ELECTRICAL ENGINEER – SUCCESSION LEAD

This is not a standard job application. We filter hard on real fit not CV spam.

Heres how it works:
1. You answer a technical question (15 minutes)
2. If your answer is good we call you for a 30-minute bilingual screen (English German)
3. If it fits we interview technically culture fit
4. If all good: offer mentoring intro

Why Were hiring for a succession lead rolesomeone who will take over our Electrical Process Owner in 12 years with full mentoring. We need to see how you think not just what credentials you have.

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THE JOB: ELECTRICAL ENGINEER (m/f/d) SUCCESSION LEAD
Company: A.H.T. Syngas Technology N.V. (AHT CleanTec)
Location: Overath Germany (Bonn/Overath area)
Employment: Full-time Permanent
Salary: gross (depending on experience & KPI performance)
Annual Increment: 10% or more based on responsibility & KPIs

About Us
AHT is a leading company in the field of decentralized climate-friendly biomass power plants. We design and build systems that generate CO-neutral electricity heat and basic chemical substances from biogenic residues using our proprietary Twin-Fire Gasification technology which converts biomass and waste into clean green molecules at temperatures exceeding 1000C.

Were expanding our in-house electrical engineering team to strengthen our leadership in decentralized hydrogen and syngas production. Were a publicly listed company with 25 employees and were looking for someone who wants to grow into a leadership role.
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About THIS Role
Youll replace our current Electrical Process Owner (15 years power plant experience) who steps back over 12 yearsbut **actively mentors the entire transition.

This is not a standard IC (individual contributor) role. This is the succession position. If you perform well:
- Year 1: You learn from your mentor take on increasing responsibility
- Year 2: You become the Process Owner with full leadership responsibility
- Year 3: You manage a small team and shape our electrical strategy

What makes this different:
- Your predecessor doesnt leavehe teaches
- Youre not inheriting a mess; youre inheriting knowledge
- Career path is clear: mentee peer leader
- 7080% of your time in Year 1 is learning from someone whos done this for 15 years
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Your Responsibilities
In Year 1 (with Mentor):
- Independently design and develop electrical and control systems based on RI P&ID diagrams
- Create standard-compliant circuit diagrams using CAE tools (EPLAN WSCAD ELCAD)
- Select components and coordinate with purchasing & supply chain for power plant subsystems
- Supervise control cabinet assembly and perform FAT (Factory Acceptance Tests)
- Support electrical installations and provide on-site oversight
- Contribute to commissioning activities and remote customer support after plant delivery
- Learn Twin-Fire gasification systems syngas production cycles hydrogen separation control

In Year 2 (As Process Owner):
- Lead all electrical engineering decisions for new AHT projects
- Mentor junior engineers and technical staff
- Represent electrical engineering in project meetings & customer interactions
- Develop electrical strategies for hydrogen production and syngas optimization
- Oversee control architecture for decentralized biomass-to-energy systems
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Your Profile
Required:
- 68 years professional experience in electrical engineering (power plants industrial control energy systems preferred)
- Completed technical education: Technician Meister Bachelor or Master in Electrical Engineering
- Very good German language skills (Team communication future leadership in German-speaking environment)
- ENGLISH IS NON-NEGOTIABLE: Fluent confident English. Interviews are conducted in English AND German. If you dont speak English or arent willing to use it please dont apply.

Technical Skills (Must-Have):
- Control & automation systems (PLC logic regulatory control process automation)
- CAE tools: EPLAN WSCAD or ELCAD
- Drive systems: Frequency-controlled pumps/blowers (YASKAWA Siemens Lenze)
- Fieldbus communication: Modbus CAN-Bus Powerlink
- Sensor technology: Analog measurement & calibration (pressure temperature level)
- PLC hardware: Beckhoff B&R Siemens
- Control cabinet construction & plant installation (practical on-site experience)

