Development Engineer III

Overview

Research and develop thin‑film solar cell materials, using advanced characterization to boost performance.

Key Responsibilities

• technical reports
• statistical analysis
• lab experiments
• material specification
• sample analysis
• surface analysis

Tasks

-Generate high quality technical reports and presentations to communicate results and recommendations to the customer. -Comply with Company's Environmental, Quality, Safety or any other policies that have been enforced. Contributes to continuous improvement of said policies. -Required to use hands to grasp, lift, handle, carry or feel objects on a frequent basis. -Apply statistical and engineering methods to optimize organizational effectiveness. Improve methods for use by others. -Will climb stairs on an occasional basis. -Plan, execute and characterize development engineering experiments in the laboratory and manufacturing environment with strategic foresight. Drives actions with strategic foresight. -May be responsible to determine and evaluate material specification for improved performance. May be responsible to determine and evaluate tool/equipment specifications. -Responsible for projects or functions that are highly complex require significant innovation and are critical to department objectives. -Perform material and device research to enhance thin film solar cell performance and stability and to reduce manufacturing cost. -Translate the results into an actionable item for the customer to drive improvements in a process or product. -Will lift, push or pull up to 37 pounds on an occasional basis. -Will sit, stand or walk short distances for up to the entire duration of a shift. -Identify opportunities for improvements in solar cell efficiency, material selection and process/equipment design through engineering, scientific or empirical methods. -Prepare and analyze samples using relevant analytical instrumentation to evaluate material properties. -May stoop, kneel, or bend, on an occasional basis. -Interpret analytical data from multiple surface sensitive techniques (e.g., XPS, SIMS, SEM, AFM) and apply learnings to problem solving issues during project development. -May train, mentor and manage junior and peers on specific subject matters.

Requirements

• material characterization
• xps
• sem
• phd
• communication
• project ownership

What You Bring

-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. -Proven ability to use material characterization data (e.g., XPS, ToF-SIMS, AFM, SEM, TEM) to drive improvements in development processes. -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. -Extensive hands-on experience with XPS, SEM, or SIMS, including instrument operation, troubleshooting, and method development is required. -Strong communication skills and teamwork across organizations. -Ph.D. in materials science, chemistry, physics or engineering discipline and 5 years of relevant technical experience or 2 years of experience as a Development Engineer II at First Solar. -0% - 5% (On occasion/as needed for training, etc.) -Must be able to comply with all safety standards and procedures. -Master’s Degree in materials science, chemistry, physics or engineering discipline and 8 years of relevant technical experience or 2 years of experience as a Development Engineer II at First Solar. -Hands-on experience and expertise in a materials characterization laboratory environment. -20/40 vision in both eyes together, with or without correction, is required. -Experience in evaluating surface properties and interfacial interactions in thin film devices. -In depth knowledge of thin film CdTe and/or perovskite PV technology is preferred. -Experience developing new characterization methods. -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 reach above shoulder heights and below the waist on a frequent basis. -Strong sense of project ownership with hands-on and can-do attitude.

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Benefits

-$82,100-$117,000 Annually.

About First Solar

-Focuses on manufacturing advanced photovoltaic (PV) solar modules and providing utility-scale PV power plants. -Offers a range of solutions, from manufacturing to large-scale solar power projects, emphasizing sustainability. -Pioneers a closed-loop recycling process for solar panels, reducing environmental impact. -Drives clean energy transformation with integrated solutions including development, financing, and operation of solar plants.

Sector Specialisms

Security Clearance

-all candidates must successfully complete a background check and any other required tests before employment.