Job Description:
Safety Engineer
Mesa, AZ – With Travel
Position Overview
Nextpower is seeking a Safety Engineer to develop, implement, and continuously improve environmental, health, and safety (EHS) programs and practices supporting manufacturing, testing, commissioning, and field operations. This role will help ensure employees, contractors, facilities, and operations are protected through effective risk identification, engineering controls, safe work practices, and regulatory compliance.
The Safety Engineer will serve as a senior technical resource for complex safety matters, with particular focus on high-power electrical test systems, manufacturing and assembly operations, large-format equipment, and contract manufacturing environments. This position will partner closely with Engineering, Manufacturing, Quality, EHS teams, and contract manufacturers (CMs) to integrate safety into equipment, workstation, process, and operational design.
Key Responsibilities
- Develop, implement, and maintain environmental, health, and safety (EHS) programs, procedures, and safe work practices supporting manufacturing, testing, commissioning, and service operations.
- Establish and maintain safety requirements for manufacturing processes, assembly operations, high-power testing, equipment commissioning, and field service activities.
- Conduct hazard assessments, job safety analyses (JSAs), risk assessments, and safety reviews to identify hazards and establish appropriate engineering and administrative controls.
- Provide technical guidance for high-voltage and energized electrical work, including high-power test systems, electrical safety practices, and lockout/tagout (LOTO).
- Lead incident and near-miss investigations, perform root-cause analysis, and drive corrective and preventive actions through completion and effectiveness verification.
- Evaluate the safe handling, movement, lifting, storage, and transportation of large and heavy products and equipment, including inverter systems and other large-form-factor products.
- Partner with Engineering and Manufacturing teams on machine design, workstation design, guarding, ergonomics, material handling, and safe equipment integration.
- Assess manufacturing and assembly operations for ergonomic, electrical, mechanical, chemical, and operational hazards and recommend appropriate risk-reduction measures.
- Support safety requirements for loading docks, material movement, lifting operations, shipping and receiving activities, and industrial vehicle interactions.
- Develop and maintain requirements for chemical management, including safe handling, storage, labeling, and applicable documentation.
- Conduct site inspections, safety audits, and compliance assessments and drive resolution of identified risks and findings.
- Develop and deliver safety training and support ongoing employee and contractor safety awareness.
- Support emergency preparedness, response planning, drills, and related procedures.
- Ensure compliance with applicable OSHA requirements, electrical safety standards, LOTO requirements, contractor safety requirements, and internal EHS policies.
- Partner with contract manufacturers and their safety teams to assess risks, align safety expectations, and improve manufacturing safety practices.
- Collaborate with Engineering, Manufacturing, Quality, Facilities, and other stakeholders to incorporate safety considerations into new equipment, processes, products, and manufacturing changes.
- Track and analyze safety performance indicators, incidents, trends, and corrective actions to identify opportunities for continuous improvement.
- Communicate significant safety risks, trends, and improvement actions to leadership and key stakeholders.
- Provide technical guidance and recommendations on complex safety matters and promote a strong, proactive safety culture across operations.
Qualifications
- Bachelor’s degree in Occupational Safety, Environmental Health, Industrial Hygiene, Engineering, or a related technical discipline.
- 8+ years of related industrial, manufacturing, or engineering safety experience; or 6+ years with a Master’s degree
- Demonstrated experience supporting safety within a manufacturing, assembly, testing, or industrial environment.
- Experience with electrical and high-voltage safety, including energized work and high-power electrical test systems.
- Strong working knowledge of applicable OSHA regulations, lockout/tagout requirements, machine safety, and contractor safety practices.
- Experience conducting hazard assessments, JSAs, risk assessments, incident investigations, and root-cause analysis.
- Experience evaluating safety considerations related to large or heavy equipment, lifting and material handling, manufacturing workstations, and ergonomics.
- Working knowledge of machine and equipment safety principles, including guarding and safe workstation design.
- Experience supporting chemical safety and chemical management within a manufacturing or industrial environment.
- Demonstrated ability to independently evaluate complex safety issues, assess multiple risk factors, and develop practical and effective solutions.
- Strong communication and influencing skills with the ability to advise Engineering, Manufacturing, contractors, and other stakeholders on complex safety requirements.
- Strong analytical, organizational, problem-solving, and project-management skills.
Preferred Qualifications
- Certified Safety Professional (CSP), Associate Safety Professional (ASP), or equivalent safety certification.
- OSHA-related training or certifications applicable to manufacturing and industrial environments.
- Experience supporting power electronics, inverter systems, high-power electrical equipment, or similar products.
- Experience working with contract manufacturers and partnering with external EHS or safety organizations.
- Experience supporting new manufacturing equipment, production lines, factory commissioning, or manufacturing ramp-up.
- Familiarity with safety requirements for field commissioning and service of electrical or industrial equipment.
At Nextpower, we are driving the global energy transition with an integrated clean energy technology platform that combines intelligent structural, electrical, and digital solutions for utility-scale power plants. Our comprehensive portfolio enables faster project delivery, higher performance, and greater reliability, helping our customers capture the full value of solar power. Our talented worldwide teams are redefining how solar power plants are designed, built, and operated every day with smart technology, data-driven insights, and advanced automation. Together, we’re building the foundation for the world’s next generation of clean energy infrastructure.
Nextpower is an equal opportunity employer. We celebrate diversity and are committed to creating an inclusive environment for all employees.
**We are Nextpower**