Quality Improvement Engineer

Job Description

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: Process Quality Engineering Manager

The Quality Improvement Engineer will drive initiatives to enhance process and product quality within a manufacturing environment, collaborating with cross-functional groups such as Process and Equipment Engineering, Production, Supplier Quality, etc.  This high-visibility role will lead long-term continual improvement projects that aim to significantly reduce or eliminate product and process defects by using 8D Problem Solving,  Kaizen, Six Sigma or other similar problem solving and improvement methodologies.  This position entails identifying top defects through intensive data and trend analysis, conducting root cause analysis, managing improvement projects and driving cross-functional teams to drive quality improvements. 

Essential Duties and Responsibilities:

• Lead 8D investigations with cross-functional teams, perform root cause analysis and drive execution of corrective and preventive actions.
• Drive quality engineering investigations and continual improvement projects and foster a collaborative environment to resolve and prevent top contributors to manufacturing quality issues.
• Establish, document and report periodic key performance indicators for quality metrics and improvement.
• Perform intensive data analysis through a variety of data analytics platforms like JMP, Minitab, Tableau, etc.
• Understand solar process, product and component engineering technologies, drawings and flow charts as these are key ingredients towards keen understanding of quality issues and the appropriate corrective actions to such issues.
• Validate the effectiveness of implementation of corrective and preventive actions and ensure proper deployment across all manufacturing lines and shifts.
• Other duties and responsibilities that may be assigned due to criticality and urgency.

Minimum Qualifications:

• Bachelor’s Degree in Engineering or Science with 8+ years manufacturing experience in one or more of the following industries: solar, electronics, semiconductor or automotive.
• Minimum 5 years of experience in Quality, with focus on quality engineering investigations and continual improvement programs
• Comprehensive understanding of manufacturing processes, equipment and technologies with solid experience in process mapping, process re-engineering or Kaizen improvement projects to drive operational excellence initiatives and to achieve measurable improvements in quality performance.
• Strong background in quality management systems, preferably ISO 9001 as well as intensive experience in statistical process control and analysis using statistical software (e.g., JMP and Minitab).
• Proven track record in leading projects on root cause analysis such as 8D, process improvements and implementation of quality assurance protocols.
• Excellent leadership, written and verbal communication and project management skills; demonstrated capacity for rapid learning, self-discipline, continual improvement to meet organizational goals effectively.

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.