Laboratory Operations Supervisor

First Solar, Inc.; Santa Clara (CA); On-site; USD 81,000 - 116,000; Full time

Job summary

First Solar Inc. in Santa Clara, CA seeks an experienced Lab Supervisor to oversee CTC lab operations, coordinate tasks, manage technicians, and ensure safety, quality, and on-time data collection.

You will develop and implement operating systems to improve safety and throughput, conduct weekly verifications, maintain equipment and inventory, train staff, and generate lab metrics. The role requires a technical degree with leadership experience, strong communication, and the ability to work long

Qualifications

• Bachelor degree (Mechanical preferred) with 4+ years in manufacturing or lab; 1+ year supervision.
• Associates degree (Mechanical preferred) with 7 years in manufacturing or lab; 3 years supervision.
• First Solar supervisory experience for 2+ years in manufacturing or lab.

Responsibilities

• Ensure a safe work environment.
• Develop and implement operating systems to increase safety and lab throughput.
• Ensure scheduled lab activities are completed on time with data collection and quality checks.
• Acquire test priority from multiple groups and execute testing by priority.
• Develop and maintain lab personnel, write/update work instructions, and conduct OJT.
• Ensure tests follow WI and training is up to date.
• Start up/shut down equipment per task specs.
• Stage task materials and components.
• Maintain area storage and inventories; reduce/dispose materials as needed for safety and efficiency.
• Perform health baseline checks and troubleshoot with owners as needed.
• Work long hours and weekends for critical priorities.
• Communicate abnormal findings immediately.
• Support Engineers on improvement projects.
• Ensure calibrations of testing equipment are current.
• Schedule equipment resources and lab personnel.
• Analyze data with JMP and in-house apps.
• Prepare/update summary reports for health and inventory metrics.
• Enforce procedures and disciplinary actions as needed.
• Develop associates and perform quarterly reviews.
• Assist in other tasks assigned by manager.
• Audit lab processes for compliance.
• Support daily lab operations issues.
• Maintain 5S and safety standards in lab.
• Report lab operation metrics.
• Foster effective communication and teamwork.

Skills

MS Word

Excel

PPT

People management

Process improvement

Data analysis

Troubleshooting

Interpersonal skills

Communication

EH&S knowledge

Self-motivation

Problem solving

Multi-tasking

Education

Bachelor in technical discipline (Mechanical preferred)

Associate in technical discipline (Mechanical preferred)

First Solar supervisory experience (2+ yrs)

Tools

JMP

Job description

Basic Job Functions:

Supervise CTC lab operations effectively and efficiently by interacting with Equipment/Process owners, task requestors and laboratory staffs. Work with request owners to determine task priority and any special quality check requirements, scheduling equipment, and assigning technicians and equipment to appropriate tasks. Perform weekly process/equipment quality verification checks maintaining results in SPC capable database and troubleshoot failures, escalating issues when required. Perform basic equipment maintenance and first level troubleshooting of area equipment working with tool owners, controls, and maintenance team members as required to bring equipment back online when compromised. Maintain area material inventory, stage appropriate materials for tasks, actively monitor and maintain area storage space, and perform startup and shutdown operation of equipment in support of tasks. Look for and implement opportunities to improve quality and task efficiency in area while providing regular lab updates on equipment/inventory and space status. Responsible for lab safety including user adherence to rules in lab while maintaining technician performance, training and performance evaluations.

Education & Experience:

• Bachelor Degree in a technical discipline (Mechanical preferred) with minimum 4 years work experience in a manufacturing or lab environment, minimum 1 year supervision or leadership experience.

• Or Associates Degree in a technical discipline (Mechanical preferred) with minimum 7 years of work experience in a manufacturing or lab environment, minimum 3 years supervision or leadership experience.

• Or First Solar Supervisory experience for a minimum of 2 years in a manufacturing or lab setting.

Required Skills:

• Computer skills. MS Word, Excel, and PPT (Intermediate level or above desired).

• Proven ability to train and develop associates.

• Proven ability to develop and implement operational systems to improve safety and throughput.

• Proven basic data analysis skills.

• Average to excellent ability to use tools and operating equipment is required including ability to troubleshoot issues and perform basic maintenance.

• Must possess strong interpersonal skills to effectively manage employees.

• Must have excellent verbal and written communication skills.

• Knowledge of environmental, health and safety requirements.

• Must be motivated to work independently with little supervision.

• Must be able to demonstrate problem solving ability

• Must be able to multi-task.

Essential Functions & Responsibilities:

• Responsible to ensure a safe work environment.

• Develop and implement operational systems that result in increase in safety and lab throughput.

• Responsible to ensure scheduled laboratory activities are completed on time, including required data collection and quality checks.

• Responsible to acquire test priority from multiple business groups and execute testing based on priority.

• Responsible to develop and maintain laboratory personnel including writing and updating work instructions and conducting on-the-job training (OJT) for laboratory associates.

• Responsible to ensure that all tests are done per the WI and lab associate training is up to date.

• Responsible to start up and shut down equipment per task specifics and requirements

• Responsible for staging task specific materials and components as required for task

• Responsible for maintaining area storage and inventories and working with users to reduce/disposition materials as required to maintain lab efficiency and safety standards.

• Responsible to perform equipment and process health baseline checks and troubleshoot or expand to owners as necessary after completing verification and basic troubleshooting.

• Willing to work long hours and weekends to support critical task priorities.

• Responsible to communicate immediately any abnormal findings on the product or testing equipment.

• Responsible to support Engineers on any improvement project either on the product or testing equipment.

• Responsible to ensure all testing equipment have up to date calibrations.

• Responsible to schedule equipment resources and laboratory personnel.

• Able to perform data analysis using JMP and applications built in-house.

• Able to prepare and update summary reports for equipment health and material inventories and any other requested lab quality metrics.

• Responsible to enforce procedures and apply disciplinary action as needed.

• Responsible to develop associates and perform quarterly performance reviews.

• Responsible to assist in any other task or job assigned by manager.

• Responsible to audit lab processes for compliance.

• Support and react to daily lab operation issues.

• Maintain clean lab to 5S standards, housekeeping, and safety standards.

• Maintain and report lab operation metrics.

• Responsible for effective communication and team building.

Estimated Salary Range: 81,250 USD per year- 115,700 per year

Physical Requirements:

• Will sit, stand or walk short distances for up to 12 hours per day

• Will climb stairs on an occasional basis

• Will exert up to 50 pounds of force to lift, push or pull on a seldom basis

• Will lift, push or pull up to 27 pounds on a frequent basis

• Required to use hands to grasp, lift, handle, carry or feel objects repetitively 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)

Please note: 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, pre-employment drug screen, and any other test that may be required for the role.

Equal Opportunity Employer Statement: First Solar Inc. is an Equal Opportunity Employer (EOE) 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.