NPI Engineer

Tigo is the worldwide leader in Flex MLPE (Module Level Power Electronics) with innovative solutions that significantly enhance safety, increase energy production, and decrease operating costs of photovoltaic (PV) systems. Tigo’s TS4 platform maximizes the benefit of PV systems and provides customers with the most scalable, versatile, and reliable MLPE solution available.

Tigo was founded in Silicon Valley in 2007 to accelerate the adoption of solar energy worldwide. Tigo systems operate on 7 continents and produce gigawatt hours of reliable, clean, affordable and safe solar energy daily.

We need top-notch individuals with a passion for solving complex problems and bringing renewable energy to the masses. Members of the team enjoy rewarding salaries, excellent benefits, an uninhibited work culture, and the satisfaction of helping to reduce the world’s dependency on fossil fuels. We work hard knowing our results will impact the affordability, reliability, and safety of clean and renewable energy systems.

Job Description

Tigo is looking for an NPI engineer to work on NPI projects from both technical and management perspectives. You will be part of the New Product Introduction & Manufacturing Engineering team, managing the introduction process and manufacturing engineering for Tigo products as part of the NPI Operations team. You will be responsible for driving the transition from design to production for various Tigo products, ensuring readiness for mass production and compliance with product requirements.

Responsibilities

1. Product and Production File Management

   • Build and manage comprehensive product and production files, including Bills of Materials (BOM), product documentation, and technical drawings.
   • Oversee the design of jigs, tools, and fixtures required for manufacturing, ensuring alignment with Design for Excellence (DFX) principles.

2. Cross-Functional Collaboration

   • Act as the operations technical focal point for vendors and manufacturing partners.
   • Collaborate with R&D, engineering, supply chain, quality assurance, and production teams to resolve issues and optimize processes.

3. Supplier Management

   • Manage and control suppliers from a technical perspective throughout the project lifecycle to ensure product quality and on-time delivery.

4. Product Change Management

   • Implement product changes, including Engineering Change Orders (ECOs), Manufacturing Change Orders (MCOs), waivers, and deviations, ensuring seamless integration at the factory.
   • Manage Design of Experiments (DOEs) in the manufacturing environment.

5. Manufacturing Documentation

   • Define, create, and maintain all necessary documentation for accurate product manufacturing, including test procedures and assembly instructions.

6. Production Support and Training

   • Provide ongoing support for production processes and equipment.
   • Train subcontractors and production teams to maintain high standards of quality and efficiency.

Requirements

Must have

• B.Sc in Engineering (Mechanical or Electrical Engineering preferred).
• Proven experience in manufacturing and NPI roles, preferably in a multi-national or high-volume production environment.
• Strong interpersonal communication skills with an ability to build relationships and work across multi-functional organizations.
• 3-5 years of proven experience as an NPI or Manufacturing Engineer.
• Experience in creating production files.
• Ability to lead engineering changes.
• Proficiency in reading and understanding mechanical 2D drawings.
• Knowledge, understanding, and experience in SMT processes.
• Experience in an electro-mechanical manufacturing environment for full products.
• Self-motivated, independent, and problem-solving oriented.
• Attention to details.
• Analytical, problem-solving, and critical thinking skills.
• Ability to drive improvements.
• Willingness to travel to vendor sites in Asia (10% travel).
• Fluent in English.

Preferred

• Proficiency in reading electrical schematics.
• Experience in a mass production environment.
• Understanding of test equipment and fixture designs, with the ability to define statements of work and manage suppliers for test fixture development.
• Knowledge and experience in drafting using 3D software.
• Experience in defining DOEs and drawing appropriate conclusions.
• Leadership skills.