Associate Development Engineer

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

• 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.

• 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.

• 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.

• 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.

• Reports to Manager
  - Process Development
• May have direct reports.

• Some travel may be required,