Development Engineer II - CdTe Contact Research
Perrysburg, OHJob$81–115K/yrSeen 1w agoSeen in employer's feed 3 days ago
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At a glance
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Job overview
The Development Engineer II conducts thin-film deposition and materials research to improve thin-film solar-cell conversion efficiency. The role plans, executes, and characterizes laboratory experiments, communicates results, and makes experimental recommendations. It also develops research processes and equipment, analyzes materials and data, and supports cross-functional projects. The posting describes several education-and-experience pathways, including a Ph.D. pathway without prior technical work experience.
Skills & qualifications
Skills
Qualifications
Full job description
First Solar reserves the right to offer you a role most applicable to your experience and skillset. Basic Job Functions: - Thin film deposition and materials research to improve conversion efficiency of thin film solar cells. - Plan, execute and characterize laboratory experiments. Communicate results across organization. Accountable for experimental conclusions and recommendations. - Applies statistical and engineering methods to optimize organizational effectiveness. Improves methods for use by others. Education/Experience: - Associate's Degree in an engineering discipline or similar technical discipline (Materials Science, Physics, Chemistry, Surface Science, preferred) and 15 years of relevant technical experience or 2 years of experience as a Development Engineer I at First Solar. - Bachelor's Degree in an engineering discipline or similar technical discipline (Materials Science, Physics, Chemistry, Surface Science, preferred) discipline and 5 years of relevant technical experience or 2 years of experience as a Development Engineer I at First Solar. - Master's Degree in an engineering discipline or similar technical discipline (Materials Science, Physics, Chemistry, Surface Science, preferred) discipline and 3 years of relevant technical experience or 2 years of experience as a Development Engineer I at First Solar. - Ph.D. in an engineering discipline or similar technical discipline (Materials Science, Physics, Chemistry, Surface Science, preferred) discipline or similar technical discipline, without prior technical work experience. Required Skills/Competencies: - Experience in thin film material science, vacuum technology and multiple thin film deposition techniques including sputtering, ALD, and evaporation. - Experience in thin film materials characterization and analysis (VASE, XRD, XPS, UV-Vis, etc.). - Analytical and problem-solving skills. - Data analysis and technical reporting. - Sense of project ownership with hands-on and can-do attitude. - Strong communication skills across organizations. Essential Responsibilities: - Identify opportunities for improvement in solar cell efficiency through materials innovation and deposition processes. - Develop and maintain process and equipment related to materials research. - Design, execute, analyze, and report experiments with necessary follow up. - Identifies key process characteristics based on understanding of the material science and process technology. - Apply state of the art techniques for material analysis, statistical analysis of data or execution/planning of experiments. Develop a work plan that can address problems with well understood solution paths. - Effective communicator with internal and external partners and customers. Effective team member that can support cross-functional projects and take ownership of sub-deliverables. - May train, mentor and manage junior associates. - Complies with Company's Environmental, Quality, Safety or any other policies that have been enforced. - Other duties as assigned. - Job description subject to change at any time. Reporting Relationships: - Reports to Development Engineer or Development Manager. Travel: - 0% - 5% (On occasion/as needed for training, etc.) Estimated Salary Range: - $80,700 - $115,000 Annually 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 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 comp
How this job compares
Set against the 3,311 open Process Engineer jobs on Olive Jobs, counted October 31, 2026.
- Pay
- This posting$81–115K/yr
- Ohio median$81–118K/yr48 salary ranges
- US median$96–143K/yr1,722 salary ranges
This range's midpoint, $98K, is close to the Ohio median midpoint ($99K) — in the middle half of Process Engineer salary ranges in Ohio.
- Openings
- Olive Jobs lists 184 open Process Engineer jobs in Ohio and 3,311 across the US. 2% of them nationwide are listed as remote or flexible.
- Hiring the most in Ohio
- First Solar Inc (this employer)25 open
- Actalent9 open
- Marathon Petroleum Corporation7 open
- Experience
- This posting asks for at least 3 years of experience; Process Engineer postings that state a minimum ask for 4 years at the median (2,626 postings).
- Education
- 2,186 of the 3,311 open Process Engineer jobs (66%) ask for a bachelor's degree or higher.
Counted across the open, public US postings on Olive Jobs on October 31, 2026. Pay medians are the middle values of the low ends and of the high ends of postings that list both ends of a range in the same cadence (a yearly salary or an hourly rate); a range's midpoint is halfway between its ends. Pay and experience figures resting on fewer than 20 postings are left out.
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