Jobs at First Solar

Leads new process and product introductions from pre-production through manufacturing qualification and full implementation. Manages schedules, budgets, downtime, ramp plans, qualification scorecards, risks, testing, and cross-functional coordination. Champions programs through the change management system, leads task forces, communicates status to stakeholders and senior leadership, and resolves project, scheduling, and budget challenges. Requires knowledge of manufacturing processes, throughput, cycle time, ramp calculations, and financial tracking.

Develops, scales, transfers, and sustains thin-film solar manufacturing processes and equipment. Responsibilities include process experimentation, statistical analysis, troubleshooting, equipment qualification, continuous improvement, process documentation, and cross-functional collaboration in a 24/7 manufacturing environment. The role uses SQL, Python, JMP, and Power BI for data analysis, works with equipment suppliers, mentors junior staff, and supports safety, quality, throughput, yield, and performance improvements.

Supports solar panel yield improvement and continuous improvement projects through scrap-data analysis, root-cause investigations, experiments, production-floor support, and reporting. The intern prepares technical presentations and standard operating procedures, coordinates with cross-functional teams, assists with lab sample preparation, and monitors implementation on the factory floor. The role requires occasional first- or second-shift work and concludes with a presentation of accomplishments to leadership.

Provides technical leadership for maintenance engineering, preventive maintenance planning, equipment troubleshooting, spare-parts availability, and continuous improvement. Develops maintenance instructions, specifications, troubleshooting documentation, and reports; monitors equipment downtime and leads improvement projects with cross-functional teams. The role also supports training, PM optimization, throughput improvements, and maintenance data management, with potential direct reports and required domestic and international travel.

Performs import/export trade compliance operations, including reviewing entry and shipping documentation, determining HTS classifications, supporting export controls and free trade agreement analyses, maintaining compliance records, auditing data, and coordinating with customs brokers and internal departments. The role also supports CTPAT reporting, process improvements, sourcing decisions, and regulatory documentation.

Installs and qualifies manufacturing equipment, troubleshoots production-line equipment, yield, quality, and process issues, and implements improvements. Designs experiments, collects and analyzes performance data, maintains gauges and process controls, develops documentation and SOPs, supports equipment and process projects, trains technicians and production associates, and collaborates with production teams and suppliers. The role requires wet chemistry experience, statistical analysis, metrology knowledge, and adherence to manufacturing safety procedures.

Manages complex cross-functional global manufacturing programs from planning through high-volume rollout. Develops schedules, coordinates engineering, manufacturing, quality, supply chain, finance, and safety stakeholders, manages project reviews and action items, negotiates goals, develops mitigation plans, and drives projects to completion on time and within budget. Maintains project-management systems and coordinates resources across one to three simultaneous projects. The role has no direct reports and requires occasional travel.

Leads the scaling, qualification, troubleshooting, and continuous improvement of thin-film photovoltaic manufacturing processes and equipment. Partners with engineering, supply chain, EHS, quality, and equipment vendors to define requirements, qualify tools, and ramp processes to 24x7 production. Uses statistical methods, data analysis, and structured problem-solving to improve safety, throughput, yield, and performance. Develops process controls, FMEAs, documentation, and training while mentoring engineers and technicians.

Manufacturing Engineering Intern supporting integration engineering projects focused on improving yield and efficiency in high-volume semiconductor or photovoltaic manufacturing. The intern will collaborate cross-functionally, establish systems, track and document engineering changes, achieve project targets, and present accomplishments to leadership. Candidates should be enrolled in an undergraduate or graduate science or engineering program and have knowledge of semiconductors, engineering, data analytics, physics, chemistry, materials science, or photovoltaics.

Hands-on R&D internship supporting solar panel experiments at First Solar's California Technology Center. Work with engineers and technicians on inkjet printing and spray coating of uniform thin films, collect and analyze experimental data, use MS Excel, collaborate with team, and present project results to leadership. Internship runs 3-5 months during the fall term.

Supports laser process optimization and materials characterization for photovoltaic modules. Conducts experimental testing, prepares samples, measures physical and electrical properties, analyzes materials using optical microscopy and statistical methods, maintains experimental records, and helps scale laser processes. The intern will learn equipment operation, calibration, and maintenance, collaborate across teams, solve problems, and present project accomplishments to leadership.

Executes end-to-end planning for spare and IDM materials, balancing global supply and demand to support manufacturing operations. Manages inventory levels, planned orders, supplier forecasts, material master data, transitions, and exception reporting. Collaborates globally to resolve capacity constraints, optimize inventory and financial metrics, and minimize obsolescence. The role requires SAP or ERP experience, data analysis, cross-functional communication, and adherence to quality, safety, and audit procedures.

Leads strategy, roadmap, development, and lifecycle management for IoT- and AI-enabled manufacturing products. Partners with engineering, R&D, data science, marketing, sales, customers, and global stakeholders to integrate sensors, actuators, cloud platforms, machine learning, and computer vision. Drives predictive maintenance, quality automation, process optimization, security compliance, market analysis, and customer-centric product improvements.

Supports 24/7 manufacturing operations through employee relations, onboarding, offboarding, recruitment coordination, benefits, training, policy implementation, employment law compliance, HRIS reporting, audits, and manager coaching. Partners with employees, supervisors, recruiting, payroll, and benefits teams to resolve workplace issues, maintain accurate records, improve HR processes, and support compensation, promotions, restructuring, and organizational goals.

Build CFD-based digital twins for industrial equipment using ANSYS FLUENT and ANSYS Twin Builder. Develop virtual simulations that predict pressure, velocity, species, and equipment performance in minutes rather than days. Complete two project phases, collaborate with an engineering mentor, optimize equipment operations, and present project accomplishments to leadership.

Installs and qualifies manufacturing equipment, troubleshoots production, yield, quality, and process issues, and executes experiments in a pilot manufacturing environment. The role analyzes equipment and product performance data, implements process and yield improvements, maintains process specifications and control plans, develops operating procedures, trains technicians, and collaborates with Operations, EHS, Development, Controls, and equipment suppliers. Domestic and international travel of 5%–10% is required.

Conducts material and device research to improve thin-film solar cell efficiency, stability, and manufacturing cost. Plans and executes experiments in laboratory and manufacturing environments, analyzes data using statistical and engineering methods, evaluates materials and equipment, and coordinates development projects. The role may direct hourly associates, coach team members, and support cross-functional engineering initiatives while following environmental, quality, and safety policies.

Build Python data pipelines for automated perovskite solar panel characterization. Extract electrical performance metrics from raw J-V data, classify device anomalies, generate pass/fail reports, and correlate electroluminescence image metrics with IV performance. The intern will establish panel screening criteria, document results, collaborate with an engineer mentor, and present project accomplishments to leadership.

Spring 2027 internship supporting product strategy, market intelligence, financial modeling, and AI-enabled business intelligence. The intern will analyze datasets and market trends, build dashboards and AI assistants, develop knowledge repositories, support consultants and data providers, and collaborate across departments. The role includes leading an AI-enabled strategy or project-finance initiative and presenting its business impact to leadership.

Spring 2027 engineering internship at First Solar's Perrysburg, Ohio Manufacturing and Technology Center. The intern will complete analytical and engineering project work, collaborate across departments, participate in training and meetings, and lead at least one engineering project involving product design, competitor benchmarking, or energy prediction. The intern will present project accomplishments to leadership and gain experience in First Solar's business and technology environment.