Engineer- Manufacturing Technology Scaling III USA

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

Basic Job Functions: 

• Work cross-functionally with Development Engineering, Integrated Supply-Chain, Environmental-Health-Safety and Quality & Reliability teams to scale and qualify new technology into high volume manufacturing.
• Provide technical leadership across Photovoltaic Manufacturing Processes including design and development of process, equipment, and systems in a manufacturing setting.
• Define equipment and process requirements, refine vendor proposals, and lead the qualification of new process equipment through development and ramp to 24x7 manufacturing.
• Equipment and Process 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.
• Datamine and visualize process and equipment data using industry standard tools like SQL, Python, JMP, Power-BI; define and set-up visualization and data collection to enable process control.
• Author white papers for process and equipment changes per Change Management System needs.

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 II or Manufacturing Engineer II at First Solar.
• Bachelor’s Degree in an engineering discipline or similar technical discipline and 10 years of relevant technical experience or 2 years of experience as a Development Engineer II or Manufacturing Engineer II at First Solar.
• Master’s Degree in an engineering discipline or similar technical discipline and 8 years of relevant technical experience or 2 years of experience as a Development Engineer II or Manufacturing Engineer II at First Solar.
• Ph.D. in an engineering discipline or similar technical discipline and 5 years of relevant technical experience or 2 years of experience as a Development Engineer II or Manufacturing Engineer II 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:

• Technical leadership in cross-functional and cross-site settings; ability to work with minimal supervision.
• Outstanding knowledge in two or more areas including thin film deposition (PVD, ALD, CVD), thermal processing, wet coatings (ink-jet, spray, roll-coating), laser-material interactions, solar or IC device fabrication, process and device integration, and metrology.
• Proficient with demonstrable experience in Process Maps, Process Documentation including Control Plans, Statistical Process Controls, FMEAs.
• Experienced in technology development concepts like Robust Engineering, Design of Experiments and Design for Manufacturability.
• Demonstrated Hands-On experience in Equipment and Process troubleshooting; excellent in structured methods for problem solving in a manufacturing environment.
• Specifying New Equipment for Manufacturing, and Vendor engagement through Design, Build and Qualification.
• Strong communication skills and ability to develop and deliver technical training and documentation.
• Prior experience in Manufacturing or Technology development teams within Semiconductor, Photovoltaic, Flat-Panel Display, Architectural Glass Coating, Battery or Chemical Processing Industries.

Essential Responsibilities:

• Adhere to all safety procedures, protocols and contribute to EHS/Quality improvements.
• Develop, improve, qualify and document robust solar module manufacturing processes.
• Serve as a subject-matter expert for, and own, process or equipment sets assigned. 
• Design and execute process experiments; analyze and present results.
• Work with equipment OEMs; evaluate, install, and qualify tools.
• Lead continuous improvement 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.
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