Do you want to be on the cutting edge of the clean energy and climate tech industry? Are you excited about the intersection of renewable energy and the circular economy? We are too. And that’s why we launched SOLARCYCLE, an advanced technology-based recycling company.
The solar industry needs a global end-of-life partner to restore, renew, and ultimately recycle yesterday’s solar panels for tomorrow’s clean energy projects. SOLARCYCLE aims to be the partner of choice for solar asset owners looking for a responsible solution to their end-of-life system needs.
The Sr. Equipment & Controls Engineer is a senior individual contributor and technical leader responsible for driving complex engineering initiatives across manufacturing operations. This role provides deep technical expertise, leads cross-functional problem solving, mentors junior engineers, and influences manufacturing strategy, process optimization, and product quality without direct people management responsibilities.
The Sr. Equipment & Controls Engineer plays a critical role in improving safety, quality, delivery, and cost (SQDC) while supporting new product introductions and continuous improvement initiatives.
- Act as a subject matter expert (SME) for manufacturing processes, materials, equipment, and production systems
- Disassemble and reassemble proprietary industrial equipment to enable uptime and optimization of recycling toolsets
- Lead analysis and resolution of complex technical problems affecting quality, yield, reliability, or throughput.
- Review and approve engineering designs, process changes, and capital projects for manufacturability and scalability.
- Develop and maintain engineering standards, specifications, and best practices.
- Drive continuous improvement using Lean, Six Sigma, Kaizen, and statistical process control (SPC) methodologies.
- Optimize manufacturing processes to improve efficiency, reduce scrap, cycle time, and cost.
- Support root cause analysis (RCA), corrective and preventive actions (CAPA), and deviation management.
- Collaborate with maintenance, quality, and operations personnel to improve & sustain equipment reliability and uptime.
- Provide technical leadership for new equipment introductions, transfers, and scale-up activities.
- Partner with R&D and Product Engineering to ensure robust design-for-manufacturing (DFM/DFA).
- Lead process validation, PFMEA, control plan development, and pilot builds.
- Manage engineering changes and ensure smooth implementation into production.
- Serve as a technical liaison between Engineering, Quality, Operations, Supply Chain, and other departments
- Support supplier development, qualification, and technical issue resolution.
- Communicate complex technical concepts clearly to both technical and non-technical stakeholders.
- Mentor and coach engineers and technicians across the organization.
- Lead technical training sessions and knowledge-sharing initiatives.
- Contribute to succession planning and development of engineering talent.
Required Qualifications
- Bachelor’s degree in Mechanical, Manufacturing, Industrial, Electrical, or related Engineering discipline
(Master’s degree preferred)
- 8–12+ years of progressive engineering experience in a manufacturing environment
- Demonstrated expertise in manufacturing processes and industrial engineering principles
- Proven ability to lead complex technical projects without formal authority
- Strong analytical, problem-solving, and data-driven decision-making skills
- Experience with Lean Manufacturing, Six Sigma, or similar methodologies
- Experience in regulated or high-reliability manufacturing (automotive, aerospace, medical, electronics, etc.)
- Familiarity with CAD systems (e.g., SolidWorks, AutoCAD), ERP/MRP systems, and manufacturing execution systems (MES) including Computerized Maintenance Management Systems (CMMS)
- Strong understanding of PFMEA, DFMEA, GD&T, SPC, and quality systems
- Ability to influence at all organizational levels, including leadership
- Excellent written and verbal communication skills
- Technical mastery and sound engineering judgment
- Systems thinking and end-to-end process ownership
- Strong proficiency with computers, typing, and Microsoft Software Products including Outlook, Excel, PowerPoint, and SharePoint
- Operational excellence and continuous improvement mindset
- Collaboration, influence, and mentoring ability
- Bias for action and accountability
- Safety and quality-first mentality
- Military experience is a plus
- Controls/Automation Engineering experience is a plus
You don’t meet every single requirement? Studies have shown that people are less likely to apply to jobs unless they meet every single qualification. If you think this role is for you but your past experience doesn’t align perfectly with every qualification in the job description, we encourage you to apply anyways. You may be just the right person for this role.
You will be working alongside a highly successful team who deliver amazing innovative work in the solar PV industry!
Solar power is one of the most powerful tools humanity has in our fight against climate change. But for solar to truly scale to its full potential, we need to create renewable supply chains and a vibrant secondary market for upcycled panels and recycled materials. Since its launch in 2022, SOLARCYCLE has assembled a world-class management team with experience scaling companies and organizations such as Amazon, Nextracker, Sierra Club, Solaria, and SunPower. The company has secured high-volume contracts with industry leaders such as AES, EDF Renewables North America, EDP Renewables North America, Greenbacker, Ørsted, Qcells, Silfab, Silicon Ranch, and Sunrun. This is the next frontier - ensuring a cleaner, more sustainable and domestic supply of the critical minerals needed for the next wave of solar. We exist to make clean energy massively scalable and even more sustainable by radically advancing recycling technology and infrastructure for the solar industry. If this resonates with you, we really want to meet you.
