ELECTRICAL ENGINEER (m/f/d) – SUCCESSION LEAD

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

Here's how it works

• You answer a technical question (15 minutes)
• If your answer is good, we call you for a 30-minute bilingual screen (English + German)
• If it fits, we interview technically + culture fit
• If all good: offer + mentoring intro

Why? We're hiring for a succession lead role—someone who will take over our Electrical Process Owner in 1–2 years with full mentoring. We need to see how you think, not just what credentials you have.

--- 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: €5,000–€6,000 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 1,000°C.

We're expanding our in-house electrical engineering team to strengthen our leadership in decentralized hydrogen and syngas production. We're a publicly listed company with 25 employees, and we're looking for someone who wants to grow into a leadership role. --- About THIS Role

You'll replace our current Electrical Process Owner (15+ years power plant experience), who steps back over 1–2 years—but **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 doesn't leave—he teaches
• You're not inheriting a mess; you're inheriting knowledge
• Career path is clear: mentee peer leader
• 70–80% of your time in Year 1 is learning from someone who's done this for 15+ years ---

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

• 6–8 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 don't speak English or aren't willing to use it, please don't 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 (1000°C+ 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: You're 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 1–2 years and actively teaches you—this is rare
• Clear career path: After 1–2 years, you're our Electrical Process Owner with full leadership responsibility
• Flat hierarchies: In a 25-person company, good ideas don't need approval—they 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 choice—we assess both). Show your thinking. Max 15 minutes. We don't want a perfect answer; we want to see how you think.

--- Technische Herausforderung Szenario

Unser AHT Twin-Fire Gasification System (Biomasse-zu-Syngas-Konvertierung) zeigt ein wiederkehrendes Problem: Der Drucksensor in der Hauptreaktionskammer sendet alle 10–15 Minuten unstabile Messwerte. Manchmal sind sie zu hoch, manchmal zu niedrig. Der Sollwert liegt bei ~3 bar, aber die Messwerte springen zwischen 2,5 und 4,2 bar hin und her.

System-Details

• Sensor: 4–20 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 3–4 Diagnose-Schritte. Welche Hardware/Software würdest Du prüfen? Warum in dieser Reihenfolge?

--- 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 10–15 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: 4–20 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 3–4 diagnostic steps. Which hardware/software would you check? Why in that order?

--- 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 (1–2 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 3–5 working days