Product Applications Engineer - Tools

Key Objectives

• Qualify Tools and Fasteners for Nextpower Tracker Products
• Test and approve tools, fasteners, and installation equipment to confirm compatibility with Nextpower tracker components, assemblies, installation requirements, and field-use conditions.
• Validate New Products and Installation Interfaces
• Ensure new product concepts, prototypes, and tracker components satisfy engineering requirements, customer needs, installation expectations, tool access requirements, fastener performance criteria, and safety standards.
• Test and Approve Updated Designs of Existing Offerings
• Confirm revisions to existing components, assemblies, tools, or fasteners maintain or improve system reliability, manufacturability, installation repeatability, and compatibility with adjacent tracker parts.
• Qualify New Vendors and Manufacturing Sources
• Assess whether new suppliers of tools, fasteners, and related components can consistently meet Nextpower’s design specifications, quality requirements, installation needs, and manufacturing standards.

Core Responsibilities

• Tool and Fastener Qualification Testing
• Conduct qualification testing of tools, fasteners, torque equipment, and related installation hardware used with Nextpower tracker products.
• Evaluate compatibility between tools, fasteners, and Nextpower tracker components, including access, fit, torque performance, clamp load, installation repeatability, and field usability.
• Test torque tools, sockets, bits, drivers, Skidmore equipment, gauges, and other installation or measurement tools to confirm suitability for approved installation processes.
• Develop and execute structured test plans for tool and fastener qualification, including acceptance criteria, sample sizes, test conditions, and documentation requirements.
• Identify tool or fastener failure modes, installation risks, ergonomic concerns, and compatibility issues before release to field teams or customers.
• Provide recommendations for approved tool lists, fastener specifications, torque requirements, installation methods, and service procedures.
• New Product Testing & Validation
• Conduct Form-Fit-Function testing on new concepts, prototypes, pre-production assemblies, tools, and fasteners to confirm alignment with design intent and installation requirements.
• Build representative test setups in the R&D yard to simulate tracker installation, tool usage, fastening operations, and operational conditions.
• Evaluate whether product notes, installation manuals, fastener specifications, torque requirements, and engineering requirements are sufficient and accurate.
• Confirm that Nextpower tracker products can be safely and repeatably installed using approved tools, fasteners, and installation methods.
• Identify design gaps, tool access issues, fastener compatibility concerns, or installation-related failure modes and partner with R&D engineering to resolve issues prior to GTM launch.
• Perform safety evaluations on new designs, tools, and fastener applications, verifying compliance with internal and industry standards.
• Document all test results through structured data collection, analysis, and professional test reports.
• Vendor Qualification & Supplier Assessment
• Conduct Form-Fit-Function and qualification testing on first-article tools, fasteners, and related components from new vendors to verify compliance with Nextpower specifications.
• Verify adherence to drawings, product notes, fastener specifications, material requirements, dimensional tolerances, and compatibility with adjacent tracker components.
• Evaluate new vendor tools and fasteners for performance, consistency, durability, installation repeatability, and suitability for field deployment.
• Travel to vendor facilities for onsite inspections, test reviews, tool/fastener evaluations, and pre-production validations as needed.
• Provide structured test feedback to Supply Chain, Vendor Quality, and Engineering to support vendor qualification and sourcing decisions.

Qualifications

• 5+ years of experience in product testing, mechanical systems, fastening systems, tool qualification, quality engineering, installation engineering, or related field; or a BA/BS in engineering or related discipline.
• Strong proficiency in interpreting engineering drawings, specifications, GD&T, product notes, fastener requirements, and installation documentation.
• Hands-on experience with measurement and testing tools, including torque tools, Skidmore equipment, 3D scanners, thread gauges, calipers, sockets, bits, drivers, and related installation equipment.
• Experience testing or qualifying fasteners, torque methods, mechanical joints, installation tools, or field assembly processes is highly desirable.
• Familiarity with Arena, Jira, SolidWorks/CAD systems.
• Ability to safely lift up to 40 lbs. and work in outdoor R&D field environments.
• Knowledge of Nextpower tracker products, solar tracker installation methods, tools, and fastener applications is highly desirable.
• Availability for travel to vendor facilities and project sites up to 25% of the time.

Skills & Competencies

• Demonstrated ability to conduct rigorous tool, fastener, and product testing and interpret results accurately.
• Strong analytical skills for evaluating mechanical performance, fastening behavior, compatibility, installation quality, and failure modes.
• Ability to assess tool access, torque application, fastener fit, assembly sequence, and field usability in tracker product applications.
• High attention to detail with strong documentation, reporting, and data-presentation capabilities.
• Excellent communication skills for conveying technical test results to both technical and non-technical stakeholders.
• Proven ability to work cross-functionally with Engineering, Quality, Supply Chain, Field Applications, Installation, and Vendor Quality teams.
• Customer-focused mindset with the ability to support field teams and address customer tool, fastener, and installation issues.
• Strong organizational skills with the ability to prioritize and manage multiple concurrent tool, fastener, and product test efforts.
• Adaptability to evolving project needs, new technologies, new tools, alternate fasteners, and changing design directions.
• Ability to work under pressure while maintaining high quality standards.

Benefits

• Nextracker offers a comprehensive benefits package.
• Health care coverage, dental and vision, 401(K) participation including company matching, company paid holidays with unlimited paid time off, generous discretionary company bonuses, life and disability protection and more.
• Employees in certain positions may be eligible for stock compensation.
• All plans are in accordance with relevant plan documents.
• For more information on Nextracker’s benefits please view our company website at www.nextracker.com.

Pay

Pay is based on market location and may vary based on factors including experience, skills, education and other job-related reasons. The annual salary range for this position is $100 to $110K.

Schedule

The schedule for this position is not specified.

Benefits

The benefits offered by Nextracker are not detailed in the job description provided.