Quality Inspection and Test Engineering Manager

Job Description

Illuminate USA, a new standalone joint venture established by two global leaders in renewable energy, is building one of the largest solar panel manufacturing factories in the Western Hemisphere.  This 1.1 million-square-foot factory is currently in the advanced stages of preparation in the Columbus, Ohio area. Illuminate USA is seeking highly motivated team members to help the company grow from startup to a full scale, industry leading manufacturer with $1B - $2B expected annual revenue and over 1,200 employees in less than two years.  

This will be a fast-paced and exciting time in our history as we are building something great from the ground up here in central Ohio. We offer competitive pay, benefits, and ongoing career development opportunities. Come join our collaborative, people-focused, and innovative workplace as we embark upon this unique and exciting journey!  

Job Summary:

Reports into: Head of Quality

The Quality Inspection and Test Engineering Manager shall oversee the electroluminescence (EL) and visual inspection (VI) program for the overall manufacturing process.  This role will lead a team of inspectors and team leaders that ensures the highest operational and technical standards in quality inspection and test protocols that are implemented in the solar panel manufacturing line.   This program focuses on quality control, 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:

• Recruit, train and mentor quality inspectors and quality engineering members, fostering a culture of quality and technical excellence.
• Develop, implement and manage quality control processes 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.
• Supervise a team of quality inspectors;  ensure sufficient inspectors in critical inspection stations in the production line,  considering a 24x7 manufacturing operation.
• Drive innovation in solar panel testing using  electroluminescence and visual inspection via artificial intelligence (AI) and human inspection.
• Ensure proper training, qualification and certification for all EL and VI quality inspectors and team leaders through Attribute Gage Repeatability and Reproducibility program.
• 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.
• 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, process improvements and implementation of quality control measures.
• 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.)

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.

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