Development Engineering Intern (Spring & Summer 2026)

First Solar (US) • Santa Clara, CA

9d • $23 - $38

About The Position

Leading the world’s sustainable energy future, First Solar interns work around the globe/country in research and development, marketing, project development, information technology, engineering, energy services and much more. When you work at First Solar, you will be challenged every day and provided real world experience. You will be given the opportunity to find new solutions and develop new skills to further advance your skillset. At First Solar we strive to foster a culture that encourages innovation through collaboration, urging colleagues to take smart risks, learning from failures and course correcting, and owning personal accountability for contributing to our mission.
Expected Length of Internship:
Spring, summer semesters 2026, with a potential to extend.
As an internship company, we allow flexibility to enroll in classes while working as an intern, as long as it doesn’t interfere with the essential functions of the position.

Requirements

• The ideal candidate will be within their last 2 years of a 4-year degree program or Master’s level student; relevant curriculum includes courses in computer science, data and analytics, data science, machine learning, IT.
• Strong programming skills in Python; familiarity with libraries such as NumPy, pandas, scikit-learn, TensorFlow, or PyTorch.
• Familiarity with databases (SQL/NoSQL) and data visualization tools.
• Excellent problem-solving skills and attention to detail.
• Strong communication and teamwork abilities.
• Basic understanding of machine learning concepts and data preprocessing techniques.
• 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.
• All candidates receiving an offer of employment must successfully complete a background check and any other tests that may be required.

Nice To Haves

• Experience in software projects and programming for equipment control is a plus.
• First Solar encourages all interns to register their internship with their university.

Responsibilities

• Design and enhance control software for process, metrology, and analytical equipment, enabling more efficiency research workflows and future machine learning and AI adoptions.
• Streamline database systems through administration, automation, and performance tuning to ensure reliable and efficient data operations.
• Develop tailored software tools and applications to address evolving site-specific challenges and improve overall productivity.
• Upon the completion of this internship, the intern is required to present their accomplishments and project summary to the leadership team.

What This Job Offers

• Career Level: Intern
• Number of Employees: 5,001-10,000 employees