Engineer- Manufacturing Technology Scaling II (Chemist)

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

Basic Job Functions:

• 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 in formulation control and adjustment, material characterization, mixing process and hardware in a manufacturing setting.
• Collaborate with coating engineers correlating chemistry with wet-coating and eventual device performance.
• 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.

Education/Experience:

• Bachelor's degree in chemistry 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 Chemistry 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 Chemistry 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 Lithography Chemicals Synthesis and Quality Control, Dye and Pigment Manufacturing including Unit-Operation Design and Sustaining.

Required Skills/Competencies:

• Technical leadership in cross-functional and cross-site settings; ability to work with minimal supervision.
• Experience in blending chemical solutions, equipment for same and chemistry delivery equipment to coating process.
• Experienced in developing wet coatings (inkjet, spray, roll-coating or similar technologies).
• 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.

Essential Responsibilities:

• 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.
• Job description subject to change at any time.

Reporting Relationships:

• Manager or Sr. Manager, Manufacturing Technology Scaling.
• May have direct reports.

Travel:

• 10% - 20%

Estimated Salary Range:

• $80,700-$115,000 Annually.

US Physical Requirements:

Hybrid Physical Requirements:

• Will sit, stand, or walk short distances for up to the entire duration of a shift.
• Will climb stairs on an occasional basis.
• Will lift, push, or pull up to 27 pounds on an occasional basis.
• Required to use hands to grasp, lift, handle, carry or feel objects on a frequent basis.
• 20/40 vision in each eye, with or without correction, is required.
• Must be able to comply with all safety standards and procedures.
• May reach above shoulder heights and below the waist on a frequent basis.
• May stoop, kneel, or bend, on an occasional basis.
• Ability to wear personal protective equipment is required (including but not limited to; steel-toed shoes, gloves, safety glasses, hearing protection, protective jacket or apron and arm guards).
• All associates working on the production floor may be required to wear a respirator at any given time and thus, the ability to wear a respirator is a condition of employment and continued employment (requires little or no facial hair).

Potential candidates will meet the education and experience requirements provided on the above job description and excel in completing the listed responsibilities for this role. All candidates receiving an offer of employment must successfully complete a background check and any other tests that may be required.

Equal Opportunity Employer Statement: First Solar is an Equal Opportunity Employer that values and respects the importance of a diverse and inclusive workforce. It is the policy of the company to recruit, hire, train and promote persons in all job titles without regard to race, color, religion, sex, age, national origin, veteran status, disability, sexual orientation, or gender identity. We recognize that diversity and inclusion is a driving force in the success of our company.