Reliability 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.
 

Long-term reliability performance is a critical aspect of solar panels, and this position will correlate potential degradation data to root causes that could be attributed to material variations and manufacturing quality-related issues, in adherence to requirements set by product certification standards such as IEC 61215 and IEC/UL 61730.  This position will interface internally with Production, Equipment Engineering, and Process Engineering to support continuous improvement initiatives and maintain compliance of test protocols with internal and industry standards.
Candidates with experience in electromechanical, electrical, or reliability testing within the automotive, semiconductor, or solar industries are strongly preferred.

Responsibilities

Reliability Testing & Data Analysis

• Develop, execute, and manage a variety of daily reliability tests to determine performance degradation of solar panels related to electrical, mechanical, visual, and safety parameters.  Examples: power measurement, solar simulation, mechanical loading test, thermal cycling, damp heat, electroluminescence, highly accelerated stress test, etc.

• Validate and analyze test degradation data, understand potential root causes, physics of failures, and calculate estimated field reliability parameters – Mean Time to Failure (MTTF), Mean Time Before Failure (MTBF), Annual Failure Rate (AFR), etc. 

• Execute test requirements, prepare reports, and document all records as part of On-Going Reliability Test (ORT), Qualification Test Plans (QTP), and special reliability evaluations and/or design of experiments. 

• Perform tests and analyze data derived from field exposure tests of solar panels and Balance of Systems (BOS) components such as inverters or microinverters to correlate accelerated laboratory test data with simulated field performance data. 

• Develop, document and implement test procedures and laboratory operating protocols to ensure compliance with systems and product standards (ISO 17025, IEC 61215, IEC/UL61730).

• Interface with Customer Quality Engineering and stakeholders to communicate laboratory test results and demonstrate testing procedures.

Laboratory Development, Equipment Calibration, and Maintenance

• Manage validation, calibration, and preventive maintenance activities for all laboratory equipment.

• Support optimization efforts on laboratory workflows, test methods, and equipment utilization.

• Understand environmental, solar simulation, and electromechanical test technology to ensure equipment upkeep and accurate test results.

• Execute calibration, spectral analysis, and light uniformity measurements associated with IV/Flash Tester for photovoltaic systems. 

• Coordinate with Equipment Engineering to ensure testing instruments remain functional, accurate, and up to date.

Product and Test Technology

• Understand product drawings, specifications, bill of materials, and manufacturing process flows to correlate potential issues in ORT process capability indices. 

Other Duties

Perform additional tasks or projects assigned by Quality Managers and other superiors.

Qualifications

Education & Experience

• Bachelor’s degree in Engineering (Mechanical, Electrical, Chemical, or related field) or Science (Chemistry, Physics, or a related discipline). Advanced degree is advantageous for consideration.

• At least 4 years of experience in laboratory testing, quality assurance, or reliability engineering.

• Industry experience in automotive, semiconductor, or solar is highly desirable.

Technical Proficiency

• Strong familiarity with data acquisition systems, testing instrumentation, and standard operating procedures (SOPs).

• Able to understand product drawings, material specifications, and manufacturing process flows. 

• Knowledgeable in Measurement System Analysis (MSA) and Statistical Process Control (SPC)

• Familiarity with reliability or statistical analysis software (e.g., JMP, Minitab, Reliasoft), preferred. 

• Experience with ISO 9001, ISO 17025, and related quality management systems is advantageous.

Skills & Abilities

• Strong attention to detail, with the ability to multitask and adapt to evolving responsibilities.

• Proficiency in Microsoft Office; experience with Laboratory Information Management Systems (LIMS) is a plus.

• Excellent communication and interpersonal skills to collaborate effectively with cross-functional teams.

Work Ethic & Mindset

• Demonstrated ability to follow strict safety and quality protocols.

• High level of initiative and ownership in driving tasks and responsibilities to completion.

Additional Information

• Relocation assistance is available.

• Must be able to work on-site in Columbus, Ohio.

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.