Engineer- Development III USA

First Solar•Perrysburg, OH

11d•Hybrid

About The Position

Perform computer-aided analyses of materials, tools, and processes to enhance thin film solar cell performance and stability and to reduce manufacturing cost. Responsible for projects or functions that are complex, require significant innovation, and are critical to department objectives. Plan, execute and characterize development engineering experiments in the laboratory and manufacturing environment with strategic foresight. Drive actions with strategic foresight. Apply statistical and engineering methods to optimize organizational effectiveness. 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.
Technical expert and innovator in one area computer-aided analysis (thermal, multi-species gas flow, and chemical reaction preferred); experience on photovoltaic processes and/or equipment development is a plus.
In-depth knowledge of process engineering, with special emphasis on transport phenomena, as well as chemical reaction engineering.
Expertise in materials engineering and photovoltaic device theory is a plus.
Working knowledge of CFD, CAD, meshing, and post-processing software.
Programming experience is required, especially for implementation of numerical analyses of industrial applications.
Firsthand expertise in laboratory or manufacturing environments.
Keen sense of project ownership, with a hands-on, can-do attitude.
Effective communication skills across organizations.

Nice To Haves

Experience on photovoltaic processes and/or equipment development is a plus.
Expertise in materials engineering and photovoltaic device theory is a plus.
Experience with AI-assisted coding is highly desirable.
Working knowledge of statistical software and its applications (JMP preferred) is highly desirable.

Responsibilities

Identify and grasp opportunities for improvement in solar cell efficiency, material selection, and process/equipment design through engineering, scientific, or empirical methods.
The core focus is on thermal equipment and processes where heat transfer by radiation, convection, and conduction are all playing a role, as well as gas flow and chemical reactions in the gas and solid phases.
Improve state-of-the-art techniques and applications for computer-aided analysis, statistical analysis of data, or execution planning of experiments.
Develop work plans even when there are unclear solution paths.
Will be responsible to determine and evaluate thermal tool/equipment specifications.
May be responsible to determine and evaluate material specification for improved performance.
Effective communicator with internal and external partners and customers.
Effective team members that can support cross-functional projects and take ownership of sub-deliverables.
May train, mentor and manage junior and peers on specific subject matters.
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.
Job description subject to change at any time.