Solar Module Manufacturing Manager

Solestial; Tempe (AZ); On-site; USD 120,000 - 180,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Competitive compensation

Medical, dental, and vision coverage (

401(k) with employer match up to 4%

Disability and life insurance

Work in space-oriented mission

Job summary

Solestial is seeking a Solar Module Manufacturing Manager to lead a team responsible for production of solar modules. You will drive daily operations, meet production goals, ensure quality, and maintain a safe, professional work environment as you scale from pilot to high-volume manufacturing.

You will collaborate with process engineers to transform R&D into production and guide the transition to automated, high-volume lines, managing 6–15 staff initially and expanding to 10–50 in later stages.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Engineering, Materials Science, Physics, or related fields.
• 10+ years of proven experience in engineering or manufacturing roles with a strong technical background.
• 3+ years of management experience.
• Ability to work in a Class 10,000 clean room environment.
• Ability to conduct PV cell and module processing while wearing PPE.
• Experience with photovoltaic solar modules or flexible circuits is a strong plus.

Responsibilities

• Plan, execute, and lead baseline processes for pilot production builds.
• Optimize process steps to minimize yield loss.
• Partner with process engineers to maintain equipment performance.
• Develop and maintain standard operating procedures and documentation.
• Transition processes to large-scale production tools as they are developed.
• Coordinate with material vendors to support production schedules.
• Identify and implement cost-reduction opportunities.
• Train technicians and future tool operators.
• Uphold safety standards and proactively prevent incidents.
• Maintain a clean and organized work environment.
• Understand end-to-end solar cell and module processes and design features.
• Collaborate with other process leads to meet performance specs.

Skills

Strong leadership

Strong analytical skills

People leadership & coaching

Clear communication

Collaborative problem solving

PV cell & module processing

Clean room operations

Education

Bachelor’s degree in Engineering/Materials Science/Physics

Job description

The Company

Solestial is pioneering the future of space-based solar power by developing advanced solar technologies optimized for the harsh conditions of space. Our innovative, low-cost, and scalable solar arrays are engineered for next-generation satellites, spacecraft, and orbital infrastructure. We are driven by a mission to power the space economy and unlock limitless opportunities in orbit and beyond.

The Role

As a Solar Module Manufacturing Manager, you will lead the team responsible for production of solar modules at Solestial. You will be accountable for daily operations, meeting production goals, maintaining product quality, and ensuring a safe and professional work environment. Your team will be comprised of 6–15 process engineers and technicians, and your daily duties will include scheduling and running production, leading process improvements related to scaling production, managing inventory movement, procurement of essential materials, and technician training and development.

You will work in direct collaboration with manufacturing process engineers who are focused on process improvements, yield improvements, and new tool introduction. This collaboration will support transforming processes and products from the R&D teams to the production teams. As the company continues to grow and starts the transition to a new, automated, high-volume manufacturing line, you will transition to leading a team of 10–50 running high-volume production of solar modules.

Responsibilities

• Plan, execute, and lead baseline processes for pilot production builds
• Optimize process steps to minimize yield loss
• Partner with process engineers to maintain equipment performance
• Develop and maintain standard operating procedures and documentation
• Transition processes to large-scale production tools as they are developed
• Coordinate with material vendors to support production schedules
• Identify and implement cost-reduction opportunities
• Train technicians and future tool operators
• Uphold safety standards and proactively prevent incidents
• Maintain a clean and organized work environment
• Develop a strong understanding of end-to-end solar cell and module processes and design features
• Work in collaboration with other process leads to achieve required performance specifications, including efficiency, cost, and reliability
• Contribute to the development of processes to scale the production of solar modules and the integration of these modules into customer developed packages

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Engineering, Materials Science, Physics, or related fields
• 10+ years of proven experience in engineering or manufacturing roles, with a strong technical background
• 3+ years of management experience
• Ability to work in a Class 10,000 clean room environment
• Ability to conduct PV cell and module processing while wearing the necessary PPE
• Ability to work in a dynamic environment
• Strong analytical skills, including basic data analysis and presentation, with clear communication
• Strong people leadership, coaching, and communication skills
• Collaborative, solutions-oriented approach to working with others and solving problems
• Previous experience with photovoltaic solar modules or flexible circuits (R&D, manufacturing, reliability) is a strong plus

Benefits

• Competitive compensation — we want you to grow with us
• Generous, high-quality medical, dental, and vision coverage on day one of employment
• 15 vacation days, 5 sick days, and 10 paid holidays annually — with an extended holiday break at year’s end
• 401(k) with employer match up to 4% of salary
• Employer-paid short-term and long-term disability and employer-sponsored life insurance
• Your work will literally go to space!