Job Description:
Chief Engineer, Manufacturing Excellence
Location: Mesa, Arizona / Hybrid as required
Employment Type: Full-time
The Manufacturing Excellence Chief Engineer leads the technical strategy, governance, and execution of manufacturing excellence across internal operations and contract manufacturing partners. This role translates product reliability, quality, safety, cost, and delivery requirements into robust, capable, and scalable manufacturing processes for utility-scale inverter systems.
Key Responsibilities
- Lead multi-site standardization of manufacturing processes, work instructions, control plans, quality checks, performance metrics, and continuous-improvement practices across internal facilities and contract manufacturers.
- Define manufacturing excellence standards, methods, and technical requirements.
- Lead design-for-manufacturability and design-for-test reviews for new products.
- Establish process architecture, critical-to-quality characteristics, control plans, and standard work.
- Own process capability, PFMEA, SPC, APQP, process validation, and production-readiness activities.
- Direct factory readiness, pilot builds, manufacturing ramp-up, and continuous improvement programs.
- Drive improvements in first-pass yield, throughput, cycle time, cost, and defect reduction.
- Provide technical leadership for automation, tooling, fixtures, end-of-line testing, and manufacturing data systems.
- Resolve complex manufacturing issues using structured problem-solving, 8D, and root-cause analysis.
- Establish capability expectations and technical governance for contract manufacturers and key suppliers.
- Partner with Engineering, Quality, Reliability, Supply Chain, IT, and Operations to implement engineering and process changes.
- Mentor manufacturing engineers and build organizational capability in Lean Manufacturing and Six Sigma.
- Review manufacturing KPIs, capability data, audit findings, NCRs, CAPAs, and reliability trends.
- Ensure manufacturing processes comply with applicable safety, quality, regulatory, and customer requirements.
Qualifications
- Bachelor's degree in Manufacturing, Mechanical, Electrical, Industrial, Systems Engineering, or a related field; master's degree preferred.
- Twelve or more years of manufacturing engineering, manufacturing excellence, or operations engineering experience.
- Experience with power electronics, high-voltage products, inverters, energy systems, or complex electromechanical equipment.
- Advanced knowledge of Lean Manufacturing, Six Sigma, SPC, PFMEA, APQP, process validation, and capability analysis.
- Demonstrated experience leading factory readiness, production launches, process development, and continuous improvement.
- Experience managing technical relationships with contract manufacturers and strategic suppliers.
- Strong understanding of manufacturing test systems, MES/ERP data, traceability, and production performance dashboards.
- Proven ability to lead multidisciplinary teams and influence decisions across engineering, quality, operations, and suppliers.
- Excellent technical communication, problem-solving, and project leadership skills.
At Nextpower, we are driving the global energy transition with an integrated clean energy technology platform that combines intelligent structural, electrical, and digital solutions for utility-scale power plants. Our comprehensive portfolio enables faster project delivery, higher performance, and greater reliability, helping our customers capture the full value of solar power. Our talented worldwide teams are redefining how solar power plants are designed, built, and operated every day with smart technology, data-driven insights, and advanced automation. Together, we're building the foundation for the world's next generation of clean energy infrastructure.
Nextpower is an equal opportunity employer. We celebrate diversity and are committed to creating an inclusive environment for all employees.
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