Engineer- Manufacturing Systems II USA (1st Shift)
First Solar · Gaffney, SC
- Level
- Engineer
- Team
- Manufacturing
- Base pay
- $56k–$80k
- Degree
- Required (or equivalent experience)
- Experience asked
- 2+ years
- Certification
- Green Belt preferred
- Industry
- Industrial
- Posted
- 30+ days ago
The role in 30 seconds
An engineer-level manufacturing role at First Solar (industrial) in Gaffney, SC. If hired during plant start up, you will be expected to travel to other First Solar locations for training.
- They ask for
- 2+ years · degree required (or equivalent experience) · Green Belt preferred
- Tools it names
- Six Sigma, Green Belt, Painting / coating
- Base pay
- $56k–$80k
Read from the posting. The full description is below.
From the plant jobs report · week of October 19, 2026
Manufacturing Engineer roles in South Carolina: typical posted base $100k–$125k. This one lists $56k–$80k.
Median of the low and high ends of 9 live postings that list pay, out of 30 manufacturing engineer openings in South Carolina, read from manufacturers' own careers sites.
South Carolina plant jobs report →Pay by team and state →What moves pay →
How this role compares
Against 29 other live manufacturing postings in South Carolina.
- Base pay
- About 47% below similar roles
- Experience asked
- Less than usual (2+ vs 5+)
Typical $108k–$151k, from 8 postings that list pay.
Similar roles usually ask 5+ years.
Skills these teams ask for most
- Lean 50%
- Tooling 43%
- ✓ New product launch 33%
- Root cause 30%
- FMEA 27%
- ✓ Team leadership 23%
✓ = this posting asks for it too. % = share of similar postings that mention it.
Stands out: this posting asks for Green Belt, Painting / coating, which few similar roles mention. If you have it, lead with it.
At a glance
Pulled from the posting text. If it's not listed here, the posting didn't say.
How to get in at this plant
Five moves over a week or two. The first one takes ten minutes.
- 1
Pick 2–3 people on the Manufacturing team at First Solar
Engineers who joined in the last year or two reply the most. Use the team search on this page to find them.
- 2
Send a short, curious note
One real question about their work. No favors yet. Each person gets a different note, written for this role.
- 3
Turn a reply into a short call
Questions worth asking about this team:
- What does a normal week look like on your team?
- Is the work mostly new product launches or sustaining existing lines?
- How much time do you spend on the floor versus at a desk?
- The posting mentions a Green Belt. Does the company sponsor certification?
- How did you land the job? What stood out in your interviews?
- 4
Apply with someone vouching for you
If the call went well, ask whether they’d pass your résumé to the hiring manager. Send your résumé link, apply that day, and let them know.
- 5
Bring proof to the interview
One page of before-and-after numbers from projects you led: scrap, OEE, cycle time, cost. Plant managers hire on results.
This plant: First Solar in Gaffney
7 other open roles at this site.
- Technician- Manufacturing Engineer I USA (Night Crew/PM Shift) · Manufacturing
- Engineer- Manufacturing I USA (1st Shift) · Manufacturing
- Engineer- Quality I USA (1st Shift) · Quality
- Engineer- Operations I USA (1st Shift) · Production
- Production Technician I (Night Crew) · Production · Technician
- Engineer- Controls I USA (B Crew/PM Shift) · Controls
Full description from First SolarAs posted on their careers site.ShowHide
Education/Experience
- ✓At least 2 years of First Solar manufacturing leadership experience (such as Technical Supervisor, Manufacturing Specialist, Operations Engineer) preferred.
- ✓Minimum 3 years of relevant manufacturing experience required.
- ✓Good record in driving continuous improvement projects in operation excellence.
- ✓Six Sigma Green Belt Certification Preferred
- ✓Bachelors/Masters/PhD Degree in Engineering Discipline or Physical Science Field or equivalent.
- ✓Degree in Manufacturing System preferred.
Required Skills/Competencies
- ✓Behavioral:
- ✓Possesses strong leadership skills.
- ✓Demonstrates excellent communications skills.
- ✓Possesses excellent organizational and project management skills.
- ✓Demonstrates strong analytical and strategic thinking.
- ✓Possesses proven interpersonal skills.
- ✓Team oriented.
- ✓Technical:
- ✓Well-versed in the manufacturing process flow.
- ✓Knowledgeable of the PDCA cycle (Plan-Do-Check-Act)
- ✓Proficient use of all Microsoft Office suite programs.
Essential
Responsibilities
- ◆Develops new or improves existing manufacturing systems for sustainability for the manufacturing Coating, Sub-module, Finishing, and Boxing operations.
- ◆Designs, delivers, and maintains manufacturing system and process to meet ISO 9000 requirement for the Perrysburg Site.
- ◆Works closely with the Shift Managers, Supervisors, and relevant supporting departments to improve the manufacturing systems and process.
- ◆Performs close loop checks on the existing Manufacturing systems (safety, quality, productivity, NPI, and controls) assessing effectiveness and practicality.
- ◆Plans and recommends suitable manufacturing systems to be introduced to the manufacturing facility.
- ◆Ensures that all existing manufacturing systems are standardized across all 4 shifts and enhanced to all plants within First Solar Facilities.
- ◆Records data and analyzes information pertaining to manufacturing systems for improvements or proliferation.
- ◆Undertakes the proliferation of established manufacturing systems in terms of safety, quality, productivity, and controls for the existing shifts.
- ◆Identifies opportunities to improve the existing manufacturing systems and to make the necessary recommendations to the manufacturing department for changes.
- ◆Ensures that all manufacturing systems implemented are documented properly and archived for future reference or usage.
- ◆Performs research of relevant industry manufacturing systems to recommend suitable systems for implementation.
- ◆Other duties as assigned.
- ◆Job description subject to change at any time.
Requirements
- ✓Manufacturing & Maintenance 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).
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.
Show full description ↓Show less ↑
First Solar reserves the right to offer you a role most applicable to your experience and skillset.
Basic Job Functions
Responsible for introducing new manufacturing systems and enhancing the existing manufacturing system (Safety, Quality, Controls, and Cost) for the shift operation to ensure standardization across all Perrysburg, OH plants.
Reporting Relationships
- •This position reports to the Manager - Operations Integration.
- •This position may have direct reports.
Travel
- •Up to 10% of global travel is expected.
- •If hired during plant start up, you will be expected to travel to other First Solar locations for training.
