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Engineer- Manufacturing Systems II USA (1st Shift)

First Solar · Gaffney, SC

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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

Typical $108k–$151k, from 8 postings that list pay.

Experience asked
Less than usual (2+ vs 5+)

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.

It asks for 2+ years. If you're close, apply anyway: requirements are a wish list. Talk to someone doing this work there first.

At a glance

Promotion path mentionedLifts up to 58 lbs

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. 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. 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. 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. 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. 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.

All 8 roles at First Solar →
Full description from First SolarAs posted on their careers site.Show

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 ↓

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.

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