Software Engineer- MES II USA

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

Basic Job Functions:

• Engineers’ software, configures high-level software packages, and provides the final level of escalated support for First Solar’s Mfg Systems and data architecture.

Education/Experience:

• Master’s degree in Information Technology with two years of related work experience, 
  or
• Bachelor’s degree in Information Technology with four years of related work experience or two years of First Solar IT Experience, or
• Associate’s degree in Information Technology with six years of related work experience or four years of First Solar IT Experience, or
• Eight years equivalent external work experience or six years of First Solar IT experience.
• 4+ years in either manufacturing systems or on software development teams using Microsoft .NET technologies.
• 6+ months of experience interfacing with manufacturing control systems, shop floor interface/automation systems, programmable logic controllers (PLCs), or OPC data transfer.

Required Skills/Competencies:

• Troubleshooting and programming software solutions based on multi-tiered architecture using C#, XAML, ASP.NET, JavaScript, T-SQL, and MSMQ.
• Designing data structures, and using/configuring SQL Server databases.
• Experience with AngularJS and SQL Server Integration Services (SSIS) is preferred.
• 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.
• Object oriented languages.
• Proven ability and knowledge of computer technology.
• Excellent communication and organization skills.
• Logical troubleshooting.
• Proven interpersonal skills.
• Global experience providing tier three support in a manufacturing environment is a plus.

Essential Responsibilities:

Primary Responsibilities:

• Develop new software systems and modify existing ones for First Solar’s manufacturing, reliability, and R&D processes. 
• Integrate shop floor systems with custom-developed and off-the-shelf solutions.
• Responsible for hyper care and expert-level support on global applications for manufacturing, database, and related systems.
• Assist administrators (server admins, network admins, DB admins) in troubleshooting enterprise-level problems.
• Document recurring issues and present possible solutions.
• Interface with other departments and supplier representatives.
• Exercise effective communications levels and foster team building.
• Adhere to all safety procedures and good housekeeping standards.

Key Competencies:

• Undertakes analytical activities and delivers analysis outputs, in accordance with customer needs and conforming to agreed standards.
• Maintains knowledge of specific technical specialists provides detailed advice regarding their application and executes specialized tasks. The specialism can be any area of information or communication technology, technique, method, product or application area.
• Within given research goals, builds on and refines appropriate outline ideas for research, i.e. evaluation, development, demonstration and implementation. Uses available resources to gain an up-to-date knowledge of any relevant IT field. Reports on work carried out and may contribute sections of material of publication quality.
• Maintains awareness of opportunities provided by new technology to address challenges or to enable new ways of working. Within own sphere of influence, works to further organizational goals, by the use of emerging technologies and products. Contributes to briefings and presentations about their relevance and potential value to the organization.
• Provides expertise and support on use of methods and tools.
• Applies data analysis and data modeling techniques to establish, modify or maintain a data structure and its associated components (entity descriptions, relationship descriptions, attribute definitions).
• Undertakes complete design of simple applications using simple templates and tools. Assists as part of a team on design of components of larger systems. Produces detailed designs including for example: physical data flows, file layouts, common routines and utilities, program specifications or prototypes, and backup, recovery and restart procedures.
• Translates and implements simple development project requirements into physical database structures. Assesses proposed changes to object and data structures and implements these changes in physical da