Reliability & Failure Analysis Team Leader

Qcell; Cartersville (GA); On-site; USD 120,000 - 160,000; Full time

Job summary

Qcells in Cartersville, GA, seeks a leader for Reliability & Failure Analysis to guide the team ensuring long-term module reliability. The role owns test strategy, failure analysis lab, global field test bed programs, and degradation research to drive design and process improvements.

The ideal candidate has 8+ years in reliability or quality, with hands-on lab experience, data-driven analytics, and strong leadership across functions. Domestic and international travel is expected.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in a relevant engineering field (Materials, Chemical, Electrical/Electronic Engineering, Physics, etc.).
• Minimum of 8 years of experience in reliability engineering, failure analysis, or quality roles.
• Reliability experience with solar modules or a comparable industry.
• Working knowledge of solar module reliability testing and applicable standards.
• Hands-on experience operating a failure analysis laboratory and performing failure analysis.
• Strong data-driven analytical, statistical, and root cause problem-solving skills.
• Demonstrated ability to lead a technical team and manage cross-functional projects.
• Excellent teamwork and communication abilities.

Responsibilities

• Establish and operate the reliability test strategy for solar modules.
• Define, track, and report reliability KPIs.
• Benchmark competitor degradation and failure rates and develop response strategies.
• Verify the reliability of new technologies such as TOPCon and tandem.
• Set up, operate, and manage the failure analysis laboratory and its equipment.
• Lead root cause analysis of field returns and in-house failures.
• Build and maintain degradation and lifetime prediction models.
• Prepare and present detailed reliability reports to management and internal stakeholders.

Skills

Reliability engineering

Failure analysis

Team leadership

Data-driven analysis

Root cause analysis

Cross-functional collaboration

Communication

Education

Bachelor's degree in a relevant engineering field

Tools

Failure analysis lab

Job description

Description

Reliability & Failure Analysis Team Leader

Location: Cartersville, GA

SUMMARY

The Reliability & Failure Analysis Team Leader leads the Reliability & Failure Analysis Team within the Quality Excellence Office (Development Quality) and is accountable for securing the long-term reliability of Qcells solar modules and preventing field quality issues. The role owns the module reliability test strategy, the failure analysis laboratory, the global field test bed program, and degradation mechanism research used to predict field lifetime. The Team Leader manages and develops the team, sets technical direction, and partners with development, manufacturing, and global counterparts to translate reliability findings into design and process improvements.

RESPONSIBILITIES

The Reliability & Failure Analysis Team Leader requires strong technical and managerial skills. Key responsibilities include:

Reliability Evaluation & Strategy

• Establish and operate the reliability test strategy for solar modules.
• Define, track, and report reliability KPIs.
• Benchmark competitor degradation and failure rates and develop response strategies.
• Verify the reliability of new technologies such as TOPCon and tandem.

Failure Analysis

• Set up, operate, and manage the failure analysis laboratory and its equipment.
• Lead root cause analysis of field returns and in-house failures.
• Apply a broad range of failure analysis techniques to isolate failure mechanisms.
• Define and validate corrective and recurrence prevention measures with the responsible functions.

Global Field Test Bed

• Build and integrate field test beds representing diverse climate environments.
• Monitor energy yield and environmental conditions on a daily basis.
• Track degradation trends through power measurement at STC conditions.
• Verify field reliability of new models and analyze correlation with laboratory test results.

Degradation Research & Lifetime Prediction

• Analyze and model key degradation mechanisms.
• Correlate accelerated test results with field data.
• Build and maintain degradation and lifetime prediction models.
• Prepare and present detailed reliability reports to management and internal stakeholders.

REQUIRED QUALIFICATIONS

• Bachelor's degree in a relevant engineering field (Materials, Chemical, Electrical/Electronic Engineering, Physics, etc.).
• Minimum of 8 years of experience in reliability engineering, failure analysis, or quality roles.
• Reliability experience with solar modules or a comparable industry.
• Working knowledge of solar module reliability testing and applicable standards.
• Hands-on experience operating a failure analysis laboratory and performing failure analysis.
• Strong data-driven analytical, statistical, and root cause problem-solving skills.
• Demonstrated ability to lead a technical team and manage cross-functional projects.
• Excellent teamwork and communication abilities.

PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS

• Experience in solar module development or quality.
• Understanding of glass, encapsulation, and cell technologies.
• Experience in reliability and degradation modeling.
• Experience with global certification bodies and standards (IEC, UL, etc.).
• Quality or reliability certifications (ISO, Six Sigma, CQE/CRE, etc.).
• Preference for Korean speaker (not mandatory).

PHYSICAL REQUIREMENTS

• Ability to stand and walk the production and laboratory areas throughout the workday
• Capable of reaching, pushing, pulling, or lifting as required within limits set by QCells
• Prolonged periods of sitting at a desk and working on a computer
• Willingness to travel domestically and internationally to field test bed and partner sites

Hanwha Q CELLS provides equal employment opportunities (EEO) to all employees and applicants for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, disability, or genetics.