Technical Skills (Nice-to-Have but Not Required):
- Biomass gasification or thermal energy systems
- Syngas processing or hydrogen separation control
- Remote diagnostic support & after-sales technical service
- High-temperature process monitoring (1000C gasification systems)
- Any experience with decentralized or off-grid power systems

Personality:
- Independent & solution-oriented: You think systematically not reactively
- Collaborative: You work well in small teams (25 people flat hierarchy)
- Growth-oriented: You want to learn from a mentor not do everything alone from day 1
- Willing to be on-site: Year 1 is mostly in Overath office (mentoring requires presence). After Year 1 1 day/week hybrid is possible.
- Hands-on: Youre comfortable with on-site installations commissioning customer support occasionally
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Why Join AHT CleanTec
- Real technical responsibility: Your electrical designs make CO-neutral hydrogen & syngas possible
- Mentoring from a pro: Your predecessor stays 12 years and actively teaches youthis is rare
- Clear career path: After 12 years youre our Electrical Process Owner with full leadership responsibility
- Flat hierarchies: In a 25-person company good ideas dont need approvalthey get implemented
- Cutting-edge tech: Twin-Fire gasification hydrogen production from solid biomass decentralized energy systems
- Stability growth: Publicly listed company with real orders in Japan Europe strategic partnerships
- Trust-based culture: We care about results & impact not micromanagement or presence theater
- Purpose-driven work: Every electrical system you design reduces CO and creates local energy independence
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THE APPLICATION PROCESS
Step 1: Answer the Technical Challenge
Read the scenario below. Answer in English or German (your choicewe assess both). Show your thinking. Max 15 minutes. We dont want a perfect answer; we want to see how you think.
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Technische Herausforderung
Szenario:
Unser AHT Twin-Fire Gasification System (Biomasse-zu-Syngas-Konvertierung) zeigt ein wiederkehrendes Problem: Der Drucksensor in der Hauptreaktionskammer sendet alle 1015 Minuten unstabile Messwerte. Manchmal sind sie zu hoch manchmal zu niedrig. Der Sollwert liegt bei 3 bar aber die Messwerte springen zwischen 25 und 42 bar hin und her.

System-Details:
- Sensor: 420 mA Druckaufnehmer (analog)
- Kommunikation: Beckhoff SPS mit Modbus-Verbindung
- Steuerkreis: Proportional-Integral Regler für Luftzufuhr-Steuerung
- Andere Sensoren (Temperatur Füllstand) funktionieren normal
- Problem tritt zeitlich unregelmäßig auf

Deine Aufgabe: Beschreibe Deine ersten 34 Diagnose-Schritte. Welche Hardware/Software würdest Du prüfen Warum in dieser Reihenfolge

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Technical Challenge
Scenario:
Our AHT Twin-Fire Gasification System (biomass-to-syngas conversion) is showing intermittent issues: The pressure sensor in the main reaction chamber sends unstable readings every 1015 minutes. Sometimes too high sometimes too low. Target is 3 bar steady state but readings fluctuate between 2.5 and 4.2 bar.

System Details:
- Sensor: 420 mA pressure transducer (analog)
- Communication: Beckhoff PLC with Modbus link
- Control loop: Proportional-Integral controller regulating air supply
- Other sensors (temperature level) working normally
- Issue occurs intermittently & unpredictably

Your Task: Describe your first 34 diagnostic steps. Which hardware/software would you check Why in that order

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Step 2: Submit Your Application
Fill out the form below and submit your challenge answer

Your Name:
Email:
Phone:
Current Job Title & Company:
Years of Experience in Electrical Engineering:
Location (City Country):

PASTE YOUR TECHNICAL CHALLENGE ANSWER HERE

When can you start (approx date)

Any questions for us

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Step 3: We Screen Your Answer (12 days)
We read your challenge response and score it on:
- Technical thinking: Systematic approach vs. guessing
- Power plant knowledge: Familiarity with sensors Modbus PLC architecture
- German writing quality: If you wrote in German
- English writing quality: If you wrote in English
- Problem-solving mindset: Do you understand control loops

If your score is good We call you within 35 working days