Solar Module Manufacturing Manager

Solestial, Inc.; Tempe (AZ); On-site; USD 110,000 - 140,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Competitive compensation

Medical, dental, and vision coverage

PTO & holidays

401(k) with employer match

Disability and life insurance

Space impact

Job summary

Solestial, Inc. is seeking a Solar Module Manufacturing Manager to lead our production of solar modules and scale to high-volume manufacturing. You will manage a team of 6-15 engineers and technicians, drive process improvements, and ensure safety and quality in a demanding environment.

You will collaborate with R&D to transition processes to manufacturing, and as automation expands, you will oversee a larger team (10-50) on high-volume production, overseeing inventory, procurement, and training.

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.
• PV cell and module processing experience 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.
• Develop understanding of end-to-end solar cell and module processes and design features.
• Collaborate with other process leads to achieve performance specs (efficiency, cost, reliability).
• Contribute to development of processes to scale production and integration into customer packages.

Skills

People leadership

Analytical skills

Communication

Team collaboration

Education

Bachelor's degree in Engineering/related field

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.

Your Mission

• 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

What You Bring

• 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

Our 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!