The posting
This is not a standard job application. We filter hard on real fit, not CV spam.
Here's 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? 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
---
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
---
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
---
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
