Development Engineer III

First Solar (US)•Santa Clara, CA

1d•$109,460 - $165,000•Onsite

About The Position

First Solar reserves the right to offer you a role most applicable to your experience and skillset. This role involves performing material and device research to enhance thin film solar cell performance and stability and to reduce manufacturing cost. The engineer will design experiments, fabricate core layers, characterize devices/material properties, and apply statistical and engineering methods to optimize material and stack performance. Responsibilities also include specifying, commissioning, qualifying, retrofitting, troubleshooting, and sustaining key process/test equipment, ensuring timely supply of raw materials/consumables/spares, developing standard operating procedures, and providing cross-training. The role is responsible for projects that enable department goals and deliverables, and involves planning, executing, and characterizing development engineering experiments in the laboratory. The engineer will apply statistical and engineering methods to optimize organizational effectiveness and improve methods for use by others.

Requirements

Associate’s Degree in an engineering discipline or similar technical discipline and 20 years of relevant technical experience or 2 years of experience as a Development 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 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 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 at First Solar.
Expert knowledge in at least one area among the following: solution-based perovskite fabrication, scalable wet coating process such as spray coating, slot die, blade coat, inkjet print.
In-depth knowledge in ink formulation to influence surface energy and material compatibility, to drive coating quality optimization and ultimately device performance.
Working knowledge in selective thin film processes (ALD, PVD, CVD, evap, dry/wet etch, laser scribing, lamination) and device integration.
Familiarity with solar cells and relevant physics devices.
Experience with reliability and accelerated testing.
Skills and hands-on experience in execution of experiments in laboratory environment.
Analytical skills to interpret data and derive conclusions.
Ability to make and execute detailed plans to achieve objectives with strong sense of ownership.
Demonstrated capability to practice critical thinking and common sense, and to effectively troubleshoot process and equipment challenges.
Good communication skills across organizations.

Nice To Haves

Degree in chemical engineering, chemistry, or material science strongly preferred.
Prior experience working with scalable spray, inkjet print, slot die, blade coat of function coating strongly preferred, especially in regards of ink formulation to enhance coating quality.
Prior experience working on wet coating of perovskite coating strongly preferred.

Responsibilities

Perform material and device research to enhance thin film solar cell performance and stability and to reduce manufacturing cost.
Design experiments, hands-on fabricate core layers, characterize devices/material properties, applies statistical and engineering methods to optimize material and stack performance.
Hands-on leading specifying, commissioning, qualifying, retrofitting (where needed), troubleshooting and sustaining key process/test equipment related to project, ensuring timely supply of raw material/consumables/spares, developing standard operation procedure, providing cross-training to peers when necessary.
Responsible for projects or functions that are enablers to department goals and deliverables.
Plan, execute and characterize development engineering experiments in the laboratory.
Applies statistical and engineering methods to optimize organizational effectiveness. Improves methods for use by others.
Perform material and device research to enhance perovskite film quality at various band gap values, solar cell performance and stability, reduce/eliminate key factor driving coating/device instability during perovskite fabrication process, post-PK steps and accelerated stress tests.
Design and optimize synthetic routes for fabricating high-quality perovskite materials, utilizing various synthesis techniques that a scalable.
Prototype solar cell devices and conduct electrical and photophysical characterizations.
Mentor and advise other team members working on related projects where applies, collaborate with internal and external collaborators where applies which may involve domestic and international travels.
Meet internal program goals and personal performance goals.
May train, mentor and manage junior associates.
May be responsible to determine and evaluate material specification for improved performance.
May be responsible to determine and evaluate tool/equipment specifications.
Effective communicator with internal and external partners and customers.
Effective team member that can support cross-functional projects and take ownership of sub-deliverables.
Complies with Company's Environmental, Quality, Safety or any other policies that have been enforced.
Other duties as assigned.