Senior Operational Excellence Specialist
Silfab Solar
Company Overview
Silfab Solar
Fort Mill, SC, United States
2010
Approximately 800 employees and estimated revenue of $217.3 million in 2023 (source: zoominfo.com).
What They Do
Silfab Solar focuses exclusively on photovoltaic module design, development, and manufacturing, producing high-efficiency solar panels tailored for North American conditions. The company utilizes advanced technologies such as TOPCon cells at its South Carolina plant and integrates proprietary SABC methods via recent patent acquisitions to enhance electrical performance (source: cbinsights.com). Its product lineup includes the premium Silfab Elite Series modules, which have received an "Excellent" rating on EnergySage.com and were recognized as a 2024 Kiwa PVEL Top Performer, emphasizing maximum power density, reliability, and compliance with Buy American standards for various applications (source: silfabsolar.com). The company targets installers, distributors, and businesses across North America, delivering modules from automated lines that prioritize domestic content to meet regional demand and policy incentives (source: cbinsights.com). Silfab differentiates itself through its leadership in premium-quality PV modules, operational experience as the largest private U.S. manufacturer, and rapid technology integration, positioning it ahead of competitors reliant on imports (source: silfabsolar.com).
Projects & Track Record
While specific completed project names and capacities are not detailed in available records, Silfab Solar supplies modules for utility-scale and community solar developments. Notably, the company has partnered with Pivot Energy for next-generation U.S.-made panels and has a supply agreement with Nexamp, one of the largest U.S. community solar developers, announced on December 17, 2024 (source: zoominfo.com). Ongoing expansions include scaling the Fort Mill, South Carolina cell manufacturing facility to operational status by late 2024, with a capacity of 1 GW for cells and 1.3 GW for modules, supported by recent financing (source: silfabsolar.com). Key clients encompass Pivot Energy and Nexamp, with partnerships involving technology providers like EnPV for patent acquisitions enabling SABC integration (source: cbinsights.com). Geographically, Silfab maintains a strong North American footprint across Canada and the U.S., with expansions focused on reshoring production to meet domestic demand (source: silfabsolar.com).
Recent Developments
In the last two years, Silfab Solar closed a $100 million financing round on November 21, 2024, which included $50 million in equity led by ARC Financial Corp. and a $50 million senior secured Green Loan to scale its Fort Mill cell plant, bringing total funding to $230 million (source: silfabsolar.com). The company also announced supply agreements with Pivot Energy and Nexamp in 2024 for U.S.-made panels targeting community solar projects (source: zoominfo.com). Additionally, Silfab acquired patents and trademarks from EnPV, including a solar module patent granted on December 12, 2023, to advance SABC technology for the Elite Series (source: cbinsights.com). Milestones include achieving 2024 Kiwa PVEL Top Performer status and ramping up U.S. facilities, with no reported mergers or additional acquisitions beyond intellectual property deals (source: silfabsolar.com).
Working There
Silfab Solar employs around 800 people across various functions, including manufacturing, engineering, and support roles. The leadership team includes President and CEO Paolo Maccario, along with a CFO and COO, indicating a structured approach to production operations, cell and module fabrication, automation, innovation/R&D, finance, sales, and customer support (source: zoominfo.com). Hiring is currently active at U.S. sites, particularly in Fort Mill, South Carolina, and Burlington, Washington, to support capacity growth and create American jobs, as emphasized in recent financing announcements (source: silfabsolar.com). The company culture promotes a safe and equitable workplace, respect for partners and communities, ethical standards, and employee-driven innovation, with all facilities featuring automated lines and a focus on local partnerships (source: silfabsolar.com). While specific benefits are not publicly detailed, the expansion plans highlight job creation and a mission to reduce carbon emissions through manufacturing, suggesting competitive packages aligned with industry norms in renewable energy (source: silfabsolar.com).
