Development Engineer II - Thermal Equipment

First Solar•Perrysburg, OH

2d•Onsite

About The Position

First Solar reserves the right to offer you a role most applicable to your experience and skillset. This role utilizes thermal process equipment to develop and scale PV films. The engineer will own equipment reliability, uptime, and process troubleshooting for new technologies, including tool down issues, yield, and quality issues. They will design, execute, and analyze screening and optimization tests in conjunction with integration and technical development teams, and implement manufacturable processes to meet production timelines. The role involves identifying and/or implementing system improvements that contribute to the achievement of throughput, yield, and product performance goals, and is responsible for solving day-to-day production, equipment, and process problems.

Requirements

Associate’s Degree in an engineering discipline or similar technical discipline and 15 years of relevant technical experience or 2 years of experience as a Development 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 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 I at First Solar.
Ph.D. in an engineering discipline or similar technical discipline, without prior technical work experience.
Comprehensive understanding of functional business units’ core area (thermal annealing or materials science), with expert knowledge in at least one area.
Skills and hands-on experience in execution of experiments and equipment and process troubleshooting in a manufacturing environment.
Analytical skills to interpret data and derive conclusions.
Proficient in Design of Experiments, Statistical Process Control and Structured Problem-Solving Methods.
Ability to make and execute detailed plans to achieve objectives with strong sense of ownership.
Good communication skills across organizations.
Will sit, stand or walk short distances for up to the entire duration of a shift.
Will climb stairs on an occasional basis.
Will lift, push or pull up to 37 pounds on an occasional basis.
Required to use hands to grasp, lift, handle, carry or feel objects on a frequent basis.
20/40 vision in both eyes together, with or without correction, is required.
Must be able to comply with all safety standards and procedures.
May reach above shoulder heights and below the waist on a frequent basis.
May stoop, kneel, or bend, on an occasional basis.
Ability to wear personal protective equipment is required (including but not limited to; steel-toed shoes, gloves, safety glasses, hearing protection, protective jacket or apron and arm guards, and a condition of employment and continued employment (requires little or no facial hair) for those requiring respirator use.)

Nice To Haves

Reports to Development Engineer or Technical Director.
This position may have direct reports.

Responsibilities

Utilize thermal process equipment to develop and scale PV films.
Own equipment reliability, uptime and process troubleshooting for new technologies including tool down issues, yield, and quality issues.
Design, execute, and analyze screening and optimization tests in conjunction with integration and technical development teams.
Implement manufacturable processes to meet production timelines.
Identify and/or implement system improvements that contribute to the achievement of throughput, yield and product performance goals.
Responsible for solving day-to-day production, equipment, and process problems.
Develop, continuously improve, and document robust solar module processes to achieve the highest product performance in a cost-efficient manner.
May be responsible for determining, evaluating and documenting process and equipment specifications for improved performance.
Design and execute planned process experiments, collect and analyze data and report experimental results.
Effective communicator with internal and external partners.
Effective team member that can support cross-functional projects and take ownership of deliverables.
May train, mentor and manage junior associates.
Complies with Company's Environmental, Quality, Safety or any other policies that have been enforced.
Other duties as assigned.