Development Engineering Supervisor

First Solar (US)•CA, CA

1d•$89,440 - $127,400•Hybrid

About The Position

This role involves leading Process Development laboratory operations to support technology development, pilot process evaluation, and advanced solar cell research. The supervisor will direct and develop a team of technicians responsible for experimental work, equipment operation, laboratory readiness, and supporting rapid technology learning cycles. The position serves as an operational leader, ensuring safe, repeatable, and efficient experimental execution by collaborating with Process Development engineers, equipment engineering, metrology, and EHS. The goal is to drive operational systems that enhance experimental quality, accelerate learning, maximize equipment availability, and increase the effectiveness of technology development programs. The role requires translating engineering objectives into technician-executable procedures, developing technician capabilities, and establishing execution discipline for evolving technologies and complex development activities.

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.
Minimum 5 years of experience supporting semiconductor, photovoltaic, thin-film, advanced manufacturing, or technology development laboratories.
Demonstrated experience supporting research, process development, pilot-line, or advanced engineering environments where operating procedures, technologies, and priorities change frequently.
Experience leading technicians supporting experimental fabrication, metrology, characterization, or development process equipment.
Ability to effectively communicate technical priorities, operational risks, and experimental execution concerns across technicians, engineering, management, and support organizations.
Demonstrated ability to establish and maintain execution discipline required for repeatable and reproducible experimental results.
Strong understanding of procedural compliance, operational variation reduction, and technician-driven process consistency.
Ability to work effectively within a research and development environment where priorities and process flows evolve rapidly based on technology needs.
Capable of translating engineering intent into practical operational execution plans and technician work instructions.
Working knowledge of semiconductor, thin-film, solar cell, vacuum process, wet chemistry, thermal processing, laser processing, metrology, or advanced laboratory systems.
Capable of evaluating operational challenges associated with development equipment and partnering with engineering teams to improve performance, reliability, and experimental throughput.
Strong situational judgment to make fast, safe, and logical decisions in a high-hazard, fast-paced environment.
Experienced guiding operation crew members through first level tool diagnose and quick repair.
Capable driving experienced equipment maintenance/support crew on advanced troubleshooting and major repair.
Must be able to comply with all safety standards and procedures.
Ability to wear personal protective equipment is required (including, but not limited to; steel toed shoes, cut resistant gloves, jackets, aprons &/or arm guards, safety glasses, hearing protection).
All associates working on the production floor may be required to wear a respirator at any given time and thus, the ability to wear a respirator is a condition of employment and continued employment (requires little or no facial hair).

Responsibilities

Lead daily execution of technology development activities by aligning technician resources, laboratory capacity, equipment availability, and operational priorities with Process Development objectives.
Continuously improve laboratory execution systems to accelerate technology learning cycles while maintaining experimental quality, safety, and data integrity.
Partner with Process Development engineers to convert development processes into detailed operational procedures suitable for technician execution.
Establish, maintain, and continuously improve operational standards that ensure repeatable and reproducible experimental results.
Own technician execution quality for development activities by monitoring procedure adherence, identifying sources of operational variation, and implementing corrective actions.
Support introduction of new technologies, equipment, materials, and experimental processes into laboratory operations by developing training plans, operational controls, and technician qualification requirements.
Drive equipment readiness and operational reliability for development laboratories.
Lead first-level troubleshooting efforts and coordinate advanced problem-solving activities with equipment engineering teams to minimize development downtime.
Act as the primary operational partner to Process Development engineers by providing feedback regarding technician observations, process execution challenges, equipment limitations, and opportunities to improve experimental throughput and execution quality.
Develop long-term laboratory capabilities by building technician technical expertise, improving training systems, establishing qualification standards, and implementing operational best practices.
Other duties as assigned.