Documentation Specialist - Contractor

Canadian Solar; Walnut Creek (CA); On-site; USD 80,000 - 110,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

401(k) Retirement Plan

medical/dental/life/disability program

PTO and sick days

Job summary

CS Power Systems, a division of Canadian Solar, is seeking a contract Documentation Specialist to standardize and improve manufacturing and sales operations documentation. The role focuses on SOPs, work instructions, and process maps across a global organization.

The position is on-site in Walnut Creek, CA, four days per week, with a focus on ISO alignment, training materials, and governance of documents. A strong technical writing background is required.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Technical Writing, Engineering, Manufacturing, Industrial Technology, Business, Communications, or related field preferred.
• 3+ years of experience in technical writing, process documentation, manufacturing operations, quality systems, or related discipline.
• Experience documenting manufacturing processes, SOPs, work instructions, process flows, or quality procedures.
• Strong ability to gather information through interviews, process observation, and stakeholder collaboration.
• Exceptional written communication, editing, and document organization skills.
• Experience creating process maps, workflow diagrams, and visual documentation.
• Familiarity with manufacturing environments, production operations, quality management systems, or industrial processes.
• Working knowledge of ISO standards, document control systems, continuous improvement methodologies, or operational excellence programs preferred.
• Proficiency with Microsoft Office Suite, Visio, SharePoint, and documentation management systems.

Responsibilities

• Partner with manufacturing, engineering, quality, supply chain, EHS, and operations teams to document existing processes and develop standardized procedures.
• Create, edit, and maintain Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs), work instructions, process maps, training guides, policies, and technical documentation.
• Interview subject matter experts and observe operational activities to accurately capture workflows and process requirements.
• Translate complex manufacturing, engineering, and operational processes into clear, user-friendly documentation.
• Develop process flow diagrams, workflow charts, visual work instructions, and training materials to improve knowledge transfer and operational consistency.
• Support documentation efforts related to ISO standards, quality systems, audits, compliance requirements, and continuous improvement initiatives.
• Establish document control standards, version management practices, and document governance processes.
• Collaborate with global teams to standardize documentation formats, templates, and best practices across multiple business units and manufacturing facilities.
• Review and update existing documentation to ensure accuracy, consistency, and alignment with operational changes.
• Support onboarding and workforce training initiatives through development of instructional and reference materials.
• Assist with process improvement projects by documenting current-state and future-state workflows.
• Manage multiple documentation projects simultaneously while meeting established timelines and quality standards.

Skills

Technical writing

Process documentation

Manufacturing operations

ISO standards

Documentation systems

Microsoft Office

Visio

SharePoint

Education

Bachelor's degree

Tools

Microsoft Office

Visio

SharePoint

Documentation management systems

Job description

At CS Power Systems, we're on a mission to transform lives by delivering clean, solar-powered electricity to millions worldwide—and we're just getting started. As a cutting-edge division of Canadian Solar, a global leader founded in 2001, we stand at the forefront of manufacturing high-performance solar panels, inverters, and advanced energy storage solutions. In this fast-growing, high-impact industry, our deep commitment to sustainability drives everything we do, creating innovative technologies that power a brighter, greener future. Across Canadian Solar's powerful ecosystem—including CS Power Systems, CSPowerTech, e-STORAGE, Recurrent Energy, MSS, and CSI Solar—we're deeply invested in our people's success. If you're passionate about renewable energy and want to "Make the Difference" by building a lasting positive impact on the planet and communities everywhere, join us at CS Power Systems—where your talent can help shape the clean energy revolution.

Position Summary

CS Power Systems is seeking a 6-month contract Documentation Specialist – Manufacturing & Sales Operations to support the documentation, standardization, and continuous improvement of manufacturing and sales operational processes across our global organization. This is a new role, and the position may be extended beyond 6 months or made permanent at the end of this duration. This individual will work closely with subject matter experts, engineering teams, manufacturing leaders, quality professionals, and operational stakeholders to document business processes, standard operating procedures (SOPs), work instructions, training materials, and operational best practices. The successful candidate will play a critical role in capturing institutional knowledge and transforming complex workflows into clear, concise, and scalable documentation that supports operational excellence, quality compliance, workforce training, and global standardization. The ideal candidate possesses strong technical writing skills, exceptional attention to detail, and the ability to quickly understand manufacturing processes within a fast-paced, global renewable energy organization.

