Manager, Equipment

T1 Energy; Rockdale (TX); On-site; USD 100,000 - 130,000; Full time

Job summary

T1 Energy in Rockdale, Texas, seeks an Equipment Manager to lead equipment engineering and maintenance at its solar cell fab. Ideal candidates will possess over 10 years of experience in equipment leadership and have a solid background in preventive maintenance strategies.

The position requires expertise in multi-platform equipment environments and OEE improvement metrics. Responsibilities include managing a skilled team, enhancing equipment reliability, and ensuring operational integrity. Those who thrive in dynamic environments and adhere to high accountability standards will fit well in our team.

Qualifications

• 10+ years of experience in equipment engineering and maintenance leadership.
• Managing multi-platform equipment environments.
• Hands-on experience with equipment installation and qualification.

Responsibilities

• Lead all equipment engineering and maintenance operations.
• Establish and manage preventative and predictive maintenance programs.
• Monitor and improve OEE across the fab.

Skills

Equipment leadership

Preventive maintenance programs

OEE improvement

Vendor management

Education

Bachelor’s degree in Mechanical Engineering, Electrical Engineering, or related field

Tools

CVD

Diffusion

Metrology

Job description

T1 Energy is bringing solar manufacturing back to the U.S. by building a domestic solar supply chain. Our mission is to invigorate America with scalable, reliable, and low-cost energy. Our fully operational 5GW solar module facility in Wilmer, Texas, can manufacture more than 20,000 modules every 24 hours. By the time you finish reading this paragraph, we will have produced two solar panels that will power American homes and fuel domestic AI. We're focused on building advanced American manufacturing and we're passionate about engineering a better future filled with abundant energy.

The Role

T1 Energy is looking to hire an Equipment Manager to lead all equipment engineering and maintenance operations at our G2 solar cell fab in Rockdale, Texas. This is a senior leadership role for someone who has managed complex multi-platform equipment environments in a high-volume manufacturing settings and knows how to keep critical tools running at peak performance.

You’ve built maintenance programs, led equipment teams, and know what it means to own uptime in a production environment where downtime is never acceptable. You’re equally comfortable reviewing an OEE dashboard and getting hands‑on with a tool that’s down.

What You’ll Do

• Own all equipment engineering and maintenance operations across the G2 solar cell fab, covering a broad portfolio of multi-platform manufacturing tools.
• Lead and develop a team of equipment engineers and maintenance technicians across shifts.
• Establish and manage preventative and predictive maintenance programs that maximize equipment uptime and reliability.
• Drive equipment qualification, installation, and acceptance activities for new tool installations and upgrades.
• Own spare parts strategy, inventory management, and vendor relationships to ensure rapid response to equipment issues.
• Monitor and improve OEE across the fab, identifying chronic downtime contributors and driving systematic resolution.
• Lead root cause analysis for equipment failures and implement corrective actions that stick.
• Partner with Process, Facilities, and EHS teams to ensure tools operate safely, cleanly, and within specification.
• Manage equipment vendor relationships and service contracts to ensure performance and accountability.
• Support fab ramp activities including tool installation, qualification, and operator training.

Who You Are

• An experienced equipment leader who has managed multi-platform tool sets in a semiconductor, solar, or advanced manufacturing environment.
• Deeply knowledgeable in maintenance strategy, equipment reliability, and OEE improvement.
• A strong people manager who builds technically sharp, responsive maintenance teams.
• Systematic and thorough in your approach to equipment programs — nothing runs on luck under your watch.
• Calm and decisive when tools go down and production is waiting.

Qualifications

• 10+ years of equipment engineering and maintenance leadership experience in a semiconductor, solar cell, or advanced manufacturing environment.
• Demonstrated experience managing multi-platform equipment environments including CVD, diffusion, implant, metrology, wet process, and related toolsets.
• Proven track record building and managing preventive and predictive maintenance programs.
• Strong understanding of OEE metrics and systematic approaches to equipment reliability improvement.
• Experience managing equipment teams across multiple shifts.
• Hands‑on experience with equipment installation, qualification, and vendor management.
• Bachelor’s degree in Mechanical Engineering, Electrical Engineering, or a related technical field preferred.

The T1 Way

We move fast, expect accountability, and treat people with respect. We also have a no‑jerks policy: we don’t tolerate big egos, bad behavior or “that’s not my job” attitude. Be sharp, be honest, be human. If you can hold the line and have a sense of humor, you’ll fit right in.

T1 Energy is an Equal Opportunity Employer. We are committed to creating an inclusive environment for all employees and applicants and do not discriminate on the basis of any legally protected characteristics.