Engineer, Application & Supplier Quality

The Application & Supplier Quality Engineer serves as a technical bridge between Ascent Solar's customers, Sales, Engineering, Manufacturing, Finance and suppliers.

Approximately 70% of the role will focus on application engineering, translating customer requirements into technically sound, manufacturable solutions through product design and development. The remaining 30% will focus on supplier quality and supply-chain resilience, including supplier management, alternative source qualification, supplier redundancy, lead-time management and minimum order quantities.

The ideal candidate is a highly technical, detail-oriented engineer with strong SolidWorks/CAD experience who can effectively translate between customers, Sales, engineers, technicians and suppliers. This role will help Ascent Solar turn customer requirements into viable products while strengthening the reliability and resiliency of the supply chain.

Application Engineering & Product Development

• Partner with Sales and customers to understand technical requirements, application needs and performance objectives.

• Translate customer requirements into engineering concepts, specifications, drawings and design recommendations.

• Develop, modify and maintain 3D models, assemblies, drawings and other engineering documentation using SolidWorks and related CAD tools.

• Collaborate with Engineering, Manufacturing and Finance to evaluate design constraints, production requirements, costs and opportunities for design optimization.

• Support development of engineering documentation, specifications, bills of materials and other product definition materials.

• Assist in resolving technical issues that arise during product development, prototyping and production.

• Ensure customer-driven design changes are accurately documented, communicated and incorporated into applicable processes and documentation.

• Other duties as assigned.

 Supplier Quality & Development

• Manage and maintain strong working relationships with existing suppliers of critical materials, components and services including monitoring supplier quality, delivery, lead times, responsiveness to questions and issues and overall reliability.

• Identify supply-chain vulnerabilities and develop strategies to reduce single-source and supplier-concentration risk by identifying and evaluating alternative suppliers capable of meeting Ascent Solar's technical, quality, cost and delivery requirements.

• Support supplier qualification (including new materials), onboarding and technical evaluation activities Including root-cause analysis and corrective action activities related to supplier performance.

• Partner with Accounting, Engineering, Manufacturing and Leadership to ensure supplier capabilities align with current and future product requirements.

• Support negotiations and supplier discussions involving technical requirements, quality expectations, lead times and minimum order quantities.

• Maintain accurate supplier documentation, performance data and engineering requirements.

• Other duties as assigned.

• Work onsite five (5) days per week in our Manufacturing facility located in Thornton, Colorado.

• Travel up to 35%

• Bachelor's degree in Mechanical Engineering, Manufacturing Engineering, Industrial Engineering or a related technical discipline preferred; or equivalent relevant work experience.

• 3 years of relevant engineering experience in application engineering, product development, mechanical design, manufacturing engineering, supplier quality or a related discipline.

• Strong hands-on experience with SolidWorks or comparable 3D CAD software.

• Demonstrated ability to create and interpret engineering drawings, models, assemblies and technical documentation.

• Strong mechanical design and problem-solving capabilities.

• Demonstrated ability to translate customer requirements into practical engineering solutions.

• Experience working directly with suppliers and/or supporting supplier qualification, development or quality activities.

• Understanding of manufacturing processes, material requirements and design-for-manufacturability principles.

• Understanding of supply-chain concepts including supplier lead times, minimum order quantities, replenishment requirements and supplier risk.

• Exceptional attention to detail and documentation discipline.

• Strong analytical and problem-solving skills.

• Excellent written and verbal communication skills.

• Ability to manage multiple priorities and move between design, supplier and customer-related issues without losing attention to detail.

• Self-motivated, entrepreneurial and results-oriented mindset.

• Ability to work independently while operating effectively within a highly collaborative environment.

• Must be authorized to work in the United States. Sponsorship is not available.

• Experience in aerospace, space, defense, energy, electronics, advanced manufacturing or other highly technical industries.

•  Experience designing components or assemblies for manufacturing.

• Experience with thin-film photovoltaics, solar technologies, semiconductor manufacturing or related technologies.

• Experience with supplier qualification and development programs.

• Experience developing dual-source or alternate-source strategies for critical components.

• Experience with ERP/MRP systems and material planning.

• Familiarity with GD&T and engineering drawing standards

• Familiarity with quality management systems and supplier corrective action processes.

• Experience performing supplier audits or technical supplier assessments.

• Experience with design-for-manufacturability and design-for-supply-chain considerations.

• Experience working in an early-stage, high-growth or resource-constrained technology environment.

• -      Experience supporting aerospace or defense customers and their technical requirements.

• Work onsite five (5) days per week in our Manufacturing facility located in Thornton, Colorado.
• Willingness to travel up to 35% of the time
• Bachelor's degree in Mechanical Engineering, Manufacturing Engineering, Industrial Engineering or a related technical discipline preferred; or equivalent relevant work experience.
• 3 years of relevant engineering experience in application engineering, product development, mechanical design, manufacturing engineering, supplier quality or a related discipline.
• Strong hands-on experience with SolidWorks or comparable 3D CAD software.
• Demonstrated ability to create and interpret engineering drawings, models, assemblies and technical documentation.
• Strong mechanical design and problem-solving capabilities.
• Demonstrated ability to translate customer requirements into practical engineering solutions.
• Experience working directly with suppliers and/or supporting supplier qualification, development or quality activities.
• Understanding of manufacturing processes, material requirements and design-for-manufacturability principles.
• Understanding of supply-chain concepts including supplier lead times, minimum order quantities, replenishment requirements and supplier risk.
• Exceptional attention to detail and documentation discipline.
• Strong analytical and problem-solving skills.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills.
• Ability to manage multiple priorities and move between design, supplier and customer-related issues without losing attention to detail.
• Self-motivated, entrepreneurial and results-oriented mindset.
• Ability to work independently while operating effectively within a highly collaborative environment.
• Must be authorized to work in the United States. Sponsorship is not available.

Competitive Pay: $90,000 - $115,000 per year base with potential bonus and equity

Benefits and Work/Life Balance: 

• Comprehensive Medical, Dental and Vision coverage with significant employer contribution

• Company paid Short/Long Term Disability and Basic Life Insurance

• 401k with up to 4% employer match

• Generous Paid Time Off (PTO) Program

• 11 paid holidays per year

• The opportunity to work with innovative thin-film photovoltaic technology

• A highly impact / high visible engineering role with meaningful influence over product development and supply-chain resilience while working across Engineering, Sales, Manufacturing, Quality, Finance and external suppliers

• The opportunity to be innovative every day, and grow with an emerging tech company

• A collaborative, low-ego work environment where technical expertise and problem-solving are valued

• A fun work environment with regular events and wellness opportunities

Our mission is to pioneer the development of lightweight, durable, and flexible thin-film photovoltaic cells that seamlessly integrate into our customers' designs, from satellites to aquatic and terrestrial systems and beyond. As a team of world-class engineers, thought leaders, and innovators, we are dedicated to expanding the use case for solar technologies, and reducing reliance on conventional power sources. Through our cutting-edge solutions, we strive to power technology across land, sea and space.

Our vision at Ascent Solar is to lead the transformation of the global energy landscape by making solar power accessible and integral to all facets of modern life. We envision a world where our innovative thin-film photovoltaic technology powers everything from space exploration to sustainable agriculture, driving a universal shift towards renewable energy. Through relentless innovation and collaboration, we aim to inspire a future where clean, reliable solar energy is the cornerstone of a sustainable planet.

Ascent Solar is a proud Equal Opportunity Employer committed to finding the best people from all walks of life and creating a diverse and inclusive workspace, where everyone is welcomed and valued for their unique contribution to our team!