Quality Control Supervisor

At Canadian Solar, our vision is to make lives better by bringing electricity powered by the sun to millions of people worldwide. As a leading manufacturer of solar panels, inverters, and energy storage solutions, we've been an industry front-runner since our founding in 2001. Our commitment to sustainability is reflected in all parts of our organization as we navigate the complexities of a booming industry.

Throughout Canadian Solar's subsidiaries, e-Storage, Recurrent Energy, MSS and CSI Solar Co., we invest in our employees' growth. Our training programs and promotional opportunities ensure we all can continue to learn. We understand the importance of work-life balance and provide various flexible work options to support our employees' well-being. Join our team to "Make the Difference" by creating a lasting positive impact on the world and the communities where we operate.

Job Description

The Quality Control Supervisor is responsible for overseeing daily quality assurance and control activities throughout the solar cell manufacturing process. This role ensures that solar cells meet strict industry standards, customer specifications, and regulatory requirements. The supervisor leads a team of quality control technicians and inspectors, implements testing protocols, identifies defects, and collaborates with production, engineering, and facilities teams to resolve quality issues. The ultimate goal is to minimize production waste, improve product reliability, and maintain the company's reputation for high-performance solar cells.

Responsibilities

• Manage daily workflows of the quality control team, including supervision, training, inspection scheduling, and task prioritization.
• Oversee in-process quality control and final outgoing quality inspections of solar cells at critical manufacturing stages.
• Ensure products meet customer requirements and comply with testing protocols, performance parameters (e.g., efficiency, Voc), and quality acceptance criteria.
• Investigate recurring defects using available measuring instruments (e.g., EL/PL imagers, IV curve tracers, microscopy).
• Collaborate with production and engineering teams to implement corrective actions and track their effectiveness.
• Conduct internal audits to ensure compliance with SOPs, regulatory standards, and customer requirements.
• Prepare documentation for external audits and address non-conformities.
• Drive initiatives to improve product quality and reduce scrap rates.
• Develop, review, and update Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) and Training Manuals for quality control activities enhancement (e.g., inspection protocols, testing methods, defect reporting) and to ensure alignment with industry standards, regulatory requirements, and internal quality objectives.
• Establish and maintain quality weekly/daily reports and quality data systems.
• Understand and adhere to the company's quality and environmental policies, as well as relevant environmental factors and management programs.
• Perform other duties assigned by the Quality Manager to support the organization's overall quality objectives.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Engineering (e.g., Electrical, Mechanical, Materials Science), Quality Management, or a related field, preferred.
• Minimum 3 years of experience in quality department within a manufacturing environment, preferably in solar cell fabrication, semiconductor manufacturing, or renewable energy industries.
• 5-8 years of prior supervisory experience and proven people leadership managing teams of 3+ employees.
• Understanding of ISO 9001:2015 standards and experience in ISO audits (internal and external); ability to conduct internal audits.
• Strong analytical skills with the ability to interpret quality data and drive data-based decisions.
• Knowledge of statistical process control (SPC), root cause analysis (RCA) tools (e.g., 5 Whys, Fishbone Diagrams), and data analysis software (Excel, Minitab).
• Strong sense of accountability, problem-solving acumen, and attention to detail.
• Excellent communication and interpersonal skills, with the ability to collaborate across departments.
• Proficiency in quality documentation (e.g., SOPs, audit reports) and report writing; experience developing training materials for technical or quality processes.
• Ability to work in a fast-paced environment and manage multiple priorities.
• Skilled in common office software (e.g., MS Excel for data analysis, Word for documentation).

Working Conditions

• Primarily works in a manufacturing facility, including cleanroom or controlled-environment production areas.
• Exposure to low levels of chemicals or equipment noise may occur; personal protective equipment (PPE) is provided.
• May require occasional overtime to support production deadlines, urgent quality issue resolution, audit preparations or urgent tasks.