Associate Development Engineer

First Solar reserves the right to offer you a role most applicable to your experience and skillset. Basic

Job Functions:

* Perform material and device research to enhance thin film solar cell performance and stability and to reduce manufacturing cost.
* Primary/secondary ownership of projects or functional areas within the group.
* Plan, execute and characterize development engineering experiments in the laboratory and manufacturing environment.
* Apply statistics and engineering methods to optimize workflow and effectiveness. Education/

Experience:

* High School Diploma or equivalent and 10 years of relevant technical experience or 2 years of experience as a Development Engineer Technician II at First Solar.
* Associate'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 Technician II at First Solar.
* Bachelor's Degree in an engineering discipline or similar technical discipline and 1 year of relevant technical experience or 1 year of experience as a Development Engineer Technician II at First Solar.
* Master's Degree in an engineering discipline or similar technical discipline without prior technical work experience. Required Skills/

Competencies:

* Advanced knowledge in several skills that are relevant to the group.
* Skills and hands-on experience in design and execution of experiments in laboratory or manufacturing environment.
* Analytical skills to interpret data and derive conclusions.
* Ability to make and execute detailed plans to achieve objectives with strong sense of ownership.
* Effective communication skills.
* Evaluation of adhesives, coatings, glass, polymers, metals and other materials and mechanical properties using industry standard analysis techniques and methods, preferred.
* Process development and equipment/process characterization for adhesives, coatings, glass, metals, polymers, mechanical part assembly, or related materials, processes and application equipment preferred.
* Fundamental understanding of process capability, KPIs/KPOs, detailed process mapping, DFMEA, PFMEA, control plans, fingerprints, OCAPs and other equipment or process related documentation, preferred.
* Troubleshooting, root cause or failure analysis experience with equipment, product, process or material failures, preferred.
* Product development and product qualification process, specification and DFMEA experience, preferred.

Essential Responsibilities:

* Identify opportunities for improvement in solar cell efficiency, material selection and process/equipment design through engineering, scientific or empirical methods.
* Apply established methods for material analysis, statistical analysis of data or execution/planning of experiments.
* May contribute to determine and evaluate material specification for improved performance. May contribute to determine and evaluate tool/equipment specifications.
* Effective team member that can support cross functional project and take ownership of sub-deliverables.
* Works under minimal supervision. May assist in orienting, mentoring, and training lower level employees.
* Complies with Company's Environmental, Quality, Safety or any other policies that have been enforced.
* Other duties as assigned.
* Job description subject to change at any time. Reporting Relationships:
* Reports to Manager
- Process Development
* May have direct reports. Travel:
* Some travel may be required,