First Solar · 4 weeks ago
Engineer- Controls III USA (1st Shift)
Gaffney, SC
Full-time
Onsite
Senior Level, Lead/Staff
$100K/yr - $142K/yr
10+ years expFirst Solar is a leader in solar energy solutions, and they are seeking an Engineer- Controls III to lead and mentor in the global implementation of electrical controls systems. The role involves designing, programming, and troubleshooting manufacturing control systems while ensuring compliance with corporate standards.
Clean EnergyManufacturingSolar
Responsibilities
Provide global support for manufacturing facilities and coordinate new equipment installation and implementation
Responsible for writing and maintaining programs that use the plant equipment data within the SQL database
Responsible for maintaining and updating of manufacturing process tool electrical drawings globally, ensuring the tracking of equipment changes is documented and drawings are kept current
Responsible for the successful design and theory behind all manufacturing control systems, ensuring new process tools adhere to corporate controls standards and best practices
Responsible for globally troubleshooting and problem-solving equipment controls related issues and recommending controls policy/standard changes, if possible, to prevent future issues with new manufacturing process tools
Responsible for assisting, supporting, and mentoring Controls Engineers globally. Maintaining effective global communications levels which fosters knowledge transfer and team building
Responsible to interface with multiple departments within the organization and external suppliers to ensure corporate controls policies/standards are understood and being adhered to
Responsible to assist with FMCS electrical designs and main building power feed designs for new facilities globally
Maintain effective global communications levels and fosters team building
Ensures adherence to all safety procedures and good housekeeping standards
Responsible for designing, programming, and coordination of all control systems and projects, independent of size
Provide expert consultancy and manage client relationships, contracts, and project delivery
Maintain deep technical expertise in specialized IT areas; advise and guide on application and best practices
Lead research initiatives, develop innovative solutions, and present findings through reports and conferences
Monitor emerging technologies, assess relevance, and recommend adoption to advance organizational capabilities
Specify, design, and review complex systems ensuring compliance with architecture standards, safety, and sustainability
Design, code, test, and document large-scale programs; lead peer reviews and ensure quality standards
Develop safety assurance plans, conduct hazard analyses (HAZOPS, FMEA), and ensure compliance with IEC 61508 or equivalent
Plan and manage system and acceptance testing; define strategies, oversee execution, and ensure integrity
Design and build integration components; configure and test hardware/software platforms
Oversee installation, maintenance, and configuration of systems, networks, and applications; ensure documentation and compliance
Monitor system performance, capacity, and availability; implement disaster recovery and maintain service continuity
Troubleshoot and resolve complex system issues; analyze trends and implement preventative measures
Maintain support processes, create documentation, and ensure usability, accessibility, and safety standards
Qualification
Required
Bachelor's degree in Electrical Engineering, Computer Engineering, or related field; or equivalent years of work experience
Minimum 10 years of manufacturing equipment controls engineering experience
Excellent understanding/knowledge and experience in controls engineering techniques and practices which would be required for global facilities including North America, Asian, and European countries
Excellent understanding/knowledge and ability to trouble-shoot electrical/electronic control systems
Excellent understanding/knowledge of global manufacturing processes and safety requirements
Proven experience using Auto Desk AutoCad drafting software to create electrical schematic and panel layouts
Excellent understanding/knowledge programming of Rockwell Automation Logix platform PLC's, including ladder and function block diagram
Excellent understanding/knowledge programming Rockwell Automation Human Machine Interfaces (HMI) including PanelView Plus, PanelView Plus CE, and Reviews SE
Excellent understanding/knowledge designing, programming, and commissioning at least two control network including ControlNet, DeviceNet, Profibus and/or Ethernet
Excellent understanding/knowledge of robotic systems including programming, safety requirements, and design/implementation practices
Excellent understanding/knowledge of motion controls including stepper motors, servo motors, and AC/DC Drives
Excellent understanding/knowledge of Cognex vision camera configuration and programming experience
Excellent understanding of computer hardware/applications and the Microsoft Office family
Experience and knowledge of working in server environment
Proven Microsoft SQL Server Database configuration experience
Experience in at least one multi-tiered architecture using C#, VB.NET, HTML, XML and SQL
Understanding/knowledge of Corporate Ethernet architectures and systems
Excellent communications skills both oral and written
Excellent problem solving skills
Strong understanding/knowledge of writing project specifications and working with vendors
Demonstrated expertise and soft-skills at providing coaching and mentoring to develop and grow a team of junior controls engineers
Project management expertise demonstrated by successful track record managing multiple simultaneous projects involving 3-9+ person cross-functional teams to deliver technically complex solutions
Company
First Solar
First Solar manufactures thin film photovoltaic modules and provides PV power plants and supporting services.
5001-10000 employees
H1B Sponsorship
First Solar has a track record of offering H1B sponsorships. Please note that this does not
guarantee sponsorship for this specific role. Below presents additional info for your
reference. (Data Powered by US Department of Labor)
Distribution of Different Job Fields Receiving Sponsorship
Represents job field similar to this job
Trends of Total Sponsorships
2025 (57)
2024 (34)
2023 (19)
2022 (15)
2021 (7)
2020 (16)
Funding
Current Stage
Public CompanyTotal Funding
$2.17BKey Investors
U.S. International Development Finance CorpMizuho Corporate Bank
2023-07-06Post Ipo Debt· $1B
2021-12-07Post Ipo Debt· $500M
2021-04-01Undisclosed
Leadership Team
Mark Widmar
CEO
Angela Younes
Office Manager/Assistant to the CTO
Recent News
Company data provided by crunchbase