Reliability Assurance Engineer

Location:

Columbus, Ohio (Pataskala, Central Ohio).

Position:
Reliability Assurance Engineer at Illuminate USA – Solar Panel Manufacturing Facility.

• Daily Laboratory Testing Support:
  Drive reliability assurance programs (ORT, test-to-failure, outdoor exposure monitoring).
• Coordinate with laboratory operations to schedule program work against chamber capacity, equipment availability, and business priorities, ensuring on-time completion of deliverables.
• Define program workflows for sample intake, labeling/traceability, baseline measurements, periodic monitoring, and end-of-test disposition.
• Drive test-to-failure execution plans including failure criteria, monitoring frequency, and documentation of failure modes/conditions in coordination with Reliability and Quality stakeholders.
• Support containment and escalation when program data indicates abnormal degradation, emerging failure modes, or risk to product reliability.
• Develop, update, and maintain program documentation (SOPs, work instructions, program plans, templates, and reporting formats) to ensure alignment with ISO 17025 and relevant IEC standards.
• Ensure program records are complete, traceable, and audit-ready.
• Support internal/external audits related to reliability program execution and records.
• Define program-specific controls to detect drift and protect data integrity over long program durations.
• Own data and reporting for long-term outdoor exposure monitoring (trend analysis, degradation tracking, and standardized outputs).
• Analyze program data and generate routine & ad-hoc reports for Quality, including trends, risk indicators, anomalies, and recommended follow-up actions.
• Maintain reliability program KPIs and dashboards.
• Lead cross-functional communication of findings and recommendations.
• Mentor Associate Engineers and Technicians.
• Ensure all program activities comply with safety protocols and laboratory best practices.
• Identify and lead improvements to program efficiency, data quality, and reporting clarity.
• Other Duties:
  Perform additional tasks or projects as assigned by Managers or Quality leadership.

• Bachelor’s degree in Engineering (Electrical, Mechanical, Materials, Industrial), Physics, or related field.
• Minimum 8 years in a related technical field.
• 5+ years of experience in reliability testing, product testing, laboratory engineering, quality engineering, or closely related role.
• Experience implementing recurring test programs (ORT), long-duration monitoring programs, or test-to-failure execution.
• Experience working under formal quality systems such as ISO 17025 and/or ISO 9001.
• Strong understanding of measurement principles, data acquisition, and test system behavior.
• Familiarity with PV module standards (IEC 61215 and IEC 61730).
• Proficiency with Microsoft Office and data analysis tools (Excel macros, Python, Minitab, JMP). Experience with scripting is a plus.
• Ability to design and interpret basic statistical analyses for long-term trending, degradation monitoring, and reliability reporting.
• Strong analytical, problem-solving, and communication skills.
• High attention to detail, commitment to data integrity, traceability, and documentation quality.
• Strong coordination skills: ability to drive schedules, align stakeholders, and execute recurring programs reliably.
• Demonstrated reliability, punctuality, and ownership of assigned tasks and programs.
• Commitment to safety, quality, and continuous improvement.
• Curiosity and willingness to learn.

Illuminate USA is an Equal Opportunity Employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability status, protected veteran status, or any protected status as defined by law.