Development Engineer Technician II (2nd Shift: S-T 12:00 PM - 8:30 PM)

First Solar, Inc.; Santa Clara (CA); On-site; USD 41,000 - 59,000; Full time

Job summary

First Solar, Inc. in Santa Clara, CA, seeks a Development Engineer Technician II for wet process support in a lab and production environment.

You will perform spin coating, spray coating, slot die, and related coatings, translating instructions into experimental results. This 2nd shift role (Sunday–Thursday) emphasizes hands-on process execution, data analysis, and collaboration with the engineering team to improve coating performance and equipment reliability.

Qualifications

• High School Diploma or equivalent with 10 years of relevant technical experience or 2 years as Development Engineer Technician I.
• Associate's Degree in engineering with 3 years of relevant technical experience or 2 years as Development Engineer Technician I.
• Bachelor's Degree in engineering with no prior technical work experience.

Responsibilities

• Applies technical skills and adapts procedures, processes, tools, equipment, and techniques to meet complex requirements.
• Duties and tasks are frequently non-routine; able to resolve questions and problems independently.
• Has ownership within the functional group of a particular operational process or equipment and trains others.
• Plan, coordinate and execute engineering tests in the laboratory, including cross-team coordination.
• Work under minimal supervision and comply with safety and environmental policies.

Skills

Sample testing

Semiconductor fabrication

Electrical measurements

Optical measurements

Problem solving

MS Office

JMP/SQL

Education

High School Diploma or equivalent

Associate's Degree in Engineering

Bachelor's Degree in Engineering

Tools

JMP

SQL

MS Office

Job description

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

Basic Job Functions:

• Support DE tests in a lab environment.
• Use understanding of engineering & tech skills to interpret instructions into actions and experimental outcomes.
• May assist in troubleshooting tool/process issues and suggest system improvements to achieve performance goals.
• May compile and analyze test data from performed testing.
• This is a 2nd shift role on a Sunday through Thursday schedule.
• Wet process support for DE and site operation: hands-on execution of general wet processes, such as spin coating, spray coating, slot die, etc., for various critical coatings; own SOP creation and maintenance; cross-train the rest of the crew; troubleshoot operation, process and equipment issues; ensure quality of the node; and drive continuous improvement in collaboration with the engineering team.

Education/Experience:

• High School Diploma or equivalent and 10 years of relevant technical experience or 2 years of experience as a Development Engineer Technician I at First Solar.
• Associate's Degree in an engineering discipline or similar technical discipline and 3 years of relevant technical experience or 2 years of experience as a Development Engineer Technician I at First Solar.
• Bachelor's Degree in engineering discipline or similar technical discipline, without prior technical work experience.

Required Skills/Competencies:

• Ability to perform sample testing, semiconductor device fabrication and/or electrical or optical measurements.
• Ability to troubleshoot basic to moderate process and equipment issues on the production line or in the lab.
• Intermediate knowledge in MS Office is a must; some knowledge of JMP/SQL a plus.
• Expert in execution of experiments in lab or floor. May train others.
• Ability to communicate on a regular basis with all levels of associates.
• Prior experience in wet coatings in one or more of these categories (spin coat, spray coat, slot die, industrial inkjet print, ink mixing, cleaning) is a must.
• Prior experience serving complex wet coating equipment (such as a Slot Die, Spray coater, Industrial Inkjet Print) a strong plus.
• Prior experience working on ink mixing processing (including dry/wet mixing and ink quality control) a strong plus.
• Prior experience working on Perovskite PV material system a plus
• Ability to support multiple wet process nodes and to move flexibly between coating platforms as development priorities change.

Essential Responsibilities:

• Applies some technical skills to the position. May adapt procedures, processes, tools, equipment, and techniques to meet the more complex requirements of the position.
• Duties and tasks are frequently non-routine. Able to resolve many questions and problems independently.
• Has ownership within his/her functional group of a particular operational process or equipment. Oversee maintenance and trains others in this process.
• Plan, coordinate and execute engineering tests in the laboratory, including coordination across team boundaries.
• Work under minimal supervision.
• Comply 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.
• Job assignments and shifts may change depending on job needs.

Reporting Relationships:

• Reports to Development Engineer. Receives daily operational direction from the Development Engineering Operations supervision team.

Travel:

• Up to 10% domestic

Estimated Salary Range:

• 30.38 USD per hr.- 42.97 USD per hr.

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.