Reliability Assurance Engineer

Job Description

Located in the heart of Central Ohio, Illuminate USA 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 1,500 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.  

We are looking for a Reliability Assurance Engineer for our solar panel manufacturing facility in Columbus, Ohio. This role is responsible for owning and implementing reliability assurance programs that provide continuous feedback on product reliability and long-term performance. Programs include Ongoing Reliability Testing (ORT), test-to-failure, and long-term monitoring studies.

The Reliability Assurance Engineer will plan and execute programs, perform risk assessments, and track product performance to support quality decisions and risk management. This position ensures that reliability assurance programs are executed and documented in alignment with ISO 17025, relevant IEC standards (e.g., IEC 61215, IEC 61730), and internal quality requirements.

Responsibilities:

Daily Laboratory Testing Support

• Drive reliability assurance programs (e.g., ORT, test-to-failure, outdoor exposure monitoring).

• Coordinate with laboratory operations to schedule program work against chamber capacity, equipment availability, and business priorities, ensuring on-time completion of deliverables.

• Define program workflows for sample intake, labeling/traceability, baseline measurements (as applicable), periodic monitoring, and end-of-test disposition.

• Drive test-to-failure execution plans including failure criteria, monitoring frequency, and documentation of failure modes/conditions in coordination with Reliability and Quality stakeholders.

• Support containment and escalation when program data indicates abnormal degradation, emerging failure modes, or risk to product reliability.

Standards Compliance & Documentation

• Develop, update, and maintain program documentation (SOPs, work instructions, program plans, templates, and reporting formats) to ensure alignment with ISO 17025 and relevant IEC standards.

• Ensure program records are complete, traceable, and audit-ready.

• Support internal/external audits related to reliability program execution and records, working with Quality and laboratory leadership as needed.

Program Management

• Define program-specific controls (e.g., control modules, baseline comparisons, periodic verification runs) to detect drift and protect data integrity over long program durations.

• Own data and reporting for long-term outdoor exposure monitoring (trend analysis, degradation tracking, and standardized outputs).

Reliability Assessment

• Analyze program data and generate routine and ad-hoc reports for Quality, including trends, risk indicators, anomalies, and recommended follow-up actions.

• Maintain reliability program KPIs and dashboards (e.g., schedule adherence, degradation rate indicators, failure incidence, time-to-failure distributions where applicable).

• Lead cross-functional communication of findings and recommendations to Quality and relevant stakeholders; support corrective action development and implementation with interdepartmental leaders.

• Ensure all program activities are conducted in accordance with safety protocols and laboratory best practices.

Continuous Improvement & Innovation

• Identify and lead improvements to program efficiency, data quality, and reporting clarity (without compromising traceability or program rigor).

• Mentor Associate Engineers and Technicians on consistent program execution, documentation quality, and disciplined data capture.

Other Duties

• Perform additional tasks or projects as assigned by Managers, Quality leadership, or other superiors in support of laboratory and company objectives.

Qualifications:

Education & Experience

• Bachelor’s degree in Engineering (e.g., Electrical, Mechanical, Materials, Industrial), Physics, or at least 8 years in a related technical field is required.

• 5+ years of experience in reliability testing, product testing, laboratory engineering, quality engineering, or a closely related role is preferred; experience in solar, automotive, or semiconductor industries is a plus.

• Experience implementing recurring test programs (e.g., ORT), long-duration monitoring programs, or test-to-failure execution is strongly preferred.

• Experience working under formal quality systems such as ISO 17025 and/or ISO 9001 is advantageous.

Technical Proficiency

• Strong understanding of measurement principles, data acquisition, and test system behavior (e.g., I-V characterization, environmental testing, mechanical testing, or related reliability measurements).

• Familiarity with PV module standards (such as IEC 61215 and 61730) or willingness to rapidly learn and apply them.

• Proficiency with Microsoft Office (Excel, Word, PowerPoint) is required; experience with data analysis tools or scripting (e.g., Excel macros, Python, Minitab, JMP, or similar) is a plus.

• Ability to design and interpret basic statistical analyses for long-term trending, degradation monitoring, and reliability reporting.

Skills & Abilities

• Strong analytical and problem-solving skills, with the ability to interpret reliability data and identify meaningful trends, risks, or anomalies.

• High attention to detail and commitment to data integrity, traceability, and documentation quality.

• Effective communication skills, with the ability to explain technical findings to both technical and non-technical stakeholders.

• Strong coordination skills: ability to drive schedules, align stakeholders, and execute recurring programs reliably.

Work Ethic & Mindset

• Demonstrated reliability, punctuality, and ownership of assigned tasks and programs.

• Commitment to safety, quality, and continuous improvement in all laboratory activities.

• Curiosity and willingness to learn as laboratory capabilities and program expectations evolve.

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.