Engineer- Wastewater and Recycling II

First Solar (US)•Walbridge, OH

1d•$68,800 - $98,000

About The Position

The Engineer- Wastewater and Recycling II monitors and improves recycling, process water, and wastewater plant operations and equipment at the PGT site, ensuring compliance with First Solar and applicable local and federal safety and environmental requirements. The role coordinates process improvement activities and oversees project contractors and vendors to ensure process modifications are completed safely, on time, and within budget. It is also responsible for construction-team safety and environmental compliance during projects, and for ensuring that corporate plant designs and specifications are achieved and design intent is met. The position contributes to new plant concept development, detailed engineering design reviews, vendor selection, project planning and management, plant startup and commissioning, and process modifications or upgrades. It develops and implements improvements to plant processes supporting solar panel manufacturing, including water and wastewater treatment and recycling. The role may require 10%–20% travel, including international travel. The listed salary range is $68,800–$98,000 annually. The position involves work in both plant and office settings. Plant-floor duties may include standing and walking, climbing stairs, lifting and handling materials, and wearing required personal protective equipment, including a respirator when required. Candidates must complete a background check and any other required tests. First Solar is an Equal Opportunity Employer and states its commitment to diversity, inclusion, and reasonable accommodation for individuals with disabilities.

Requirements

Bachelor’s degree in engineering.
3–5 years of experience in chemical process improvements, including product quality improvement, process optimization, transitioning an R&D process into manufacturing, and extending equipment life.
Experience managing consultants, vendors, and contractors on chemical-process design upgrades.
Experience with material-handling systems design, piping design, and process-control design.
Experience managing plant equipment preventive-maintenance programs.
Experience with plant startups, process troubleshooting, and hazardous-material handling.
Project-management experience for chemical processes and/or mechanical systems, including scope, schedule, and cost management.
Ability to read and interpret process and instrumentation drawings, detailed engineering design drawings, and bills of materials for electrical, mechanical, civil, and process-control systems.
Strong statistical analysis and chemical process development skills.
Ability to transfer ideas into practical chemical manufacturing applications through all stages of process development, including process qualification.
Project-management skills to control schedules and financial budgets.
Chemical process operations skills and ability to coordinate process engineering activities with night-shift operations crew members and multiple vendors or contractors.
Experience with industrial equipment erection, installation, startup, and troubleshooting.
Strong mechanical and process-control aptitude and troubleshooting skills.
Fluency with MS Word, MS Excel, MS Project, MS Access, and AutoCAD.
Strong communication skills.
Ability to comply with safety standards and procedures and wear required personal protective equipment, including a respirator when required.
Ability to meet the stated physical requirements, including frequent lifting, pushing, or pulling up to 37 pounds and seldom exerting up to 58 pounds of force.
Required vision of 20/40 in each eye, with or without correction.

Responsibilities

Monitor and improve recycling, process water, and wastewater plant processes and equipment in accordance with safety and environmental requirements.
Develop, evaluate, and implement process improvements supporting solar panel manufacturing operations.
Conduct plant material-balance studies and develop methods to improve precious-metal recovery and reduce cadmium emissions in effluent streams.
Conduct effluent sampling and water-consumption studies to support waste minimization and water-reduction projects.
Troubleshoot chemical process problems and implement corrective actions to improve efficiency and product quality and reduce operating costs.
Manage preventive maintenance programs to improve equipment uptime.
Develop engineering process design specification packages for vendor selection, project planning, and oversight of recycling and wastewater projects.
Work with purchasing to establish acceptable technical terms and conditions for global recycling and water-treatment equipment and projects.
Assist management with capital budgets and coordinate project activities to meet deliverables, schedules, and budgets.
Coordinate with site and corporate teams to meet safety and compliance goals.
Lead startup of new processes and process modifications at existing or new plant sites.
Develop process operating procedures and train operations crew members, including night-shift crew members.
Oversee contractors and vendors and ensure process modifications are completed safely, on time, and within budget.
Ensure corporate plant designs and specifications are attained and process design intent is met during project phases.
Assist with new plant design concepts, detailed engineering design reviews, vendor selection, project planning and management, commissioning, and process upgrades.
Create effective communications to foster team building.
Adhere to safety procedures and good housekeeping standards.
Perform other duties as assigned.