Development Engineer III

First Solar, Inc.; Santa Clara (CA); Hybrid; USD 109,000 - 156,000; Full time

Job summary

First Solar in Santa Clara, CA, seeks a Development Engineer to investigate performance and reliability in perovskite solar cells, owning metrology for quality, uptime and baseline correlations.

Plan and run development experiments in lab and manufacturing, applying statistics to optimize processes and driving improvements with cross-functional teams.

Qualifications

• Technical expert in device physics, optical/electrical characterization and metrology.
• Experience with perovskite photovoltaics is a plus.
• Hands-on lab/manufacturing environment experience.

Responsibilities

• Identify opportunities to improve solar cell efficiency, materials and process/equipment design.
• Improve state-of-the-art material analysis, statistics, and experiment planning.
• Develop techniques to understand failure modes in solar cells.
• Analyze large data sets to identify trends linking processing to stability.
• Collaborate with baseline team to identify root causes of excursions.

Skills

Device physics

Optical characterization

Thin-film metrology

Equipment development

Perovskite photovoltaics

Laboratory experience

Cross-functional collaboration

Education

Bachelor/Master/PhD in engineering or similar technical discipline

5+ years relevant tech experience or 2 years as Development Engineer II at First Solar

Tools

Laboratory metrology equipment

Job description

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

Basic Job Functions:

• Use various methods of device analysis to investigate performance, variability and reliability of perovskite solar cells..
• Own metrology for baseline ensuring quality control, uptime and maintenance.
• Develop methodology to monitor critical processes and establish correlations with performance and stability.
• Perform device research to enhance thin film solar cell performance and stability and to reduce manufacturing cost.
• Plan, execute and characterize development engineering experiments in the laboratory and manufacturing environment with strategic foresight. Drives actions with strategic foresight.
• Apply statistical and engineering methods to optimize organizational effectiveness. Improve methods for use by others.

Education/Experience:

• Associate'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 II at First Solar.
• Bachelor's Degree in an engineering discipline or similar technical discipline and 10 years of relevant technical experience or 2 years of experience as a Development Engineer II at First Solar.
• Master's Degree in an engineering discipline or similar technical discipline and 8 years of relevant technical experience or 2 years of experience as a Development Engineer II at First Solar.
• Ph.D. in an engineering discipline or similar technical discipline and 5 years of relevant technical experience or 2 years of experience as a Development Engineer II at First Solar.

Required Skills/Competencies:

• Technical expert and innovator in device physics, optical and electrical device characterization, thin-film metrology and equipment development.
• Prior experience in perovskite photovoltaics or optoelectronics is a plus.
• Expert and hands on experience in laboratory or manufacturing environment.
• 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 communication skills across organizations.

Essential Responsibilities:

• 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 techniques to understand failure modes and mechanisms in solar cell devices
• Analyze large data sets to identify trends and correlations relating device processing to stability.
• Partner with baseline team to identify root causes of excursions in solar cell device processing using film metrology and device analysis
• At times, significant amount of time may be spent in the lab to validate, observe, investigate while trying to understand certain failure modes
• Implement reliability testing under various stress conditions including light, heat, thermal cycling, etc
• Effective communicator with internal and external partners and customers. Effective team members that can support cross-functional projects and take ownership of sub-deliverables.
• May train, mentor and manage junior and peers on specific subject matters.
• 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.

Reporting Relationships:

• Reports to Senior Member of Technical Staff.
• May have direct reports.

Travel:

• Up to 10% per year (international and domestic).

Estimated Salary Range:

• 109,460 USD per year- 156,000 USD per year
  

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.