Senior Engineer, Ingot & Wafer and Contract Manufacturing

COMPANY DESCRIPTION REC Group is an international pioneering solar energy company dedicated to empowering consumers with clean, affordable solar power through high-quality solar panels with a leading power density. As Solar's Most Trusted, REC is known for its patented innovations and multiple award-winning products with reliable long-term performance. The cornerstone for REC's strong reliability is advanced and highly efficient manufacturing using Industry 4.0 practices. Founded in 1996 in Norway, REC has always been committed to a low carbon footprint in its solar materials and panels. REC is headquartered in Norway with operational headquarters in Singapore and regional hubs in North America, Europe, and Asia-Pacific. As of December 2021, REC is part of Reliance Industries Limited, India's largest private sector company with revenues of USD 104.6 billion. Find out more at recgroup.com RESPONSIBILITIES We are looking for a Ingot & Wafer (IW) cum Contract Manufacturing Engineer with good ethics and strong passion to take on proactive roles of qualifying and managing external suppliers to achieve company's strategic directions and key yearly goals for ingot and wafer factory. This position requires good analytical and interpersonal skills to work with external suppliers to achieve continuous improvements in IW cost, yield and cell efficiency by implementing best known methods. Selected candidates will work closely with the Process/Integration/QA and Planning team to define all the necessary process and Quality Control procedures to meet product functional and reliability requirements. Frequent travelling to India HQ and ability/willingness to travel at short notices will be a pre-requisite in view of the job nature and requirement. ESSENTIAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES: Safety • Engineer must adhere to all the HSE principles and WI during the work. Quality • Remember all WI, SOP, and Quality Policy. Work with related internal departments (such as Production, Equipment, Quality, Technology) and external suppliers to resolve wafer/cells/modules quality issues and implement required decisions made by internal management at the external supplier sites. • Ensure no quality issues during qualification/certification and proper change management implementation phase. Delivery • Possess excellent project management skills by establishing schedules, coordinating with required resources both within the organization or external suppliers, projecting cost of qualifications/certification projects and risks identification to implement and execute the required projects. • Responsible to generate bill of materials (BOMs) and Design/Engineering change, product transfer to internal/external lines and lead in DFMEA/PFMEA for product change. • Ability to create and maintain excellent internal/external customer supplier relationship through excellent interpersonal and communication skills. • The Key Performance indicators are the results and prompt project schedule control. Cost • Initiate and lead cost-reduction projects relating to cost reduction. • These types of projects will relate to man, method, machine, and materials. • In cases where projects are not initiated, participation towards such project will also be required. • Assessment on external suppliers for IW and external wafer as potential cost driver as alternative/new material as well as supply risk mitigation. Continuous Improvement • Initiate and lead projects relating to IW cost reduction, IW production yield, cell efficiency and module power improvement activities. • To run and execute projects base on RPDM process flow. • Engineer will have the chance to research on new processes and materials at the suppliers' site to be implemented into our internal production environment. Others • Perform other duties as assigned. Duties will vary according to the degree of difficulties and involvement of the specific targets set in the department. • Develop and maintain proper job methods, work instructions and change management. • Regular reporting of project status. • Lead trouble-shooting and root cause analysis efforts to resolve issues. ESSENTIAL JOB COMPETENCIES: Technical • Strong technical knowledge in solar ingot growth, wafer manufacturing, and wafer-related process development. • Familiarity with new material evaluation, qualification, and R&D activities for photovoltaic applications. • Good understanding of process parameters, material behavior, product performance, and manufacturing requirements across upstream and downstream operations. • Able to work in a fast-paced environment with good adaptability and professional judgment. • Proficient in engineering data analysis, statistical interpretation, and technical assessment to support development and process improvement. Analytical & Problem Solving • Strong analytical capability to identify technical gaps, interpret data trends, and solve process or material related issues effectively. • Able to perform root cause analysis, evaluate risk, and develop practical corrective and preventive actions. • Capable of translating complex engineering data into clear conclusions and actionable recommendations. Soft Skills & Professional Attributes • Good communication and collaboration skills to work effectively with cross-functional teams, suppliers, and stakeholders. • Proactive, detail-oriented, and results-driven, with a strong sense of ownership and accountability. • Able to work in a fast-paced environment with good adaptability and professional judgment. Leadership • Able to provide technical guidance and influence decision-making in material development, qualification, and process improvement activities. • Demonstrates initiative in driving problem resolution, cross-functional alignment, and continuous improvement. • Capable of supporting team development through knowledge sharing and technical mentoring. Project Management • Experience in managing technical projects related to material qualification, process development, plant ramp-up, or cost reduction initiatives. • Able to coordinate timelines, resources, deliverables, and stakeholder communication to ensure effective project execution. • Strong ability to prioritize tasks, track progress, and deliver outcomes within schedule and business objectives. ADDITIONAL RESPONSIBILITIES: • Perform other duties as assigned. Duties will vary according to the degree of difficulties and involvement of the specific targets set in the department. • Develop and maintain proper job methods, work instructions and change management. • Regular reporting of project status. • Lead troubleshooting and root cause analysis efforts to resolve issues. QUALIFICATIONS Technical / Professional: • Degree in Electrical/Electronics/Mechanical/ Materials Engineering. Technological: • Working experience in Solar/Semiconductors/Electronics manufacturing industries will be an advantage. • Knowledge in Semiconductor/Ingot & Wafer, Solar cell and module processes • Knowledge in FMEA, DFMEA, DOE, Fish-Bone Analysis • Strong technical analysis competency with the use of analytical tools like JMP, Mini-Tab for troubleshooting and data mining. General: • Suitable to work in cleanroom, outdoor testing, and wafer slicing/manufacturing environments. • Able to adapt to different working conditions and support hands-on technical activities. Able to carry cell/wafer for testing. ( • Familiar with safety, discipline, and operational requirements in both lab and production settings. • Ability to work under stress in a fast-paced environment with self-motivation. People/Relations: • Dynamic & committed with proactive working attitude. • Ability to initiate without being asked. • Challenging spirit to improve current conditions. • Highly effective personal skills - communication and organization. • Good Team player. People Management: • Able to work effectively with cross-functional teams across R&D, engineering, production, and quality. • Capable of guiding team members, coordinating tasks, and supporting timely issue resolution. • Demonstrates good communication, teamwork, and accountability. Project Management: • Able to manage technical projects related to material evaluation, process development, and cost improvement. • Capable of coordinating timeline, resources, and deliverables to ensure smooth execution. • Able to identify risks, track progress, and drive project completion. Additional Advantageous Skills: • Ability to perform software simulations using SPICE or MATLAB. • Electrical characterization and physical characterization/ Failure Analysis tools for systematic troubleshooting and improvement. • Characterization tools/technique competency preferred include: IQE tester, Spectrophotometer, Ellipsometer, Semilab WT-2000, Sinton WCT-1200, Corescan, Photoluminescence Technique and Electroluminescence Technique. Please note that your application will be sent to and reviewed by the direct employer - REC Group