Job Description

First Solar reserves the right to offer you a role most applicable to your experience and skillset.

Please note: This posting is for individuals who have graduated with their engineering or other technically relevant degree in the last calendar year or will be graduating through Spring 2024. The position will require temporary relocation to Perrysburg, OH or Trinity, AL for training in our current manufacturing facilities. Permanent assignment in New Iberia, LA will begin in Spring 2025 when the New Iberia factory begins commissioning activities.  

Basic Job Functions:

Daily sustaining of product performance for key manufacturing metrics (Yield, Module Efficiency and Reliability) in timely fashion. Define problem statement and work cross-functionally for characterization of process issue, short term containment and long term prevention solution. Transfer new technology from pilot line to satellite sites.

Education/Experience:

Candidates must meet one of the following criteria to qualify:

• Associate’s Degree in an engineering or similar technical discipline combined with
  • 3 or more years of First Solar technical experience, or
  • 6 or more years of technical work experience in a Manufacturing setting.
• Bachelor’s Degree, Master’s Degree, or Ph.D. in an engineering or similar technical discipline with no experience required. Technical work experience in combination with a degree is preferred.
• The following certifications and experience can be used in lieu of the above degree requirements. In each case the candidate must demonstrate skills and experience in peer training/mentorship and basic data analysis
  • 3 or more years’ experience as a First Solar Maintenance Technician III, MET III, EPT III or Equipment Coordinator III or
  • Journeyman certification in a relevant technical discipline such as Machinist or Electrician combined with 5 or more years industry experience at Journeyman level or
  • 10 or more years’ experience as a highly skilled technician/specialist in a relevant discipline. Industry-recognized certification strongly preferred.

Required Skills/Competencies:

• Background in Semiconductor or PV or electronic process technology or Material Science and device physics.
• Experience working with cross functional technical teams to solve problems and implement new processes and products.
• Demonstrated proficiency in Statistical Data Analysis and experience using statistical software (JMP and SAS preferred).
• Strong track record of effective problem-solving, and root-cause analysis.
• Understanding of manufacturing engineering systems (FMEA, SPC) and structured problem-solving methods (such as DMAIC).
• Prior experience with thin film deposition, thermal and wet processing preferred.
• Excellent oral and written communications skills.

Desired Skills:

• Understands and can apply DOE
• Understands and can apply Statistical Process Control (SPC)
• Understands and can apply structured problem solving (such as DMAIC)
• Experience in high volume ramp and/or new tech transfer is desired
• Project management experience preferred
• Ability to work with minimal supervision

Essential Responsibilities:

• Ensure adherence to all safety/environmental procedures
• Responsible for sustaining day-to-day production ensuring module efficiency, quality and reliability within defined SPC limits.
• Ability to lead discussion with cross-functional departments and satellite sites to ensure timely communication and effective problem solving
• Design statistical experiments and Analyze data using sound statistical methodology to drive improvements and recommendations to operations of process engineering.
• Understanding of and ability to interpret the results from material, physical and electrical failure analytical techniques and various compositional analysis measurements
• Support technology start-up, transfer, and ramp activities from development site to meet yield, reliability, cost, and device performance goals
• Provide engineering support for high volume manufacturing across multiple engineering departments in a global organization, working with international teams in cross functional environment
• Will support vendor discussions as needed for improvement projects, and issue resolution
• Develop and maintain process control plans
• Develop and provide training to engineering technicians, and production associates

Reporting Relationships:

• Reports to Manager, Manufacturing Engineering – Integration
• This position could have direct reports.

Travel:

• Domestic and international travel as required.

Estimated Salary Range:

• $63,900-$91,000, annually

US Physical Requirements:

Manufacturing & Maintenance Physical Requirements:

• Will sit, stand or walk short distances for up to 12 hours per day.
• Will climb stairs on an occasional basis.
• Will exert up to 58 pounds of force to lift, push or pull on a seldom basis.
• Will lift, push or pull up to 27 pounds on a frequent basis.
• Will lift up to 51 pounds on an occasional basis, according to work instructions.
• Will lift up to 37 pounds on a frequent basis.
• Will push or pull up to 27 pounds of force on an occasional basis.
• Will push or pull up to 10 pounds of force on a frequent basis.
• Required to use hands to grasp, lift, handle, carry or feel objects repetitively on a frequent basis
• 20/40 vision in each eye, with or without correction, is required.
• Must be able to comply with all safety standards and procedures.
• May reach above shoulder heights and below the waist on a frequent basis.
• May stoop, kneel, or bend, on an occasional basis.
• Ability to wear personal protective equipment is required (including but not limited to; steel toed shoes, gloves, safety glasses, hearing protection, protective jacket or apron and arm guards)
• All associates working on the production floor may be required to wear a respirator at any given time and thus, the ability to wear a respirator is a condition of employment and continued employment (requires little or no facial hair).

Potential candidates will meet the education and experience requirements provided on the above job description and excel in completing the listed responsibilities for this role. All candidates receiving an offer of employment must successfully complete a background check band any other tests that may be required.

Equal Opportunity Employer Statement: First Solar is an Equal Opportunity Employer that values and respects the importance of a diverse and inclusive workforce. It is the policy of the company to recruit, hire, train and promote persons in all job titles without regard to race, color, religion, sex, age, national origin, veteran status, disability, sexual orientation, or gender identity. We recognize that diversity and inclusion is a driving force in the success of our company.