the ability to clearly summarize technical issues and coordinate between teams.
• Proactive and resourceful in following up on open issues and ensuring validation tasks stay on track.
• Comfortable coordinating logistical elements such as site access, shipping, and personnel scheduling.
• Able to work independently but also thrives in a collaborative, cross-functional team environment.
• Comfortable working in a fast-paced and evolving technical landscape.
• Willingness to travel to validation sites (up to 50%) to support field validation activities.

Future Technical Competency & Growth Objectives:

• Author, execute, and troubleshoot specialized grid-compliance test procedures, including Grid-Forming (GFM), Black Start, and fast frequency/grid-code response capabilities.
• Perform control loop integration and compatibility testing between multi-vendor Battery Energy Storage, Power Conversion Systems (PCS) and Plant Power Controllers (PPC) to ensure system stability prior to field commissioning.
• Lead laboratory, factory, and international on-site validation campaigns, managing physical installation, signal capture, data plotting, and technical coordination with partner engineering teams.
• Perform field industrial networking diagnostics—using tools such as Wireshark and Modbus Poll to capture packet traffic, verify register maps, simulate control commands, and resolve communication line dropouts.
• Remotely and locally navigate, configure, and operate multi-vendor PCS, BMS, and EMS graphical interfaces (HMIs/UIs) for system diagnostics and functional verification.
• Develop working technical knowledge and execution capability around key product certification standards, including but not limited to UL 9540 (BESS system safety), UL 1741 (PCS/inverter grid interconnection), UL 1973 (battery energy storage), and UL 1998 (software safety).

Compensation & Benefits

Canadian Solar offers a competitive salary plus fully comprehensive benefits and performance bonus package based on an annual objective achievement.

Canadian Solar Inc. is an Equal Opportunity Employer (EOE). Qualified applicants are considered for employment without regard to age, race, color, religion, sex, national origin, sexual orientation, disability, or veteran status.

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About Us

Canadian Solar is a leading manufacturer of solar panels, inverters, and energy storage solutions since 2001. Our friendly and dedicated team of sales and operations experts work with retailers and strategic distribution partners all over the globe to provide our residential, commercial and utility-scale solar solutions. Our commitment to sustainability is reflected in all parts of our organization as we navigate the complexities of a booming industry.