Senior Equipment Engineer; 2nd Shift

Do you want to be on the cutting edge of the clean energy and climate tech industry? Are you excited about the intersection of renewable energy and the circular economy? We are too. And that’s why we launched SOLARCYCLE, an advanced technology-based recycling company.

The solar industry needs a global end-of-life partner to restore, renew, and ultimately recycle yesterday’s solar panels for tomorrow’s clean energy projects. SOLARCYCLE aims to be the partner of choice for solar asset owners looking for a responsible solution to their end-of-life system needs.

This senior individual contributor and technical leader is responsible for driving complex engineering initiatives across manufacturing operations.

The role provides deep technical expertise, leads cross‑functional problem solving, mentors junior engineers, and influences manufacturing strategy, process optimization, and product quality without direct people management responsibilities.

The Sr. Equipment & Controls Engineer plays a critical role in improving safety, quality, delivery, and cost (SQDC) while supporting new product introductions and continuous improvement initiatives.

• Act as a subject matter expert (SME) for manufacturing processes, materials, equipment, and production systems
• Disassemble and reassemble proprietary industrial equipment to enable uptime and optimization of recycling toolsets
• Lead analysis and resolution of complex technical problems affecting quality, yield, reliability, or throughput
• Review and approve engineering designs, process changes, and capital projects for manufacturability and scalability
• Develop and maintain engineering standards, specifications, and best practices
• Drive continuous improvement using Lean, Six Sigma, Kaizen, and statistical process control (SPC) methodologies
• Optimize manufacturing processes to improve efficiency, reduce scrap, cycle time, and cost
• Support root cause analysis (RCA), corrective and preventive actions (CAPA), and deviation management
• Collaborate with maintenance, quality, and operations personnel to improve and sustain equipment reliability and uptime
• Provide technical leadership for new equipment introductions, transfers, and scale‑up activities
• Partner with R&D and Product Engineering to ensure robust design‑for‑manufacturing (DFM/DFA)
• Lead process validation, PFMEA, control plan development, and pilot builds
• Manage engineering changes and ensure smooth implementation into production
• Serve as a technical liaison between Engineering, Quality, Operations, Supply Chain, and other departments
• Support supplier development, qualification, and technical issue resolution
• Communicate complex technical concepts clearly to both technical and non‑technical stakeholders
• Mentor and coach engineers and technicians across the organization
• Lead technical training sessions and knowledge‑sharing initiatives
• Contribute to succession planning and development of engineering talent

• Bachelor’s degree in Mechanical, Manufacturing, Industrial, Electrical, or related Engineering discipline (Master’s degree preferred)
• 8–12+ years of progressive engineering experience in a manufacturing environment
• Demonstrated expertise in manufacturing processes and industrial engineering principles
• Proven ability to lead complex technical projects without formal authority
• Strong analytical, problem‑solving, and data‑driven decision‑making skills
• Experience with Lean Manufacturing, Six Sigma, or similar methodologies
• Experience in regulated or high‑reliability manufacturing (automotive, aerospace, medical, electronics, etc.)
• Familiarity with CAD systems (e.g., Solid Works, AutoCAD), ERP/MRP systems, and manufacturing execution systems (MES) including Computerized Maintenance Management Systems (CMMS)
• Strong understanding of PFMEA, DFMEA, GD&T, SPC, and quality systems
• Ability to influence at all organizational levels, including leadership
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills
• Technical mastery and sound engineering judgment
• Systems thinking and end‑to‑end process ownership
• Strong proficiency with computers, typing, and Microsoft Software Products including Outlook, Excel, PowerPoint, and Share Point
• Operational excellence and continuous improvement mindset
• Collaboration, influence, and mentoring ability
• Bias for action and accountability
• Safety and quality‑first mentality
• Military experience is a plus
• Controls/Automation Engineering experience is a plus