Job Description:
Manufacturing Excellence Engineer
Location: Mesa, Arizona / Hybrid as required
Employment Type: Full-time
The Manufacturing Excellence Engineer develops and improves production processes for power electronics and related products. Working closely with contract manufacturers and Nextpower's engineering, quality, supply chain, and product teams, this engineer helps move products from prototype and pilot builds into reliable, scalable production.
This is a hands-on, journey-level role. You'll independently lead process improvements, investigate production issues, and help ensure that manufacturing processes meet quality, cost, and delivery goals.
Key Responsibilities
- Develop, document, and improve manufacturing and assembly processes for power electronics products.
- Support new product introduction (NPI), including prototype builds, pilot builds, production readiness, and ramp-up.
- Create clear work instructions, process flows, control plans, and other manufacturing documentation.
- Lead Process Failure Mode and Effects Analyses (PFMEAs) and use the results to reduce production risk.
- Design or develop tooling, fixtures, and assembly aids that improve safety, quality, and productivity.
- Define and support process validation, qualification, and end-of-line testing.
- Work with contract manufacturers to troubleshoot production issues, identify root causes, and implement lasting corrective actions.
- Analyze production data to reduce defects, improve First Pass Yield, shorten cycle time, and increase factory productivity.
- Lead or support continuous improvement activities that reduce waste and manufacturing costs.
- Train and support manufacturing operators when processes, tools, or products change.
- Coordinate engineering changes with contract manufacturers and internal teams, confirming that updates are documented and implemented correctly.
- Share manufacturing feedback with design and engineering teams to improve product manufacturability.
Required Qualifications
- Bachelor's degree in Manufacturing, Mechanical, Electrical, Industrial Engineering, or a related technical field; equivalent practical experience may be considered.
- 5 or more years of manufacturing engineering experience in a production environment.
- Hands-on experience developing or improving assembly processes for power electronics or other complex electromechanical products.
- Experience supporting NPI, pilot builds, production ramp-up, or process validation.
- Working knowledge of Lean Manufacturing, Six Sigma, Kaizen, and waste-reduction methods.
- Experience using structured problem-solving methods, such as root-cause analysis, 8D, or corrective and preventive action.
- Ability to interpret production data and use it to identify process issues and improvement opportunities.
- Strong written and verbal communication skills, including the ability to create clear work instructions and collaborate with manufacturing operators and technical teams.
Preferred Qualifications
- Experience working directly with contract manufacturers or suppliers.
- Experience with PFMEA, control plans, statistical process control (SPC), measurement system analysis (MSA), or design of experiments (DOE).
- Familiarity with end-of-line testing, test equipment, or manufacturing process qualification.
- Experience with engineering change processes and manufacturing documentation systems.
- Familiarity with CAD tools, manufacturing execution systems (MES), or enterprise resource planning (ERP) systems.
- Ability to travel to manufacturing partner sites as business needs require.
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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