Development Engineer IV - Perovskite Physics USA

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

Basic Job Functions: 

• Serve as a senior technical contributor within First Solar’s Perovskite Physics group. 
• Support development and scale‑up of First Solar’s next‑generation perovskite technology through physics‑based mechanism understanding, advanced metrology development, and root‑cause analysis.
• Operate at the intersection of materials science, device physics, and pilot manufacturing engineering, acting as a technical leader in defining measurement strategies, correlating metrology data to performance and reliability, and resolving complex process‑structure‑property relationships.
• Responsible for developing and deploying manufacturing‑relevant characterization and diagnostics for perovskite pilot line, enabling improved process control, faster learning cycles, and robust yield and performance outcomes. 
• The position requires strong independent problem‑solving capability, deep technical expertise, and close collaboration with cross‑functional process, equipment, and integration teams.

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:

• Advanced understanding of optoelectronic device physics and correlation of physical measurements to IV, QE, reliability, and low-level device metrics.
• Strong understanding of perovskite materials physics, including crystallization behavior, defect states, interfaces, and degradation mechanisms.
• Demonstrated expertise in advanced materials and device characterization and data‑driven root‑cause analysis.
• Advanced skills in data analysis, experimental design, and statistical interpretation.
• Physics‑driven problem solver with strong mechanistic intuition.
• Comfortable with ambiguity and early‑stage technologies with an ability to reduce ambiguity through structured, physics‑based problem solving.
• Strong experimental rigor and data discipline.
• High ownership mindset; capable of independently driving complex technical programs with company‑level impact.
• Independently defines technical approaches within program objectives.
• Strong cross‑functional communicator. 
• Commitment to safety, quality, and operational excellence.

Preferred Skills/Competencies:

• Hands‑on experience with inline or high‑throughput metrology in a manufacturing or pilot‑line setting.
• Experience supporting technology transfer from R&D to manufacturing.
• Record of publications, patents, or externally recognized technical contributions in perovskite photovoltaics.

Essential Responsibilities:

• Develop and validate mechanistic understanding linking perovskite deposition, crystallization, interfaces, and post‑processing to device‑level electrical and environmental performance.
• Perform deep root cause investigations of yield loss, efficiency variability, and reliability excursions using metrology data, physics‑based models, and cross‑functional inputs.
• Lead failure analysis and excursion response efforts, including hypothesis generation, experimental design, data interpretation, and corrective action definition.
• Design, develop, and deploy advanced inline, at‑line, and offline metrology methods to monitor perovskite film formation, interfaces, microstructure, defects, and uniformity and their correlations with device performance and stability.
• Lead qualification of novel optical, spectroscopic, electrical, and structural characterization techniques suitable for pilot‑line operation (e.g., hyperspectral imaging, PL/EL spectral analysis and mapping, Raman, including in‑situ diagnostics).
• Define metrology requirements and specifications to enable process window characterization, early defect detection, and statistical process control.
• Partner with process development, equipment, and integration teams to translate lab‑ and pilot-scale characterization techniques into manufacturing‑relevant, scalable measurement solutions.
• Support DOE development, parametric studies, and technology readiness assessments tied to pilot production goals.
• Serve as a subject‑matter expert in perovskite photovoltaic device physics, metrology, and physics‑based diagnostics for internal stakeholders.
• Mentor junior engineers and scientists in experimental rigor, data analysis, and problem‑solving methodologies.
• Author and review technical reports, internal white papers, and invention disclosures; contribute to IP generation where applicable.
• Collaborate with external partners, national labs, and equipment vendors.
• 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 Development Manager.
• May have direct reports.

Travel:

• Less than 10% travel.

Estimated Salary Range:

• $99,600-$142,000 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 37 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 both eyes together, 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, and a condition of employment and continued employment (requires little or no facial hair) for those requiring respirator use.

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.