Development Engineer IV - Perovskite Physics USA

First Solar•Perrysburg, OH

About The Position

First Solar reserves the right to offer you a role most applicable to your experience and skillset. Basic Job Functions: Serve as a senior technical contributor within First Solar’s Perovskite Physics group. Support development and scale‑up of First Solar’s next‑generation perovskite technology through physics‑based mechanism understanding, advanced metrology development, and root‑cause analysis. Operate at the intersection of materials science, device physics, and pilot manufacturing engineering, acting as a technical leader in defining measurement strategies, correlating metrology data to performance and reliability, and resolving complex process‑structure‑property relationships. Responsible for developing and deploying manufacturing‑relevant characterization and diagnostics for perovskite pilot line, enabling improved process control, faster learning cycles, and robust yield and performance outcomes. The position requires strong independent problem‑solving capability, deep technical expertise, and close collaboration with cross‑functional process, equipment, and integration teams.

Requirements

Bachelor’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 III at First Solar.
Master’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 III at First Solar.
Ph.D. in an engineering discipline or similar technical discipline and 10 years of relevant technical experience or 2 years of experience as a Development Engineer III at First Solar.
Advanced understanding of optoelectronic device physics and correlation of physical measurements to IV, QE, reliability, and low-level device metrics.
Strong understanding of perovskite materials physics, including crystallization behavior, defect states, interfaces, and degradation mechanisms.
Demonstrated expertise in advanced materials and device characterization and data ‑ driven root ‑ cause analysis.
Advanced skills in data analysis, experimental design, and statistical interpretation.
Physics ‑ driven problem solver with strong mechanistic intuition.
Comfortable with ambiguity and early ‑ stage technologies with an ability to reduce ambiguity through structured, physics ‑ based problem solving.
Strong experimental rigor and data discipline.
High ownership mindset; capable of independently driving complex technical programs with company ‑ level impact.
Independently defines technical approaches within program objectives.
Strong cross ‑ functional communicator.
Commitment to safety, quality, and operational excellence.

Nice To Haves

Hands ‑ on experience with inline or high ‑ throughput metrology in a manufacturing or pilot ‑ line setting.
Experience supporting technology transfer from R&D to manufacturing.
Record of publications, patents, or externally recognized technical contributions in perovskite photovoltaics.

Responsibilities

Develop and validate mechanistic understanding linking perovskite deposition, crystallization, interfaces, and post ‑ processing to device ‑ level electrical and environmental performance.
Perform deep root cause investigations of yield loss, efficiency variability, and reliability excursions using metrology data, physics ‑ based models, and cross ‑ functional inputs.
Lead failure analysis and excursion response efforts, including hypothesis generation, experimental design, data interpretation, and corrective action definition.
Design, develop, and deploy advanced inline, at ‑ line, and offline metrology methods to monitor perovskite film formation, interfaces, microstructure, defects, and uniformity and their correlations with device performance and stability.
Lead qualification of novel optical, spectroscopic, electrical, and structural characterization techniques suitable for pilot ‑ line operation (e.g., hyperspectral imaging, PL/EL spectral analysis and mapping, Raman, including in ‑ situ diagnostics).
Define metrology requirements and specifications to enable process window characterization, early defect detection, and statistical process control.
Partner with process development, equipment, and integration teams to translate lab ‑ and pilot-scale characterization techniques into manufacturing ‑ relevant, scalable measurement solutions.
Support DOE development, parametric studies, and technology readiness assessments tied to pilot production goals.
Serve as a subject ‑ matter expert in perovskite photovoltaic device physics, metrology, and physics ‑ based diagnostics for internal stakeholders.
Mentor junior engineers and scientists in experimental rigor, data analysis, and problem ‑ solving methodologies.
Author and review technical reports, internal white papers, and invention disclosures; contribute to IP generation where applicable.
Collaborate with external partners, national labs, and equipment vendors.
Comply with Company's Environmental, Quality, Safety or any other policies that have been enforced.
Contributes to continuous improvement of said policies.
Other duties as assigned.