Supplier Quality Engineer Principal

In the heart of Central Ohio, Illuminate USA is transforming solar panel manufacturing from our cutting-edge facility in Pataskala. As a new standalone joint venture established by two global leaders in renewable energy, we’ve rapidly grown to over 1,500 associates and are now fully operational in our 1.1 million-square-foot factory. Our vision is to establish one of the largest solar panel manufacturing operations in the Western Hemisphere

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This is an exciting time to join Illuminate USA as we continue to grow and innovate. We’re not just building solar panels—we’re building a team of dedicated, passionate associates eager to make a real impact. If you’re looking to be part of a collaborative, people-focused, and forward-thinking workplace, we want to hear from you! 
 
We offer competitive pay, comprehensive benefits, and continuous opportunities for career growth. Come join us on this journey to create a brighter, more sustainable future in the Columbus area.  
 

The Principal SQE Engineer is a senior technical position within Supplier Quality Management, responsible for supplier quality engineering activities related to photovoltaic materials, components, and manufacturing processes. 

This role requires close collaboration with Global Supply Chain, Procurement, Engineering, Manufacturing, R&D, and supplier teams to ensure suppliers have stable manufacturing capability, robust process control, high product quality, and long-term reliability. 

The ideal candidate should possess strong knowledge of photovoltaic cell manufacturing processes, advanced quality engineering methodologies, supplier quality management expertise, and experience in high-volume manufacturing environments.

Key Responsibilities 

1. Strategic Supplier Quality Management 

• Own supplier quality performance for assigned strategic suppliers and critical materials.  

• Lead supplier qualification, supplier onboarding, and supplier capability assessment activities.  

• Evaluate supplier manufacturing capability, quality systems, process controls, and production readiness.  

• Develop supplier quality improvement strategies and drive continuous improvement initiatives.  

• Establish technical partnerships with suppliers and serve as the primary quality technical interface.  

• Monitor supplier quality performance through data analysis and drive improvement actions.  

2. Supplier Audit & Quality System Management 

• Plan and execute supplier audits, including:  Quality Management System Audits, Manufacturing Process Audits, Product Audits, Special Process Audits.  

• Evaluate supplier compliance with company quality requirements and industry standards.  

• Assess supplier quality systems, manufacturing controls, inspection methods, and process capability.  

• Identify supplier quality risks and develop risk mitigation plans.  

• Drive supplier corrective actions and verify improvement effectiveness.  

3. New Supplier Introduction & Advanced Quality Planning 

• Lead supplier quality activities during New Product Introduction (NPI), material qualification, and production ramp-up phases.  

• Review and approve supplier quality documentation, including:  APQP (Advanced Product Quality Planning), PPAP (Production Part Approval Process), Process Flow Diagram, PFMEA / DFMEA, Control Plan, Inspection Standards and Work Instructions. 

• Evaluate supplier production readiness.  

• Ensure suppliers establish robust and stable process control systems before mass production.  

4. Advanced Quality Engineering & Problem Solving 

• Lead analysis, improvement, and closure of complex supplier quality issues.  

• Apply structured problem-solving methodologies:  8D Problem Solving, Root Cause Analysis (RCA), 5 Why Analysis, Fishbone Analysis, CAPA (Corrective and Preventive Action).  

• Apply statistical quality tools to improve supplier process capability:  SPC (Statistical Process Control), MSA (Measurement System Analysis), GR&R (Gauge Repeatability & Reproducibility), DOE (Design of Experiments), Cp/Cpk Process Capability Analysis.  

• Ensure corrective actions are effective, sustainable, and prevent recurrence.  

5. Photovoltaic Cell Manufacturing Process Expertise 

• Possess deep technical knowledge and practical experience in photovoltaic cell manufacturing processes.  

• Understand key solar cell manufacturing processes.  

• Familiar with advanced photovoltaic cell technologies, including: PERC, TOPCon  

• Ability to identify quality risks associated with photovoltaic manufacturing processes, materials, and equipment.  

6. Manufacturing Process Improvement & Supplier Development 

• Work with suppliers to improve Manufacturing process capability, Product yield, Defect reduction, Process stability, Product reliability.  

• Analyze supplier manufacturing data and identify improvement opportunities.  

• Drive data-driven quality decisions through statistical analysis.  

• Support process optimization and engineering improvement projects.  

• Promote best practices across supplier organizations.  

7. Supplier Change Management & Quality Risk Control 

• Review and evaluate supplier changes, including:  Material changes, Process changes, Equipment changes, Manufacturing location changes and/or Sub-supplier changes.  

• Conduct quality risk assessments and develop mitigation plans.  

• Ensure changes are properly validated and approved before implementation.  

• Support engineering change management processes.  

Minimum Qualifications 

Education Requirements 

• Master’s degree or above in Engineering or related technical fields is required.  

• Preferred majors include: Materials Science and Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, Semiconductor Engineering, Photovoltaic Technology or other related engineering disciplines.  

Professional Experience 

• 5+ years of experience in Supplier Quality Engineering (SQE) or related quality engineering roles.  

• Experience in high-volume manufacturing environments.  

• Proven experience in supplier development, supplier audits, and quality improvement activities.  

• Global supplier management and international manufacturing project experience preferred.  

• Experience in photovoltaic manufacturing or semiconductor manufacturing preferred. 

At Illuminate USA, we are committed to fostering an inclusive and diverse workplace. We proudly embrace equal opportunity for all, ensuring that all qualified applicants are considered for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by law. Your unique background and experiences are valued here, as we believe they strengthen our team and drive our mission forward.