Head- Technology Scaling USA

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

Basic Job Functions: 

• Leads strategy, planning and execution of technology transfer and scaling equipment and process technologies from R&D to Pilot Manufacturing and High-Volume Replication.
• Develop and grow the process and manufacturing integration functions in Pilot Manufacturing
• Develop strategy for process improvements in Pilot Manufacturing, and subsequently HVM, collaborating with other technical teams.
• Work cross-functionally with Development Engineering, Integrated Supply-Chain, Environmental-Health-Safety, Quality & Reliability to influence and execute on technology roadmap.
• Provides leadership to a team comprising Engineering and Operations Managers, Engineers and Technicians to achieve technology and operational milestones in a timely manner.
• Responsible for matching and sustaining baseline performance in Pilot Manufacturing and in HVM recipient lines during technology transfer.
• Defines systems for Pilot Mfg. to be swing between Engineering Tests and Production in an efficient error-free manner and to monitor baseline performance in production mode.
• Working with process development and tool replication SMEs, derisk next generation technologies, hardware, materials, and other process improvements.
• Responsible for the rollout of First Solar’s Throughput, Yield roadmap (performance goals and schedule) working with other Manufacturing Engineering leaders and Bin wattage/module roadmap for satellite factories. 

Education/Experience:

• Bachelor’s degree in electrical/Electronic, Mechanical, Chemical, Physics, Material Engineering or technical degree in a related engineering field required.
• Master’s degree in engineering specialty area, PhD desired.
• 10 or more years’ experience in engineering discipline including high volume manufacturing and process improvement.
• Equipment/process knowledge and experience in fabrication of semiconductor or photovoltaic related devices is required.
• At least 7 years of Experience in leading and managing large diverse teams. Experience leading global teams a plus.
• Experience in new technology transfer, especially in thin-film device or PV technologies is required.
• Experience in navigating change management systems, chairing phase-gate reviews and leading technologies from TRL 3-4 through to TRL 7-8. 

Required Skills/Competencies:

Behavioral      

• Ability to be exceptionally agile and pivot direction with little notice.

• Exhibit reality-based leadership.

• Ability to mentor and grow other engineering professionals or engineering managers.

• Proven knowledge of solar and glass manufacturing.
• Proven organizational and supervisory skills.
• Six Sigma background.
• Statistical background with strong knowledge of SPC.
• Knowledge of Theory of Constraints.
• Strong background in Robust Engineering and Continuous Improvement.
• Proven knowledge of manufacturing processes and equipment.
• Excellent communications and problem-solving skills.
• Good project management skills.

Technical         

Essential Responsibilities:

• Responsible for creating strategy and planning for taking new technologies from development to high volume manufacturing.
• Guide teams in setting appropriate priorities for Engineering Tests, Module Builds, and define systems tracking progress including oversight of OpEx.
• Analyze and review complex large data sets from process, equipment, and device summarize and communicate in a succinct and clear manner to executive leadership including next plan of action.
• Execute to company’s AI roadmap – oversight of relevant AI-ML solutions to generate relevant actionable insights and automate decision making.
• Provide regular project and program progress reports to leadership and stakeholders.
• Publish all required documentation (process book, work instructions, operations systems etc) to enable transition from R&D line to Pilot Manufacturing and later to High Volume Manufacturing.
• Interface with team members and stakeholders from R&D, Manufacturing, Q&R and product groups.
• Co-own equipment and process development roadmap to support future technology revision into manufacturing.
• Develop models for the impact of HVM technology upgrades and other continuous programs on P90 goals, develop plans to mitigate the impact and ensure adherence to agreed criteria.
• Lead teams t