Manufacturing Engineer - Module Frames

Job Description:

Job Title:

Manufacturing Engineer - Module Frames

Location:

Remote

Reports To:

Manager, Manufacturing Engineering - Module Frames

Job Summary:

At Nextpower, we are accelerating the world's transition to renewable energy through intelligent solar tracking and breakthrough engineering. As a Manufacturing Engineer - Module Frames you will be a critical player in this transformation. You will be responsible for driving concurrent engineering (DFM/DFMA), supplier process readiness, industrialization, and engineering change implementation for steel components and assemblies across Nextpower's global supply base.

The Manufacturing Engineer - Module Frames will lead initiatives to document and develop best practice solutions and new manufacturing technologies across the supplier footprint that includes, but not limited to, automation, inspection, operational excellence (lean thinking) This role partners directly with R&D/Design Engineering, Quality, Program Management, or Procurement to ensure new and existing designs are manufacturable, scalable, cost-effective, and reliable, and to support design release and change-control decisions through rigorous engineering analysis and factory validation, while ensuring a customer-centric approach to meet or exceed internal and external customer expectations.

Responsibilities:

* Support the launch, commissioning and ramp up of new equipment at supplier locations, domestic and/or internationally.

* Participate in product development from concept through design release, providing manufacturing feasibility input and DFM/DFMA recommendations. Partner with suppliers to obtain and incorporate external DFM feedback and capability constraints

* Review engineering drawings, specifications, and design revisions; identify manufacturability risks and propose engineering solutions. Support structured design release gates by providing engineering recommendations based on manufacturability, process capability, cost drivers, and supplier readiness

* Lead and/or drive innovation in manufacturing technologies and technical readiness activities for complex roll forming of steel products while incorporating other technologies where applicable, such as stamping, casting, linear welding, laser cutting, machining, coating/finishing, assembly, testing, and/or automation

* Plan and execute prototype builds, supplier trials, and on-site validations; verify functional intent and key/critical dimensions through appropriate measurement and inspection methods

* Lead technical value engineering and cost-reduction initiatives across module frame products by identifying cost drivers and developing engineering solutions (design alternatives, process alternatives, tooling strategy changes, yield improvement, cycle-time reduction). Validate savings while maintaining product performance, reliability, safety, and manufacturability; document results and deploy best practices across regions and suppliers

* Define and validate manufacturing readiness deliverables, as applicable: process flows, manufacturing risk assessments, inspection approaches, work instructions, packaging requirements, and ramp-readiness checklists

* Conduct supplier factory readiness audits and support supplier ramp execution; identify constraints (capacity, tooling, capability, quality systems, asset management) and drive corrective action plans

* Identify and deploy manufacturing technologies and best practices across the supplier footprint, including automation and inspection equipment

* Define technical requirements for tooling/equipment; develop and execute FAT/SAT acceptance criteria and validation checklists; support installation, commissioning, and training with suppliers

* Serve as a Manufacturing Engineering reviewer/approver for engineering changes (ECR/DCO/ECO) in the company PLM system; drive controlled implementation at suppliers

* Provide rapid technical escalation support when supplier, manufacturing, or field issues negatively impact Nextpower customers; lead structured root-cause and corrective actions (8D, 5-Why, Pareto) and verify effectiveness

* Document best practices across the group and deploy standardized solutions across the supplier base

* Participate in NPI readiness reviews and cross-functional meetings as required to track technical readiness, prototype status, validation outcomes, and risk closure

Requirements:

* Education & Experience:

* Bachelor's degree in an Engineering discipline from an accredited institution with at least 10+ years of relevant experience in manufacturing engineering / industrialization for complex roll formed steel components and assemblies in an OEM or contract manufacturing environment

* Industrial, Mechanical, Manufacturing, Metallurgical or Chemical Engineering is preferred

* 10+ years minimum experience in design for manufacturing, steel manufacturing processes or steel machinery (leading CAPEX projects implementing machinery or equipment into factories)

* 5+ years minimum experience serving…