Software Engineer- MES III USA

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

Basic Job Functions:

Evaluates, designs, and implements projects for controlling and interfacing with the manufacturing processes. This includes designing and developing related data visualization and user input systems, database structures, procedures, and reports. Works with the MES architects and controls engineers to ensure solutions integrate seamlessly with the MES hardware and software systems to support enterprise design goals. Provides execution system technical knowledge and resources to the MES development team. Provides the final level of escalated support for First Solar’s manufacturing execution systems, data architectures, and data collection.

Education/Experience:

• Master’s degree in IT, Engineering, or related field with four years of related external work experience or two years of First Solar software development experience OR
• Bachelor’s degree in IT, Engineering, or related field with six years of related external work experience or 4 years of First Solar software development experience OR
• Associate’s degree in IT, Engineering, or related field with eight years of related external work experience or six years of First Solar software development experience OR
• Ten + years of related external work experience or eight years of First Solar IT experience.
• 6+ years in either manufacturing systems or on software development teams using Microsoft .NET technologies preferred.
• 4+ years of experience interfacing with manufacturing control systems, shop floor interface/automation systems, programmable logic controllers (PLCs), Supervisory Control And Data Acquisition (SCADA), or OPC data transfer preferred.
• 2+ years experience:
  • Developing JavaScript/HTML/CSS in modern front-end framework (Angular or React) preferred.
  • Developing Python in Flask or Django preferred.
  • Developing efficient data structures in relational databases, MS SQL Server preferred.

Required Skills/Competencies:

• Proven Organizational and Project Managerial skills.
• Demonstrated expertise with manufacturing software architecture and execution systems.
• Strong troubleshooting and programming software solutions skills based on multi-tiered architecture using C#, ASP.NET, JavaScript, T-SQL, and message processing (MSMQ, RabbitMQ, Kafka).
• Proven expertise in designing data structures and using/configuring/querying SQL Server databases.
• Experience interfacing with Allen Bradley Logix PLCs and RSLinx software is preferred.
• Experience with Inductive Automation Ignition preferred.
• Demonstrated success in integrating manufacturing hardware and 3rd party software systems.
• Experience with Service Fabric is preferred.
• Experience with SQL Server Integration Services (SSIS) is preferred.
• Experience with Angular and AngularJS is preferred.
• Experience with Azure DevOps, Git, YAML, and deploying via Pipelines is preferred.
• Experience with Digital Transformation, Industry 4.0 is a plus.
• Experience in developing, deploying, and supporting Windows mobile applications is a plus.
• Proven experience with software development life cycle, Agile teams, change management process, and version control packages.
• Excellent understanding of computer operating systems and software applications.
• Excellent understanding of enterprise data systems.
• Logical troubleshooting skills.
• Proven interpersonal communications, including the ability to drive international projects with multinational team members.
• Global experience providing tier three support in a manufacturing environment is a plus.
• Proficient use of all Microsoft Office suite programs.

Essential Responsibilities:

• Evaluates, configures, integrates, and deploys execution system software for controlling manufacturing processes and tool data collection.
• Integrates shop floor systems with custom-developed and off-the-shelf solutions.
• Designs and develops data visualization and user input systems for manufacturing and related processes.
• Designs and develops database structures and procedures to operate and maintain software systems.
• Responsible for post-deployment hypercare and expert-level support on global applications for manufacturing, database, and related systems.
• Develops software and database applications on a variety of platforms.
• Manages outsourced software development work.
• Ensures good QA standards for software development.
• Manages transitions from the developers (solutions group) to the support group.
• Documents recurring issues and presents possible solutions.
• Interfaces w