Reliability Engineer Iii

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

Basic Job Functions:

Reliability Engineer is responsible for developing and executing qualification plans for various processes and second source suppliers while assessing and validating the results to meet and or statistically exceed the process of record. Responsible for assuring FMEAs are conducted prior to the publication of qualification plans with clear identification of potential failure modes/effects justifying existing tests and additional tests, if required. Also, this position involves providing technical direction and driving issues/concerns to resolution for the organization. Responsible to ensure that new process, suppliers and designs complete the required First Solar qualification plan with acceptable results prior to release to customer production shipments, through a regimented approach of documentation, analysis and clear conclusions/recommendations related to the performance of the change. Responsible for assisting in the documentation and development of specific qualifications programs.

Education/Experience:

• Bachelor’s degree in a related engineering discipline (e.g. Materials Science, Physics, Electrical Engineering, Chemical Engineering, Mechanical Engineering) required.
• MS Degree in a related engineering discipline preferred.
• 7-10 years ’ experience in a Reliability Engineer role with 3-5 years as a lead Reliability Engineer, product test engineering role is required working closely with development engineering and manufacturing engineering.
• Experience in a photovoltaic semiconductor performance, and polymer materials is preferred with emphasis in the following areas:
• Product reliability testing and modeling (In-house and Field Testing)
• Design of reliability demonstration and modeling accelerated tests and automation systems for data logging, analysis and reporting

Required Skills/Competencies:

• Proven skills in using reliability analysis methods.
• Proficient in statistical data analysis, multivariate analysis, regression analysis, Design of Experiments (JMP preferred) and database queries (SQL)
• Experience in PV Cell, Module, performance materials and Field level performance testing.
  • Product reliability testing and modeling (accelerated stress & field testing, Weibul++, ALTA)
  • Design of reliability tests and automation systems for data logging, analysis, and reporting.
• Deep understanding of the function, characteristics, measurement, application of PV Modules performance polymeric and semiconductor materials.
• Proven skills in problem solving and root cause analysis.
• Advanced skills and experience with Microsoft Office tools, databases, datamining, Statistical software experience required.
• Proven understanding of Continuous Improvement/Quality tools, Robust Engineering, Design of experiments, SPC, 6 Sigma, and FMEA.
• Experience in management of high impact/large scale projects and/or new product or process launches.
• Experience in establishing procedures for evaluating returns, processing, and root cause analysis and risk mitigation of quality issues as related to warranty claims.
• Proven competency in root cause analysis, life time prediction and stress test correlation factor (e.g. ReliaSoft).
• Knowledge of polymer material characterization and analysis.
• Excellent interpersonal communication, negotiation and conflict resolution skills.
• Strong written and verbal communication skills required.
• Adheres to safety requirements and good housekeeping procedures.

Essential Responsibilities:

• Responsible for conducting reliability testing, design validation/verification & life testing of new product designs, production monitoring, NCP disposition (risk evaluation, test specification and appropriate root cause analysis), customer complaint & risk mitigation.
• Reliability technical lead for new performance materials/product/process/component development, process and technology optimization. Assists as technical resource for material selection preceding technology/ product development. Work with development groups to establish functional and operational design requirements, product specifications, and product performance criteria at design stage through PRD, Design FMEA, process flow, fault tree analysis, etc.
• Responsible for collaborating with supplier quality and development groups to ensure that supplier quality issues do not negatively impact the performance, long term reliability, warranty return rate and supply pipelines.
• Global technical resource to design reliability test plans to qualify new product and processes, evaluate testing failures and ensure consistent adherence to high quality standards by application of reliability techniques. Conduct trend analysis of production reliability monitoring data for all manufacturing facilities.
• Provide guidance to global team in development of test requirements analysis, test specification creation, defining and executing experiments, planning detailed tasks, specify output data formats and guidelines, establishing crucial dates and dependencies by identifying key elements and managing projects efficiently. Standardize statistical data analysis, summary reports and feedback procedures.
• Collaborate with development engineering groups to generate design of experiments for service lifetime prediction of normal/marginal product and engineering evaluation of novel materials/designs.
• Responsible for specifying and helping build advanced reliability capabilities (tests, procedures and infrastructure), training, knowledge sharing, establishing metrics best practices and across global organization.
• Responsible for implementing the reliability database or knowledge management system to manage all reliability testing, track reliability test data and simplify querying test data output for analysis/reporting. Responsible for establishing standard metrics and automate generation of outputs/reports. Establish relevant reaction and escalation plans to handle nonconformities/exceptions.
• Responsible for determining, planning and ensuring product compliance to required internal and external (National & International) standards and codes. Company representative and contributor for IEC standards certification development body.
• Manage in-house and external testing to obtain compliance for existing and new product lines to IEC/UL or other relevant standards. Responsible for maintaining good working relationships with accreditation agencies (VDE, CSA), calibration labs (NREL, ISE, etc), certifying bodies (IEC/UL/VDE/TUV) and other relevant standards organizations.

Reporting Relationships:

• This position will report to Head- Quality and Reliability Development

Travel:

• 10% travel required local and international

Estimated Salary Range:

• $75,000 - $100,000 Annual Salary

US 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)

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 band 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.