Job Description:
Job Summary:
At Nextpower, we are accelerating the world’s transition to renewable energy through intelligent solar tracking and breakthrough engineering. As a Manufacturing Engineer – Torque Tubes, you will drive concurrent engineering (DFM/DFMA), supplier process readiness, industrialization, and engineering change implementation for steel torque tubes and their connection features across Nextpower’s global supply base.
This role leads the development and deployment of robust tube manufacturing processes, from coil preparation and tube forming through welding, sizing, cutting, end forming, hole making, and corrosion protection, as applicable. You will partner with R&D/Design Engineering, Quality, Program Management, and Procurement to deliver manufacturable, scalable, and cost-effective products that meet structural, dimensional, assembly, and customer requirements.
Responsibilities:
· Support the launch, commissioning, and ramp-up of torque tube manufacturing lines at domestic and international supplier locations; verify safe operation, throughput, yield, and sustained process capability.
· Participate in product development from concept through design release. Provide DFM/DFMA input on tube profiles, wall thickness, material grades, seam location, end connections, hole patterns, tolerances, and coating requirements; incorporate supplier capability feedback.
· Review drawings, specifications, GD&T, and design revisions. Identify risks to tube straightness, twist, cross-sectional geometry, weld integrity, connection fit, and assembly alignment; recommend solutions before design release.
· Lead process development for coil handling and slitting, roll forming, longitudinal seam welding, sizing and straightening, cut-to-length, end forming or swaging, punching or drilling, and coating or weld-seam protection, as applicable to the product and supplier process.
· Plan prototype builds, supplier trials, and production validations. Verify critical dimensions, weld quality, end-connection fit, and coating integrity; coordinate mechanical and torsional validation with Design Engineering and Quality.
· Lead value engineering and cost reduction across torque tube products. Optimize material utilization, strip width, tooling, line speed, changeover, yield, and scrap while maintaining structural performance, corrosion resistance, safety, and manufacturability.
· Define manufacturing readiness deliverables: process flows, PFMEAs, control plans, work instructions, inspection and test methods, material traceability, packaging standards, and ramp-readiness criteria, in partnership with Quality and suppliers.
· Conduct supplier readiness audits and capacity studies. Assess tube mill capability, welding controls, tooling condition, preventive maintenance, bottlenecks, and staffing; drive corrective actions and verify readiness for production volumes.
· Deploy standardized process controls, in-line inspection, error proofing, automation, and Lean practices. Use OEE, yield, scrap, downtime, and capability data to prioritize improvements across suppliers.
· Define technical requirements for tube mills, weld systems, cutting and end-forming equipment, gauges, and handling systems. Develop factory and site acceptance tests (FAT/SAT); support equipment installation, commissioning, and training.
· Serve as a Manufacturing Engineering reviewer/approver for engineering changes (ECR/DCO/ECO) in the company PLM system. Validate supplier implementation, tooling and process updates, traceability, and inventory transition.
· Provide rapid technical escalation support for supplier, manufacturing, and field issues. Lead structured root-cause analysis and corrective action for weld defects, dimensional variation, forming cracks, coating damage, and connection issues; verify effectiveness.
· Document and deploy best practices for tube mill setup, tooling, welding…