Solar Performance Engineer Jobs in Wakefield, MA

Position Summary

Direct the primary engineering functions at Bigbelly, integrating manufacturing quality, production engineering, and vendor quality management. This leadership position guarantees that our intelligent, solar-powered waste solutions are manufactured with superior quality, high efficiency, and robust scalability. The incumbent will spearhead operational excellence throughout domestic production and our global supply chain, facilitating new product launches and international expansion through a rigorous focus on quality-driven manufacturing methodologies.

Key Responsibilities

Quality Engineering

• Lead the design, development, and implementation of Bigbelly’s Quality Management System, documentation, and continuous improvement initiatives across all functions of the manufacturing process, including incoming inspection, inline quality measures, and final inspection.
• Oversee ISO 9001 and 14001 development and implementation along with other regulatory system implementations and upkeep.
• Oversee root-cause analysis and CAPA programs for production and field issues.
• Collaborate with Design and NPI teams to ensure new products meet manufacturability and reliability requirements.
• Track and report on key quality metrics (first-pass yield, supplier defect rate, field failure rate, warranty claims).
• Drive reliability testing and design-for-manufacturing/quality practices.

Production/Manufacturing Engineering

• Manage the production engineering team responsible for assembly line design, process optimization, and tooling/fixture development.
• Lead continuous improvement and lean manufacturing initiatives to increase throughput, reduce waste, and improve ergonomics and safety.
• Partner with Manufacturing to troubleshoot production issues, optimize build processes, and support on-time delivery targets.
• Support the launch of new products and technologies into full production at the Methuen facility, ensuring readiness for scaling.

Supplier Engineering

• Oversee the supplier quality engineering responsibilities for vendor qualification, performance, and improvement initiatives.
• Manage supplier development programs to enhance quality, delivery, and cost for key mechanical, electrical, and solar component vendors.
• Conduct supplier audits and technical reviews, lead corrective actions and continuous improvement efforts.
• Partner with Supply Chain and Procurement to align vendor capabilities with Bigbelly’s product roadmap and growth plans.
• Support dual-sourcing and supplier diversification strategies to reduce risk and strengthen supply chain resilience.

Leadership & Strategy

• Build and mentor a high-performing, cross-functional engineering team covering quality, production, and supplier engineering.
• Translate strategic objectives into tactical plans that improve quality, cost, delivery, and capacity.
• Collaborate cross-functionally with Product Engineering, Supply Chain, and Operations to achieve corporate performance goals.
• Manage department staffing plans, capital improvement projects, and capital expenditures for MRO materials to support manufacturing goals and quality.
• Foster a culture of accountability, innovation, and sustainability aligned with Bigbelly’s mission.

• Bachelor’s degree in mechanical, industrial, or manufacturing engineering (Master’s preferred).
• 15+ years of experience in manufacturing or operations engineering, including 3–5 years in leadership roles.
• Experience managing vendor/supplier engineering, quality systems, and production process improvement.
• Proven ability to lead teams in a mixed electromechanical production environment (solar systems, electronics, IoT products, or similar).
• Deep understanding of lean manufacturing, Six Sigma, and continuous improvement methodologies.
• Strong data-driven decision-making, problem-solving, and leadership skills.
• Excellent communication and collaboration skills across technical and business teams.
• ERP/MRP experience and familiarity with ISO 9001 or comparable quality standards preferred.