Engineer- Manufacturing Technology Scaling II USA
First Solar · Ohio
- Level
- Engineer
- Team
- Manufacturing
- Base pay
- $81k–$115k
- Degree
- Required
- Experience asked
- 12+ years
- Industry
- Industrial
- Posted
- 26 days ago
The role in 30 seconds
An engineer-level manufacturing role at First Solar (industrial) in Ohio. Develop, scale-up, and transfer of new and emerging thin-film manufacturing processes that may include vacuum deposition, wet coatings and cleans, laser process and module packaging, lamination and electrical testing processes.
- They ask for
- 12+ years · degree required
- Tools it names
- Six Sigma, Root cause, DMAIC, SPC, FMEA, Control plans
- Base pay
- $81k–$115k
Read from the posting. The full description is below.
From the plant jobs report · week of October 19, 2026
Manufacturing Engineer roles in Ohio: typical posted base $80k–$105k. This one lists $81k–$115k.
Median of the low and high ends of 13 live postings that list pay, out of 76 manufacturing engineer openings in Ohio, read from manufacturers' own careers sites.
Ohio plant jobs report →Pay by team and state →What moves pay →
How this role compares
Against 75 other live manufacturing postings in Ohio.
- Base pay
- About 6% above similar roles
- Experience asked
- More than usual (12+ vs 5+)
Typical $80k–$105k, from 12 postings that list pay.
Similar roles usually ask 5+ years.
Skills these teams ask for most
- ✓ Team leadership 47%
- Lean 47%
- Tooling 39%
- ✓ Six Sigma 36%
- ✓ Root cause 32%
- New product launch 32%
✓ = this posting asks for it too. % = share of similar postings that mention it.
Stands out: this posting asks for DMAIC, DOE, Painting / coating, Python, 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
We found 3 people at this company and state: 2 in this kind of role, 1 leaders. Engineers who joined in the last year or two reply the most. See 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.
Write to Kevin → (free) - 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?
- 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.
Full description from First SolarAs posted on their careers site.ShowHide
Education/Experience
- ✓Associate’s Degree in an engineering discipline or similar technical discipline and 12 years of relevant technical experience or 2 years of experience as a Development Engineer I or Manufacturing Engineer I at First Solar.
- ✓Bachelor’s Degree in an engineering discipline or similar technical discipline and 5 years of relevant technical experience or 2 years of experience as a Development Engineer I or Manufacturing Engineer I at First Solar.
- ✓Master’s Degree in an engineering discipline or similar technical discipline and 3 years of relevant technical experience or 2 years of experience as a Development Engineer II or Manufacturing Engineer I at First Solar.
- ✓Ph.D. in engineering discipline or similar technical discipline or 2 years of experience as a Development Engineer I or Manufacturing Engineer I at First Solar.
- ✓Prior experience in a Semiconductor or PV R&D or Mfg Setting in one or more of the following areas Thin-Film Deposition (Magnetron Sputtering, CVD, evaporation) OR Thermal processing in semiconductor or glass industry (continuous or batch ovens) OR Wet Coatings (Slot-Die, Ink-Jet, Roller or Blade Coating), Automation (Robots and AGV Material Handling) OR Laser Processing (Scribing, Cleaning, Marking) OR Process/ Device Integration (Semiconductor or PV R&D or Mfg Setting) is required.
Required Skills/Competencies
- ✓Demonstrated experience and knowledge in one or more areas including thin film deposition (PVD, ALD, CVD), thermal processing, wet coatings (ink-jet, spray, roll-coating), laser processing, and metrology.
- ✓Demonstrated Hands-On experience in Mechanical and Process troubleshooting.
- ✓Demonstrated Hands-On experience executing experiments in laboratory or manufacturing setting.
- ✓Strong communication skills across technical and non-technical teams.
- ✓Ability to collaborate effectively in cross-functional global teams.
- ✓Strong organizational skills and ownership of assigned responsibilities.
Essential
Responsibilities
- ◆Adhere to all safety procedures, protocols and contribute to EHS/Quality improvements.
- ◆Develop, improve, and document robust solar module manufacturing processes.
- ◆Serve as a subject-matter expert for process or equipment sets assigned.
- ◆Design and execute process experiments; analyze and present results.
- ◆Work with equipment OEMs; evaluate, install, and qualify tools.
- ◆Execute continuous improvement plans using Six Sigma methodologies.
- ◆Mentor junior engineers and technicians and provide technical training to operational teams.
- ◆Develop Process Control Plans, FMEAs, Work Instructions, and Troubleshooting Guides.
- ◆Maintain effective cross-functional communication including leadership.
- ◆Other duties as assigned.
- ◆Job description subject to change at any time.
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 37 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 both eyes together, 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, and a condition of employment and continued employment (requires little or no facial hair) for those requiring respirator use.
Office Physical
Requirements
All positions in our office require interaction with people and technology while either standing or sitting. To best service our customers, internal and external, all associates must be able to communicate face-to-face and on the phone with or without reasonable accommodation. First Solar is committed to compliance with its obligations under all applicable state and federal laws prohibiting employment discrimination. In keeping with this commitment, it attempts to reasonably accommodate applicants and employees in accordance with the
requirements
of the disability discrimination laws. It also invites individuals with disabilities to participate in a good faith, interactive process to identify reasonable accommodations that can be made without imposing an undue hardship.
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
- •Develop, scale-up, and transfer of new and emerging thin-film manufacturing processes that may include vacuum deposition, wet coatings and cleans, laser process and module packaging, lamination and electrical testing processes.
- •Qualify and sustain new process equipment in a 24x7 manufacturing environment.
- •Participate in troubleshooting to meet and improve Safety, Throughput, Yield and Performance benchmarks.
- •Use structured problem-solving (e.g., DMAIC, 8D) and statistical methods (DOE, SPC) to identify, test, and implement continuous improvements.
- •Collaborate with cross-functional teams for problem solving and technology scaling.
- •Datamine and Visualize process and equipment data using industry standard tools like SQL, Python, JMP, PowerBI.
Reporting Relationships
- •Manager or Sr. Manager, Manufacturing Technology Scaling.
- •May have direct reports.
Travel
- •10% - 20%
