Development Engineer IV USA

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

Basic Job Functions:

• Develop predictive physical and physics-inspired phenomenological models to study and improve fabrication processes, performance, and stability of new device technologies. Design experiments to parametrize developed models and verify their accuracy and dependability.
• Perform material and device research to enhance thin film solar cell performance and stability and to reduce manufacturing cost.
• Responsible for projects or functions that are highly complex require significant innovation and are critical to department objectives.
• Plan, execute and characterize development engineering experiments in the laboratory and manufacturing environment with strategic foresight. Success requires iterative planning and de-risking over long periods.
• Apply statistical and engineering methods to optimize organizational effectiveness. Core leader within the group in one or more areas.

Education/Experience:

• Bachelor’s Degree in an engineering discipline or similar technical discipline and 20 years of relevant technical experience or 2 years of experience as a Development Engineer III at First Solar.
• Master’s Degree in an engineering discipline or similar technical discipline and 15 years of relevant technical experience or 2 years of experience as a Development Engineer III at First Solar.
• Ph.D. in an engineering discipline or similar technical discipline and 10 years of relevant technical experience or 2 years of experience as a Development Engineer III at First Solar.

Required Skills/Competencies:

• Technical expert and innovator in one area of photovoltaic processes and/or equipment development.
• Deep understanding of process/equipment interactions with the ability to develop new solutions.
• In depth knowledge in several fields from the list of photovoltaic device theory, materials science, process engineering, characterization techniques and other fields relevant to First Solar's technology.
• Strong sense of project ownership with hands-on and can-do attitude.
• Strong written and verbal English communications skills to ensure effective participation with interdepartmental teams.
• Building mathematical descriptions of observed physical phenomena and utilization of numerical methods in solving complex physical problems. Familiarity with global optimization methods is a plus.
• Strong programming skills in at least one of the following: MATLAB, Python, C++. 
• Advanced data analytics and data manipulation skills.

Essential Responsibilities:

• Develop, parametrize, and verify models that
• Use developed models to optimize device architecture and fabrication process in terms of performance and reliability of PV module.
• Provide data-driven recommendations to management on specific changes to improve device performance and reliability.
• Identify opportunities for improvement in solar cell efficiency, material selection and process/equipment design through engineering, scientific or empirical methods.
• Improve state of the art techniques for material analysis, statistical analysis of data, or execution planning of experiments. Develop a work plan that has unclear solution paths.
• Effective communicator with internal and external partners and customers. Demonstrated ability to lead cross-functional efforts as needed.
• May train, mentor and manage junior and peers on specific subject matters. Specialist within the group.
• Comply with Company's Environmental, Quality, Safety or any other policies that have been enforced.  Contributes to continuous improvement of said policies.
• Other duties as assigned.
• Job description subject to change at any time.
• quantitatively describe defect chemistry and mass transport in semiconductor stack during fabrication and field operation, as well as resulting device performance.
• assess durability of device design and packaging in terms of its resistance to moisture ingress, electro-chemical corrosion, and abnormal operating conditions.

Reporting Relationships:

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

Travel:

• Minimal travel.  Less than 2 weeks per year.

Estimated Salary Range:

• $97,500-$139,000 Annually. 

Us 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.