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

Basic Job Functions:

This role is responsible for sustaining, maintaining and improving process systems associated with ultra-pure water generation, wastewater treatment and solar module recycling. The secondary responsibility of this job is to develop new recycling process & wastewater treatment systems in accordance with First Solar and local/federal regulatory safety & environmental requirements. This person will conduct and coordinate trial runs to develop solar module recycling process for First Solar and non-First Solar panels. The employee will need to work very closely with the recycling operations crew members & vendors to ensure that the process modifications are completed safely, on time and within the budget. The person will be responsible for safety and environmental compliance performance of the pilot plant test runs. This person will be responsible to ensure corporate plant designs and specifications are being effectively attained during all phases of the process modification projects and that the process design intent is met. This person will be a key member of the engineering team responsible for new plant design concept development, detailed engineering design reviews, vendor selection, project planning and management, and plant startup/commissioning globally in new plant sites and/or process modifications/upgrades at existing sites. International travel required including possible short term international assignments (1-3months).

Education/Experience:

• High School diploma plus Mechanical/ Electrical Journeymen qualification with 15+ years of industry experience OR
• Bachelor's degree in Engineering, preferably mechanical or chemical.
• 1-5 years' experience in chemical/mechanical process development including product quality improvement, chemical process optimization, transitioning a R&D process into manufacturing. (Candidate with some specific experience in solar module recycling process development will be preferred)
• Good mechanical aptitude & experience in statistical data analysis and design of experiments.
• Experience in working with chemical plant operators, maintenance technicians including off-shift hours will be preferred.
• Material handling systems design, piping design and process control design experience.
• New process plant start-up, process troubleshooting & hazardous material handling experience.
• Project management for chemical processes and/or mechanical systems, including managing scope, schedule, and cost.

Required Skills/Competencies:

• Skills to read and interpret Process & Instrumentation Drawings, detailed engineering design drawings and bill of materials (electrical, mechanical, civil, process controls, etc.).
• Strong statistical analysis and chemical process development skills.
• Strong drive to transfer ideas to practical use in chemical process manufacturing environment through all stages of process development including process qualification.
• Project management skills to control project schedule & financial budget.
• Chemical process operations skills with ability to coordinate process engineering activities with night shift operations crew members & multiple vendors/contractors.
• Industrial equipment erection, installation, start-up, and troubleshooting experience.
• Strong mechanical and process control aptitude with hands-on approach to develop new engineering solutions.
• Problem solving and troubleshooting skills.
• Proficient use of all Microsoft Office suite programs.

Essential Responsibilities:

• Responsible for maintaining ultra-pure water, wastewater and recycle systems in sound condition through proactive planning, preventive maintenance and daily process data review.
• Evaluate, develop and implement novel approaches to recycle wastewater & waste scrap solar panels (First Solar and other Crystalline Silicon solar panels).
• Conduct chemical plant process material balance studies and develop techniques to improve recovery rates of all precious metals and to reduce Cd emissions in the process plant effluent streams.
• Work with front line operators & technicians to conduct pilot plant test runs to generate data that could be used to develop new waste/ wastewater treatment systems.
• Take lead to troubleshoot chemical process problems and implement corrective actions globally to improve product quality and to reduce the overall plant operating cost.
• Assist with process detailed engineering design review, and project management of remote recycling & water treatment projects, including some construction oversight.
• Assist senior engineers to develop engineering process design specification package for vendor selection, construction project planning and oversight of recycling & process/ waste water treatment systems/projects.
• Implementing and documenting detailed plant design modifications in new or existing plants under the company change control process.
• Solicit request for proposals from vendors/contractors and review vendor/contractor submittal packages to ensure project intent and goals are met.
• Assist Engineering Managers to develop capital budgets and coordinate project activities, to ensure that all project deliverables are met on time and within budget.
• Work with Corporate Engineering teams, EHS staff, plant manufacturing teams, and development engineering team to successfully develop methods for treatment/disposal of hazardous chemicals/ materials.
• Lead startup/debug of processes in new plant sites and/or process modifications/upgrades at existing & new plant sites.
• Work with purchasing to establish acceptable contracts and contract terms and conditions for global recycling & water treatment equipment and projects.
• Creating effective communications to foster team building.
• Strict adherence to all safety procedures and good housekeeping standards.
• Other duties as assigned.
• Job description subject to change at any time.

Reporting Relationships:

• This position will report to the Manager or Engineer- Wastewater/Recycling III

Travel:

• 10% - 20%

Estimated Annual Salary Range:

• $59,000 - $80,000 Estimated Annual Salary Range

US Physical Requirements:

Manufacturing & Maintenance Physical Requirements:

• Will sit, stand, or walk short distances for up to 12 hours per day.
• Will climb stairs 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 27 pounds of force on an occasional basis.
• Will push or pull up to 10 pounds of force on a frequent basis.
• Required to use hands to grasp, lift, handle, carry or feel objects repetitively on a frequent basis.
• 20/40 vision in each eye (with or without correction) and the ability to distinguish between red, yellow, and green 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 be able to 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, hearing protection).
  
  

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.