Engineer- Manufacturing Technology Scaling III USA

First Solar (US)•Perrysburg, OH

3h•Onsite

About The Position

First Solar reserves the right to offer you a role most applicable to your experience and skillset. This role provides technical leadership across Photovoltaic Manufacturing Processes, including the design and development of processes, equipment, and systems in a manufacturing setting. The position involves defining equipment and process requirements, refining vendor proposals, and leading the qualification of new process equipment through development and ramp to 24x7 manufacturing. It also includes equipment and process troubleshooting to meet and improve Safety, Throughput, Yield, and Performance benchmarks. The role requires using structured problem-solving (e.g., DMAIC, 8D) and statistical methods (DOE, SPC) to identify, test, and implement continuous improvements. Additionally, it involves datamining and visualizing process and equipment data using industry-standard tools like SQL, Python, JMP, Power-BI, and defining/setting up visualization and data collection to enable process control. The engineer will also author white papers for process and equipment changes per Change Management System needs.

Requirements

Associate’s Degree in an engineering discipline or similar technical discipline and 12 years of relevant technical experience or 2 years of experience as a Development Engineer II or Manufacturing 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 or Manufacturing 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 or Manufacturing 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 or Manufacturing Engineer II at First Solar.
Prior experience in a Semiconductor or PV R&D or Mfg Setting in one or more of the following areas Thin-Film Deposition (Magnetron Sputtering, CVD, evaporation) OR Thermal processing in semiconductor or glass industry (continuous or batch ovens) OR Wet Coatings (Slot-Die, Ink-Jet, Roller or Blade Coating), Automation (Robots and AGV Material Handling) OR Laser Processing (Scribing, Cleaning, Marking) OR Process/ Device Integration (Semiconductor or PV R&D or Mfg Setting) is required.
Technical leadership in cross-functional and cross-site settings; ability to work with minimal supervision.
Outstanding knowledge in two or more areas including thin film deposition (PVD, ALD, CVD), thermal processing, wet coatings (ink-jet, spray, roll-coating), laser-material interactions, solar or IC device fabrication, process and device integration, and metrology.
Proficient with demonstrable experience in Process Maps, Process Documentation including Control Plans, Statistical Process Controls, FMEAs.
Experienced in technology development concepts like Robust Engineering, Design of Experiments and Design for Manufacturability.
Demonstrated Hands-On experience in Equipment and Process troubleshooting; excellent in structured methods for problem solving in a manufacturing environment.
Specifying New Equipment for Manufacturing, and Vendor engagement through Design, Build and Qualification.
Strong communication skills and ability to develop and deliver technical training and documentation.
Prior experience in Manufacturing or Technology development teams within Semiconductor, Photovoltaic, Flat-Panel Display, Architectural Glass Coating, Battery or Chemical Processing Industries.
All candidates receiving an offer of employment must successfully complete a background check and any other tests that may be required.

Responsibilities

Work cross-functionally with Development Engineering, Integrated Supply-Chain, Environmental-Health-Safety and Quality & Reliability teams to scale and qualify new technology into high volume manufacturing.
Provide technical leadership across Photovoltaic Manufacturing Processes including design and development of process, equipment, and systems in a manufacturing setting.
Define equipment and process requirements, refine vendor proposals, and lead the qualification of new process equipment through development and ramp to 24x7 manufacturing.
Equipment and Process troubleshooting to meet and improve Safety, Throughput, Yield and Performance benchmarks.
Use structured problem-solving (e.g., DMAIC, 8D) and statistical methods (DOE, SPC) to identify, test, and implement continuous improvements.
Datamine and visualize process and equipment data using industry standard tools like SQL, Python, JMP, Power-BI; define and set-up visualization and data collection to enable process control.
Author white papers for process and equipment changes per Change Management System needs.
Adhere to all safety procedures, protocols and contribute to EHS/Quality improvements.
Develop, improve, qualify and document robust solar module manufacturing processes.
Serve as a subject-matter expert for, and own, process or equipment sets assigned.
Design and execute process experiments; analyze and present results.
Work with equipment OEMs; evaluate, install, and qualify tools.
Lead continuous improvement using Six Sigma methodologies.
Mentor junior engineers and technicians and provide technical training to operational teams.
Develop Process Control Plans, FMEAs, Work Instructions, and Troubleshooting Guides.
Maintain effective cross-functional communication including leadership.
Other duties as assigned.