Manufacturing Engineer – Module Frames

About the Role

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 drive concurrent engineering (DFM/DFMA), supplier process readiness, industrialization, and engineering change implementation for steel components and assemblies across Nextpower’s global supply base. This role partners directly with R&D/Design Engineering, Quality, Program Management, and Procurement to ensure new and existing designs are manufacturable, scalable, cost-effective, and reliable. You will lead initiatives to document and develop best-practice solutions and new manufacturing technologies, including automation, inspection, and operational excellence (lean thinking).

Responsibilities

• Support the launch, commissioning, and ramp-up of new equipment at supplier locations, domestically 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, incorporating technologies 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, including 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

• Bachelor’s degree in an Engineering discipline (Industrial, Mechanical, Manufacturing, Metallurgical, or Chemical Engineering preferred) from an accredited institution.
• 10+ years of relevant experience in manufacturing engineering/industrialization for complex roll-formed steel components and assemblies in an OEM or contract manufacturing environment.
• 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 large OEM customers in renewable energy, automotive, consumer electronics, consumer goods, or industrial manufacturing (solar tracker experience a plus).
• Demonstrated experience delivering concurrent engineering outcomes: DFM/DFMA influence on design releases, supplier capability translation into design requirements, and factory validation.
• Strong experience with roll forming complex steel shapes and fabrication processes (roll forming, stamping, welding, casting, laser cutting, machining, coating/finishing, assembly, automation). Experience with additional manufacturing processes is a plus.
• Experience leading supplier-facing engineering activities including process readiness, tooling readiness, validation builds, and on-site troubleshooting.
• Experience with engineering change management in a PLM system and the discipline to execute controlled implementation.
• CAD collaboration capability for manufacturability reviews (SolidWorks or equivalent) and the ability to interpret engineering drawings and specifications.
• Working knowledge of Lean Manufacturing/Six Sigma concepts and structured problem-solving (8D, 5-Why, Pareto).
• Strategic mindset with the ability to bring clarity, structure, and actions to ambiguous plans and technical challenges.
• Ability to influence others and negotiate solutions in critical, timely decisions.
• Experience working with global, cross-functional, and multicultural teams.
• Excellent oral and written communication skills in English, including the ability to organize, conceptually interpret, and clearly communicate material developed collaboratively via the input of multiple parties; translate complexity into actionable insights.
• Demonstrated ability to manage large, complex change efforts and drive results through facts, quantitative data, influence, persuasion, and relationship management.
• Demonstrated ability to translate strategy to action; experience with influence, negotiation, change management, and presentation.
• Able to work flexible schedules occasionally to accommodate global work teams.
• Travel requirements: 75% (international and domestic).

Preferred Qualifications

• SSGB, PMP, Lean Manufacturing, Journeyman, or other industry certifications.
• Direct experience with domestic and offshore Tier 1 and Tier 2 suppliers.
• Able to develop new processes and bring rigor to released processes.

Benefits

• Innovate with Purpose: Your work directly contributes to accelerating the global shift to renewable energy.
• Global Impact: Collaborate with world-class engineers, suppliers, and partners across continents.
• High-Growth Environment: Be part of a fast-moving, mission-driven team shaping the future of solar technology.
• Empowered Culture: We value bold ideas, authentic collaboration, and a relentless drive for excellence.

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.