Process Quality Engineering Manager

Process Quality Engineering Manager

Illuminate USA, located in the heart of Central Ohio, is transforming solar panel manufacturing from our cutting-edge facility in Pataskala. As a new standalone joint venture established by two global leaders in renewable energy, we've rapidly grown to over 1,600 associates and are now fully operational in our 1.1 million-square-foot factory. Our vision is to establish one of the largest solar panel manufacturing operations in the Western Hemisphere.

This is an exciting time to join Illuminate USA as we continue to grow and innovate. We're not just building solar panels, we're building a team of dedicated, passionate associates eager to make a real impact. If you're looking to be part of a collaborative, people-focused, and forward-thinking workplace, we want to hear from you!

We offer competitive pay, comprehensive benefits, and continuous opportunities for career growth. Come join us on this journey to create a brighter, more sustainable future in the Columbus area.

Job Summary:

Reports to the Head of Quality

The Process Quality Engineering (PQE) Manager shall oversee the following programs:

A) Visual Inspection (VI) and Electroluminescence (EL) program for the overall manufacturing process,

B) On-Shift process quality engineering and

C) Continual Improvement quality engineering program.

This role will lead a team of quality engineers, supervisors, inspectors, reviewers and team leaders that ensure the highest operational and technical standards in quality engineering, inspection and test protocols that are implemented in the solar panel manufacturing line.

This program focuses on quality engineering, continuous improvements and EL/VI/AI hardware and software engineering excellence through collaboration with cross-functional teams (production, equipment and process engineering) and external companies.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities:

Drive innovation in solar panel testing using electroluminescence and visual inspection via artificial intelligence (AI) and human inspection; liaise with equipment vendors for technology upgrade and modifications.

Drive quality engineering investigations and continual improvement projects to resolve and prevent top contributors to manufacturing quality issues.

Recruit, train and mentor quality supervisors, inspectors/reviewers and quality engineering members, fostering a culture of quality and technical excellence.

Develop, implement and manage quality engineering to ensure adherence to company and solar industry standards.

Oversee testing procedures, inspection protocols and documentation to maintain product integrity.

Establish, document and report on periodic key performance indicators for quality metrics and improvement.

Ensure sufficient inspectors in critical inspection stations in the production line, considering a 24x7 manufacturing operation.

Ensure proper training, qualification and certification for all EL and VI quality inspectors and team leaders through Attribute Gage Repeatability and Reproducibility program.

Develop and sustain a quality disposition and non-conforming material classification process to ensure that defective products are not shipped and/or properly dispositioned to satisfy strict product quality requirements; travel to project sites on critical basis to properly disposition field issues.

Other duties and responsibilities that may be assigned due to criticality and urgency.

Minimum Qualifications:

Bachelor's degree in Engineering or Science with 10+ years manufacturing experience in one or more of the following industries: solar, electronics, semiconductor or automotive.

5+ years experience in quality leadership role, with focus on quality engineering investigations and development programs.

3+ years of experience with electroluminescence engineering, and artificial intelligence-assisted visual inspection.

Intensive experience in statistical process control and analysis using statistical software (e.g., JMP and Minitab).

Strong background in quality management systems, preferably ISO 9001.

Proven experience in root cause analysis such as 8D, process improvements and implementation of quality assurance protocols.

Excellent leadership, written and verbal communication and project management skills.

Preferred Qualifications:

Master's degree in Engineering or Science

Certification in Quality Engineering (CQA, CQE, CQM)

Experience in high-volume data management and reporting platforms (Power BI, Tableau, etc.)

At Illuminate USA, we are committed to fostering an inclusive and diverse workplace.

We proudly embrace equal opportunity for all, ensuring that all qualified applicants are considered for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by law. Your unique background and experiences are valued here, as we believe they strengthen our team and drive our mission forward.

Illuminate is an equal opportunity employer. We celebrate diversity and are committed to creating an inclusive environment for all employees.