Last updated on Feb 23, 2026 | Report an issue
Job Description
We are seeking a results-driven Senior Operational Excellence Specialist to lead and drive continuous improvement initiatives within our manufacturing plant. This role will focus on improving operational performance through Lean Manufacturing, Continuous Improvement (CI), safety enhancement, quality improvement, machine/process optimization, cycle time reduction, productivity improvement, and cost-saving initiatives. The ideal candidate will play a key role in fostering a culture of operational excellence and continuous improvement across the plant while collaborating cross-functionally with production, maintenance, quality, engineering, and safety teams.
Essential Duties and Responsibilities
- Lead and execute Continuous Improvement (CI) initiatives across the manufacturing plant.
- Identify opportunities to improve operational efficiency, productivity, throughput, and overall equipment effectiveness (OEE).
- Drive Lean Manufacturing and Six Sigma methodologies to eliminate waste and improve process stability.
- Facilitate Kaizen events, root cause analysis, and problem-solving workshops.
- Support cultural transformation toward operational excellence and continuous improvement mindset.
- Promote and support a strong safety culture by identifying and implementing safety improvements.
- Collaborate with EHS and Quality teams to reduce incidents, defects, rework, and process variation.
- Participate in investigations and corrective/preventive actions (CAPA).
- Ensure improvement initiatives align with plant quality and compliance standards.
- Analyze manufacturing processes and equipment performance to identify bottlenecks and inefficiencies.
- Partner with Maintenance and Engineering teams on machine-related improvements and reliability initiatives.
- Support cycle time reduction and process standardization projects.
- Monitor KPIs and operational metrics to drive data-based decisions.
- Lead cost reduction initiatives through waste elimination, process optimization, and productivity enhancement.
- Develop and track measurable savings from operational excellence initiatives.
- Improve labor efficiency, material utilization, and production flow.
- Participate in and support Lean Six Sigma training programs.
- Mentor and coach plant employees on CI tools and methodologies.
- Assist in developing standard work, visual management, and operational procedures.
- Support employee engagement and cultural change initiatives.
- Utilize data analytics and reporting tools to identify trends and opportunities.
- Develop dashboards and performance reports using Power BI or similar tools.
- Explore opportunities to leverage AI and digital technologies to improve operational performance and decision-making.
Qualifications
Skills
- Strong analytical and problem-solving skills.
- Excellent communication and stakeholder management abilities.
- Ability to influence cross-functional teams and drive change.
- Strong project management and organizational skills.
- Self-motivated with a hands-on approach to operational improvement.
Education and Experience
Required
- Bachelor's degree in engineering, Manufacturing, Operations Management, Industrial Engineering, or related field required.
- Minimum 4+ years of experience in manufacturing, operational excellence, continuous improvement, or industrial engineering roles.
- Proven experience leading CI, Lean, or Six Sigma initiatives in a manufacturing environment.
- Lean Six Sigma Green Belt required.
- Strong knowledge of Lean Manufacturing, Six Sigma, Kaizen, 5S, VSM, Root Cause Analysis, and TPM.
- Experience with manufacturing KPIs, OEE, cycle time analysis, and productivity improvement.
- Proficiency in Microsoft Office Suite.
Preferred
- Master's degree preferred.
- Black Belt preferred.
- Power BI expertise preferred.
- Knowledge or experience with AI-driven analytics/tools is a strong plus.
Compensation and Benefits
- Competitive wages
- Paid Time Off (vacation, sick, and holiday)
- 401(k) Retirement Plan
- Medical/Dental/Vision Insurance Plans
- Health Savings Account option
- Supplemental/Voluntary Insurance Plans
- Employee Assistance Program
- Tuition Reimbursement Program
- Employee Recognition Programs
- Employee PV Panel Purchase Program
Apply now
Job expired?Please let Silfab Solar know you found this job on Rejobs. It helps us grow and get more people working in renewable energy.
Apply now
Job expired?Please let Silfab Solar know you found this job on Rejobs. It helps us grow and get more people working in renewable energy.
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About the role
May 20, 2026
Full time
Company
- Fort Mill, South Carolina, United States
Minimum 4+ years in manufacturing or operational excellence roles
UTC-05:00
