Vice President of Operations Engineering

Job Description:

VP, Operations Engineering

Nextpower

Role Mission

Lead Nextpower's transformation from a portfolio of rapidly expanding technologies and acquired businesses into a scalable, integrated, and globally competitive product platform.

Distinctly focused on 1) New Product Introduction (NPI) and the product industrialization and engineering readiness of those new products for high volume manufacturing and 2) Operations Engineering to drive process capacity (CpK) that enable quality, cost, and cycle time goals.  This role will continuously innovate and evolve the processes, systems, supplier strategies, and cross-functional operating model required to move products rapidly from concept through and into high volume commercial production with a high process capability and low defect rate.

Key Responsibilities

New Product Introduction & Industrialization

• Own the NPI process from R&D (Product Engineering) handoff to the Supply Chain volume capable handoff, while partnering with Products Engineering, Supply Chain, Sales, and other functional groups for continuous improvement throughout the entire product development and go-to-market process.
• Continuously improve the stage-gate NPI process, design reviews, configuration management, change control, and launch-readiness product introductions.
• Own and Drive Design for Manufacturing, Assembly, Cost, Quality, Service, and Supply Chain (DFx) into product development.
• Partner with Products, Manufacturing, Quality, and Supply Chain to ensure products are commercially scalable with an effective blend of quality, cost, and functionality —not simply technically complete.
• Establish launch metrics and accountability for schedule, cost, quality, yield, reliability, and supply readiness.

Operations Engineering

• Drive ongoing quality, process capability (CpK), and cost goals within the internal and supplier factories with direct engagement on supplier quality, means and methods, process and value engineering, should-cost analysis, and design-to-cost initiatives.
• Establish critical node control points and data acquisition (EDI/API) and establish and maintain a Statistical Process Control (SPC) monitoring and control program.
• Integrate supplier strategy into product development and NPI from the earliest design stages.
• Innovate and streamline NPI transitions to Supply Chain for the following aspects:  Strategic sourcing, supplier qualification, dual-sourcing, localization, capacity planning, and supply-risk mitigation strategies for critical components.
• Partner with Supply Chain and Operations to establish financially effective cost, availability, lead time, quality, and geopolitical requirements as product-design inputs.
• Establish and ensure supplier tooling, capacity, quality, and production readiness are aligned with product launch requirements.

Organization & Leadership

• Build a high-performing, cross-functional Ops Engineering organization capable of rapidly ramping and commercializing new products (NPI) and driving operational engineering improvements that improve process CpK, quality, cost, and cycle time
• Develop engineering talent, processes, and organizational capabilities required to support Nextpower's growth.
• Develop a seamless connectivity between Products Innovation and Supply Chain high volume processes.
• Foster a highly accountable, high ownership, biased-for-action organization that thrives on delighting our Customers by partnering with them to deliver high quality, on-time new products.

Measures of Success

• Reduced concept-to-commercial and volume-launch cycle time
• Improved on-time NPI and production launches
• Improved first-pass qualification, production yield, reliability, and field performance
• Reduced cost and engineering changes following production release
• Increased process Capability (CpK) within factories
• Increased supplier readiness and qualified/dual-source coverage
• Improved product cost, lead time, and supply availability
• Increased component commonality and platform reuse
• Successful integration of acquired technologies and organizations
• Increased domestic/localized supply capability where strategically advantageous
• Establishment of a scalable engineering operating model capable of supporting Nextpower's growth

Leadership Profile

• Proven executive leadership in NPI, product industrialization, engineering, manufacturing, and/or supply chain within complex hardware businesses.
• Experience taking products from development through qualification, production ramp, and commercial scale.
• Strong understanding of mechanical, electrical, power electronics, controls, software, manufacturing, and supplier ecosystems.
• Demonstrated success integrating acquisitions, technologies, suppliers, and organizations.
• Strong commercial orientation with experience managing cost, quality, schedule, capacity, and supply risk.
• Ability to operate strategically while driving detailed execution across multiple product lines and business units.
• Experience building organizations and operating processes in a high-growth environment.

At Nextpower, we are driving the global energy transition with an integrated clean energy technology platform that combines intelligent structural, electrical, and digital solutions for utility-scale power plants. Our comprehensive portfolio enables faster project delivery, higher performance, and greater reliability, helping our customers capture the full value of solar power. Our talented worldwide teams are redefining how solar power plants are designed, built, and operated every day with smart technology, data-driven insights, and advanced automation. Together, we’re building the foundation for the world’s next generation of clean energy infrastructure.

Nextpower is an equal opportunity employer. We celebrate diversity and are committed to creating an inclusive environment for all employees.

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