Engineer- Manufacturing Technology Scaling II USA

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

Basic Job Functions:

• Develop, scale-up, and transfer of new and emerging thin-film manufacturing processes that may include vacuum deposition, wet coatings and cleans, laser process and module packaging, lamination and electrical testing processes.
• Qualify and sustain new process equipment in a 24x7 manufacturing environment.
• Participate in troubleshooting to meet and improve Safety, Throughput, Yield and Performance benchmarks.
• Use structured problem-solving (e.g., DMAIC, 8D) and statistical methods (DOE, SPC) to identify, test, and implement continuous improvements.
• Collaborate with cross-functional teams for problem solving and technology scaling.
• Datamine and Visualize process and equipment data using industry standard tools like SQL, Python, JMP, PowerBI.

Education/Experience:

• Associate's Degree in an engineering discipline or similar technical discipline and 12 years of relevant technical experience or 2 years of experience as a Development Engineer I or Manufacturing Engineer I at First Solar.
• Bachelor's Degree in an engineering discipline or similar technical discipline and 5 years of relevant technical experience or 2 years of experience as a Development Engineer I or Manufacturing Engineer I at First Solar.
• Master's Degree in an engineering discipline or similar technical discipline and 3 years of relevant technical experience or 2 years of experience as a Development Engineer II or Manufacturing Engineer I at First Solar.
• Ph.D. in engineering discipline or similar technical discipline or 2 years of experience as a Development Engineer I or Manufacturing Engineer I at First Solar.
• Prior experience in a Semiconductor or PV R&D or Mfg Setting in one or more of the following areas Thin-Film Deposition (Magnetron Sputtering, CVD, evaporation) OR Thermal processing in semiconductor or glass industry (continuous or batch ovens) OR Wet Coatings (Slot-Die, Ink-Jet, Roller or Blade Coating), Automation (Robots and AGV Material Handling) OR Laser Processing (Scribing, Cleaning, Marking) OR Process/ Device Integration (Semiconductor or PV R&D or Mfg Setting) is required.

Required Skills/Competencies:

• Demonstrated experience and knowledge in one or more areas including thin film deposition (PVD, ALD, CVD), thermal processing, wet coatings (ink-jet, spray, roll-coating), laser processing, and metrology.
• Demonstrated Hands-On experience in Mechanical and Process troubleshooting.
• Demonstrated Hands-On experience executing experiments in laboratory or manufacturing setting.
• Strong communication skills across technical and non-technical teams.
• Ability to collaborate effectively in cross-functional global teams.
• Strong organizational skills and ownership of assigned responsibilities.

Essential Responsibilities:

• Adhere to all safety procedures, protocols and contribute to EHS/Quality improvements.
• Develop, improve, and document robust solar module manufacturing processes.
• Serve as a subject-matter expert for process or equipment sets assigned.
• Design and execute process experiments; analyze and present results.
• Work with equipment OEMs; evaluate, install, and qualify tools.
• Execute continuous improvement plans using Six Sigma methodologies.
• Mentor junior engineers and technicians and provide technical training to operational teams.
• Develop Process Control Plans, FMEAs, Work Instructions, and Troubleshooting Guides.
• Maintain effective cross-functional communication including leadership.
• Other duties as assigned.
• Job description subject to change at any time.