Principal Solar Manufacturing Engineer

Responsibilities

• Define and own the manufacturing strategy for K2’s solar hardware including solar modules, photovoltaic arrays, and integrated wing assemblies
• Drive solar array manufacturability at the architecture and concept level, partnering with Design leadership before requirements are locked to embed manufacturability from day one
• Own the manufacturing technical baseline from process qualification records, tooling design standards, and assembly process specifications
• Lead the technical response to the most complex manufacturing anomalies, non-conformances, and systemic build issues, including cross-program root cause and corrective action
• Identify, evaluate, and champion transformative manufacturing technologies across automation, advanced metrology, novel bonding or lamination processes
• Serve as a technical mentor and force multiplier for the broader Solar Manufacturing Engineering team
• Represent manufacturing engineering in executive program reviews, customer readiness reviews, design reviews, and build reviews

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in mechanical, manufacturing, aerospace, materials or other relevant engineering discipline
• 10+ years of experience in a high-volume manufacturing, production, or hands-on engineering environment
• Recognized technical authority in solar manufacturing and photovoltaic array integration processes
• Demonstrated history of shaping product designs at the architecture level through DFM influence, not just late-stage redlines
• Experience owning manufacturing technical baselines through major design overhauls or production transitions
• Proven ability to lead and technically develop other engineers, and to influence outcomes across Design, Quality, Supply Chain, and Production without direct authority

Nice to Have

• Experience scaling solar or high-reliability electromechanical hardware from early development to full-rate production
• Background in advanced manufacturing automation, including robotic assembly or vision-guided systems
• Prior work on space-grade solar arrays, deployment mechanisms, or flight power systems
• Familiarity with reliability physics, radiation effects on photovoltaic materials, or space environment qualification testing