Manager, Manufacturing Engineering – Module Frames

Nextpower • Nashville, TN

5d • Remote

About The Position

At Nextpower, we are accelerating the world’s transition to renewable energy through intelligent solar tracking and breakthrough engineering. As a Manager, Manufacturing Engineering – Module Frames, you will be a critical player in this transformation. You will be responsible for leading a team of Manufacturing Engineers to deliver on large scale capacity expansion and process standardization over the next few years. This includes activities for driving concurrent engineering (DFM/DFMA), supplier process readiness, industrialization, and engineering change implementation for steel frame components and assemblies across Nextpower’s global supply base. The Manager, Manufacturing Engineering – Module Frames will lead initiatives to document and develop best-practice solutions and new manufacturing technologies across the supplier footprint, including (but not limited to) automation, inspection, and operational excellence (Lean thinking). This role partners directly with R&D/Design Engineering, Quality, Program Management, and Procurement to ensure new and existing designs are manufacturable, scalable, cost-effective, and reliable, and support design release and change-control decisions through rigorous engineering analysis and factory validation, while ensuring a customer-centric approach to meet or exceed internal and external customer expectations.

Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree in an Engineering discipline from an accredited institution with at least 15+ years of relevant experience in manufacturing engineering / industrialization for steel components and assemblies in an OEM or contract manufacturing environment
• Industrial, Mechanical, Manufacturing, Metallurgical or Chemical Engineering is preferred
• 15+ years of minimum experience in complex shape roll form steel products is a must.
• Demonstrated experience installing and commissioning new equipment for production is a must.
• 10+ years of minimum experience serving large OEM customers in renewable energy, automotive, consumer electronics, consumer goods, or industrial manufacturing (solar tracker experience a plus)
• 5+ years of people leadership experience managing engineering teams (direct reports)
• Demonstrated experience delivering concurrent engineering outcomes: DFM/DFMA influence on design releases, supplier capability translation into design requirements, and factory validation
• Other experience with steel fabrication processes (roll forming, stamping, welding, casting, laser cutting, machining, coating/finishing, assembly, automation).
• Experience with additional manufacturing processes is a plus
• Experience leading supplier-facing engineering activities including process readiness, tooling readiness, validation builds, and on-site troubleshooting
• Experience with engineering change management in a PLM system
• Working knowledge of Lean Manufacturing / Six Sigma concepts and structured problem solving (8D, 5-Why, Pareto)
• Strategic mindset with the ability to bring clarity, structure, and actions to ambiguous plans and technical challenges
• Ability to influence others and negotiate solutions during critical, time-sensitive decisions
• Experience working with global, cross-functional, and multicultural teams
• Excellent oral and written communication skills in English, including the ability to organize, conceptually interpret, and clearly communicate material developed collaboratively via the input of multiple parties; translate complexity into actionable direction
• Demonstrated ability to manage large, complex change efforts and drive results through facts and quantitative data, as well as influence, persuasion, and relationship management
• Able to work flexible schedules occasionally to accommodate global work teams
• Travel requirements 50% (international and domestic)

Nice To Haves

• SSGB, PMP, Lean Manufacturing, Journeyman, or other industry certifications
• Direct experience with domestic and offshore Tier 1 and Tier 2 suppliers
• Demonstrated ability to design and deploy new processes and bring rigor to released processes, documentation, and readiness controls

Responsibilities

• Lead Module Frames Manufacturing Engineering team in the launch and ramp up of new equipment at NX suppliers to deliver large scale capacity expansion.
• Lead manufacturing engineering participation in product development from concept through design release, ensuring high-quality manufacturing feasibility input and DFM/DFMA recommendations.
• Partner with suppliers to obtain and incorporate external DFM feedback and capability constraints
• Establish and enforce structured manufacturing engineering inputs to design release gates, including manufacturability, process capability, cost drivers, supplier readiness, and risk closure
• Lead innovation in manufacturing technologies and technical readiness of complex roll forming geometries of steel products.
• Lead planning and execution of prototype builds, supplier trials, and on-site validations; ensure verification of functional intent and key/critical dimensions through appropriate measurement and inspection methods
• Lead technical value engineering and cost-reduction initiatives across module frames by identifying cost drivers and developing engineering solutions (design alternatives, process alternatives, tooling strategy changes, yield improvement, cycle-time reduction).
• Ensure savings validation while maintaining product performance, reliability, safety, and manufacturability; document results and deploy best practices across regions and suppliers
• Drive a culture of disciplined engineering execution, documentation rigor, and continuous improvement
• Build and maintain strong cross-functional alignment with R&D/Design Engineering, Quality, Program Management, and Procurement; ensure manufacturing engineering recommendations are data-driven, timely, and actionable
• Establish technical standards, operating mechanisms, and review cadence to ensure consistent engineering quality and decision-making across regions and suppliers
• Serve as a Manufacturing Engineering leader for engineering changes within Module Frames Business Unit (ECR/DCO/ECO) in the company PLM system; ensure controlled implementation at suppliers, including technical risk assessment, readiness validation, and documentation discipline
• Provide rapid technical escalation leadership when supplier, manufacturing, or field issues negatively impact Nextpower customers; lead structured root-cause and corrective actions (8D, 5-Why, Pareto) and verify effectiveness
• Document best practices across the group and deploy standardized solutions across the supplier base
• Set team priorities and allocate resources across NPI programs, engineering change workload, supplier readiness, and technical escalations to meet schedule, cost, quality, and customer commitments

Benefits

• Innovate with Purpose: Your work directly contributes to accelerating the global shift to renewable energy.
• Global Impact: Collaborate with world-class engineers, suppliers, and partners across continents.
• High-Growth Environment: Be part of a fast-moving, mission-driven team shaping the future of solar technology.
• Empowered Culture: We value bold ideas, authentic collaboration, and a relentless drive for excellence.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Manager