First Solar reserves the right to offer you a role most applicable to your experience and skillset.
Basic Job Functions:
The Test & Measurement Engineer is responsible for ensuring the accuracy, reliability, and global consistency of photovoltaic measurement systems through simulator calibration, reference standard management, measurement system analysis, data analytics, and continuous improvement of global testing and metrology programs.
Education/Experience:
- Bachelor’s degree in a technical discipline with 2 years’ experience as First Solar Engineer I or 3 years Engineering experience in desired areas or 2 years Engineering experience and 3 years technical experience in desired areas or
- MS Degree in a technical discipline with 2-4 years Engineering experience in desired areas or
- PhD Degree in a technical discipline with 0-3 years Engineering experience in desired areas.
Required Skills/Competencies:
Responsibilities include but are not limited to:
- Develop and maintain global solar simulator calibration, qualification, and verification programs.
- Establish and administer reference module selection, training, certification, and lifecycle management processes.
- Coordinate and analyze global simulator round robin studies to ensure measurement alignment across sites.
- Monitor simulator health, calibration performance, and measurement system stability using statistical methods and control charts.
- Investigate measurement deviations, calibration failures, and equipment drift; lead root cause analysis and corrective actions.
- Develop automation, data analytics, dashboards, and reporting tools to support calibration and measurement assurance activities.
- Define measurement acceptance criteria, operating limits, and technical standards for calibration activities.
- Support new equipment qualification, requalification, and metrology improvement initiatives.
- Collaborate with manufacturing, quality, reliability, and external certification laboratories to maintain traceability and measurement accuracy.
- Provide technical leadership and training related to calibration systems, measurement practices, and data analysis.
- Excellent oral and written communications skills.
- Strong track record of effective problem-solving, and root-cause analysis working with cross functional technical teams.
- Understanding of development and reliability engineering systems (FMEA, SPC) and structured problem-solving methods.
- Demonstrated proficiency in Statistical Data Analysis, DOE and experience using any statistical software (Like Minitab, JMP, SAS, Matlab etc).
- Ability to work with minimal supervision.
- Experience in high volume ramp and/or new tech transfer.
- Lean Manufacturing knowledge.
Essential Responsibilities:
- Ensure adherence to all safety/environmental procedures
- Ability to lead discussion with cross-functional departments and satellite sites to ensure timely communication and effective problem solving
- Design statistical experiments and Analyze data using sound statistical methodology to simplify and standardize data analysis methods.
- Provide engineering support for high volume manufacturing across multiple engineering departments in a global organization, working with international teams in cross functional environment
- Analyze data and trends, correlate to metrics, and identify data driven solution for detection and alert
- Implement production solution for efficient use of metric monitoring and visualization to identify top issues for the day
- Implement advanced data models for wattage prediction and label for solar panel utilizing process inputs and outputs
- Predictive analysis for optimizing throughput, yield and improve process control
- Utilize Industry 4.0 elements to improve process and productivity
- Develop proof of concepts and scale them up to production levels locally and cross plant
- Job description subject to change at any time
Reporting Relationships:
- Reports to Senior Reliability Manager
- May have direct reports.
Travel:
Estimated Salary Range:
US Physical Requirements:
- Will sit, stand, or walk short distances for up to 12 hours per day.
- Will climb stairs or steps on a frequent basis.
- Will lift up to 58 pounds on an occasional basis, according to work instruction.
- Will lift up to 37 pounds on a frequent basis.
- Will push or pull up to 50 pounds of force on an occasional basis.
- Will push or pull up to 37 pounds of force on a frequent basis.
- Required to use hands to grasp, lift, handle, carry or feel objects on a frequent basis.
- 20/40 vision in each eye separately and both eyes (with or without correction), the ability to distinguish between red, yellow, and green and peripheral vision >70 degrees is required.
- May reach above shoulder heights and below the waist on a frequent basis.
- May stoop, kneel, or bend, on an occasional basis.
- Must comply with all safety standards and procedures.
- Ability to wear personal protective equipment is required (including, but not limited to: steel-toed shoes, cut-resistant gloves, jackets, aprons &/or arm guards, safety glasses or goggles, hearing protection & respirators) as 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 band 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.