Crosslinked

One of 4,191 polymer and materials roles on Crosslinked, each read for materials, degree, visa and salary. See roles like this

FS

Engineer- Manufacturing II USA

First Solar · Perrysburg, OHtoday
$81k – $115kfrom the posting

Associate-level Process Engineering roles on Crosslinked list a median of $79k (13 that show pay).

Develop and scale wet coating and drying processes for thin-film photovoltaic devices on glass panels.

Apply
Coatings/films · Process Engineering roles, by email
Apply

Worth knowing

Why it is interesting. Own the scale-up of wet coating formulations from lab to high-volume PV manufacturing, with hands-on equipment design.

Might not be for you. Heavy equipment troubleshooting and 20-30% travel; respirator required on production floor.

Bench and deskGeneralist PhD-friendlyFirst industry roleBS acceptable

Adjacent materials roleDevelop wet deposition and drying processes for functional wet-coated films; solution formulations; thin film characterization (XRD, SEM, SIMS, AFM, XPS)

H-1B filings

First Solar filed 35 H-1B labor applications for scientist and engineer roles from Jan to Dec 2025.

Most common titles: Engineer- Development II, Engineer- Manufacturing I, Engineer- Manufacturing I USA. Median filed pay: $95K a year.

From U.S. Department of Labor disclosure data. A filing is a record of past hiring, not a promise about this role, so confirm sponsorship with the employer. Titles and filed pay ·Every employer's filings

Seniority
Entry level
Work
On-site
Type
Full-time
Degree
Associate
Experience
0–3 yrs
Industry
Energy
Role
Process Engineering
Materials
thin film coatings6 roleswet coating solutions

Role details

Job Description

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

Basic Job Functions

Develop processes and equipment to enable thin film wet coating. Transfer new wet coating processes from lab environment to high-volume manufacturing scale. Troubleshoot the equipment and introduce hardware upgrades to improve functionality. Select and develop wet coating techniques and solution formulations for photovoltaic devices on glass panels for improved performance, cost reduction, and new product designs. Planning and execution of experiments followed by data collection and analysis.

Education/Experience:

  • Associate's Degree in a technical discipline with 2 years of experience as First Solar Manufacturing Engineer I or 3 years Engineering experience in a manufacturing setting, or 2 years Engineering experience and 6 years technical experience in a manufacturing setting or
  • Bachelor’s Degree in a technical discipline with 2 years of experience as First Solar Manufacturing Engineer I or 3 years Engineering experience in a manufacturing setting or 2 years Engineering experience and 3 years technical experience in a manufacturing setting or
  • MS Degree in a technical discipline with 2-4 years Engineering experience in a manufacturing setting or
  • PhD Degree in a technical discipline with 0-3 years Engineering experience in a manufacturing setting.

Required Skills/Competencies:

  • Capability of hands-on equipment upgrades and troubleshooting.
  • Experience and exposure to manufacturing environment.
  • Experience with wet coating and drying thermal equipment.
  • Experience with fluid mechanics.
  • Familiarity of semiconductor device physics at basic level.
  • Familiarity with thin film characterization techniques and measurements such as XRD, SEM, SIMS, AFM, XPS and etc. Be able to know when to request tests.
  • Demonstrated experience with statistical data analysis.
  • Demonstrated ability to coordinate and execute multi-factor experiments in a manufacturing production environment.
  • Experience with using statistical software (JMP preferred).
  • Knowledge of MS Office software (strong knowledge of MS Access preferred).
  • Excellent communications skills.
  • Proven organizational skills.

Essential Responsibilities:

  • Design and qualification of wet coating equipment, its components, and configurations.
  • Develop wet deposition and drying processes and characterization methods for functional wet-coated films in photovoltaic devices.
  • Interface and manage meetings with vendors.
  • Develop equipment and formulation scale-up with vendors (solution mixing / filtration /delivery).
  • Design, execute, and analyze multi-factor experiments.
  • Provide clear written and verbal direction to technicians.
  • Participate in cross-functional team reviews.
  • Communicate results of engineering tests in a clear and concise manner. Be able to communicate with upper management, R&D engineers, and technicians.
  • Generate reports in MS PowerPoint and MS Excel.
  • Complies 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:

  • This position may have direct reports.

Travel:

  • 20-30%

Estimated Salary Range:

  • $80,700-$115,000 Annually.

US Physical Requirements:

Hybrid 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 27 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 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).

*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.*

Related roles

Common questions

What is the salary for the Engineer- Manufacturing II USA role at First Solar?

The listed annual base salary range is $81K–$115K. This figure is taken from the posting itself.

Does First Solar sponsor H-1B visas?

First Solar has filed H-1B petitions with the US Department of Labor in past years, but this specific posting does not explicitly mention sponsorship for the Engineer- Manufacturing II USA role. Confirm with the employer before applying if visa support is required.

Where is the Engineer- Manufacturing II USA role at First Solar based?

This role is based in Perrysburg, OH.

What degree is required for the Engineer- Manufacturing II USA role at First Solar?

The posting accepts the following combinations: Associate + 3 years, BS + 3 years, MS + 2 years, PhD + 0 years.

How many years of experience does this Engineer- Manufacturing II USA role require?

The posting calls for 0–3 years of relevant experience.

What polymers or materials does this Engineer- Manufacturing II USA role work with?

thin film coatings, wet coating solutions.

What techniques or methods are required for this Engineer- Manufacturing II USA role?

XRD, SEM, SIMS, AFM, XPS.