Location

This position requires on-site attendance in our Walnut Creek, CA office. It is conveniently located near public transportation (BART), is ideally situated for bicycle commuters, and has an onsite secured parking garage. In addition to regularly catered meals, there are an abundance of eateries in the surrounding area. Employees are required to be in the office 4 days per week.

Duties & Responsibilities

• Partner with manufacturing, engineering, quality, supply chain, EHS, and operations teams to document existing processes and develop standardized procedures.
• Create, edit, and maintain Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs), work instructions, process maps, training guides, policies, and technical documentation.
• Interview subject matter experts and observe operational activities to accurately capture workflows and process requirements.
• Translate complex manufacturing, engineering, and operational processes into clear, user-friendly documentation.
• Develop process flow diagrams, workflow charts, visual work instructions, and training materials to improve knowledge transfer and operational consistency.
• Support documentation efforts related to ISO standards, quality systems, audits, compliance requirements, and continuous improvement initiatives.
• Establish document control standards, version management practices, and document governance processes.
• Collaborate with global teams to standardize documentation formats, templates, and best practices across multiple business units and manufacturing facilities.
• Review and update existing documentation to ensure accuracy, consistency, and alignment with operational changes.
• Support onboarding and workforce training initiatives through development of instructional and reference materials.
• Assist with process improvement projects by documenting current-state and future-state workflows.
• Manage multiple documentation projects simultaneously while meeting established timelines and quality standards.

Requirements

• Bachelor's degree in Technical Writing, Engineering, Manufacturing, Industrial Technology, Business, Communications, or a related field preferred.
• 3+ years of experience in technical writing, process documentation, manufacturing operations, quality systems, engineering documentation, or a related discipline.
• Experience documenting manufacturing processes, SOPs, work instructions, process flows, or quality procedures.
• Strong ability to gather information through interviews, process observation, and stakeholder collaboration.
• Exceptional written communication, editing, and document organization skills.
• Experience creating process maps, workflow diagrams, and visual documentation.
• Familiarity with manufacturing environments, production operations, quality management systems, or industrial processes.
• Working knowledge of ISO standards, document control systems, continuous improvement methodologies, or operational excellence programs preferred.
• Proficiency with Microsoft Office Suite, Visio, SharePoint, and documentation management systems.
• Strong attention to detail and commitment to producing high-quality deliverables.
• Ability to work independently while collaborating effectively across global teams and functions.
• Experience supporting multinational manufacturing organizations is highly desirable.
• Renewable energy, solar manufacturing, battery manufacturing, electronics manufacturing, or industrial manufacturing experience is a plus.

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience supporting ISO 9001, ISO 14001, ISO 45001, or similar quality and management systems.
• Knowledge of Lean Manufacturing, Six Sigma, Operational Excellence, or Continuous Improvement methodologies.
• Experience documenting manufacturing processes within highly regulated or quality-driven environments.
• Experience working within global organizations and cross-cultural teams.
• Second language proficiency (Chinese) is a plus.

Canadian Solar offers a competitive salary plus fully comprehensive benefits and performance bonus package based on an annual objective achievement.

Benefits

• 401(k) Retirement Plan
• medical/dental/life/disability program
• PTO and sick days

The pay range for this position 80-110K. This range represents annual base salary only, without regard to location, and does not include bonus or other incentives or benefits that may apply. The pay range for this role is subject to change.

Canadian Solar is an Equal Opportunity Employer (EOE). Qualified applicants are considered for employment without regard to age, race, color, religion, sex, national origin, sexual orientation, disability, or veteran status.

Canadian Solar is a leading manufacturer of solar panels, inverters, and energy storage solutions since 2001. Our friendly and dedicated team of sales and operations experts work with retailers and strategic distribution partners all over the globe to provide our residential, commercial and utility-scale solar solutions. Our commitment to sustainability is reflected in all parts of our organization as we navigate the complexities of a booming industry.