Supervisor- Lab Reliability USA

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

Basic Job Functions:

Supervise reliability lab operations effectively and efficiently by interacting with engineers in the reliability department and development group to determine test priority, scheduling test equipment, and assigning technicians and equipment to appropriate tasks while developing processes to improve testing throughput and quality. Responsible for lab safety while maintaining technician performance, training and performance evaluations.

Education/Experience:

• Bachelor Degree in a technical discipline (Electrical preferred) with minimum 4 years work experience in a manufacturing or lab environment, minimum 1 year supervision or leadership experience.
• Or Associates Degree in a technical discipline (Electrical preferred) with minimum 7 years of work experience in a manufacturing or lab environment, minimum 3 years supervision or leadership experience.
• Or First Solar Supervisory experience for a minimum of 3 years in a manufacturing or lab setting.
• Or 10 years of Reliability Lab Supervisory experience.

Required Skills/Competencies:

• Excellent computer skills. MS Word, Excel & Database experience (Intermediate level required. Advanced level desired).
• Proven ability to train and develop associates.
• Proven ability to develop and implement operational systems to improve safety and throughput.
• Proven basic data analysis skills.
• Average to excellent ability to use tools and operating equipment is required.
• Knowledge of Human Resources practices.
• Must possess strong interpersonal skills to effectively manage employees.
• Must have excellent verbal and written communication skills.
• Knowledge of environmental, health and safety requirements.
• Must be motivated to work independently with little supervision.
• Must be able to demonstrate problem solving ability.
• Must be able to multi-task.
• Ability to learn to operate a forklift required.

Essential Responsibilities:

• Responsible for ensuring a safe work environment.
• Develop and implement operational systems that result in increase in safety and lab throughput.
• Responsible to ensure that all the tests are complete as per the schedule including sample acquiring, testing, & data entry for all Reliability tests.
• Responsible to acquire test priority from multiple business groups and execute testing based on priority.
• Responsible for developing and maintaining technician training program including writing and updating work instructions, documenting training program and performing technician training.
• Responsible to ensure that all tests are done per the WI and Technician training is up to date.
• Responsible to perform baseline and posttest measurement as needed.
• Willing to work long hours and weekends to support any testing.
• Responsible for communicating daily and immediately any abnormal findings on the product or testing equipment.
• Responsible to support Engineers on any improvement project either on the product or testing equipment.
• Responsible for ensuring all testing equipment is calibrated on time.
• Responsible for scheduling equipment resources and technicians which changes daily.
• Able to perform data analysis using JMP and SQL applications.
• Able to prepare and update summary reports for reliability investigations and reliability test metrics.
• Responsible for enforcing procedures and applying disciplinary action as needed.
• Responsible for developing associate GPS and performing quarterly performance reviews.
• Responsible to assist in any other task or job assigned by manager.
• Responsible for auditing lab processes for compliance.
• Support and react to daily lab operation issues.
• Maintain clean lab to 5S standards.
• Maintain and report lab operation metrics.
• Assist with the different in-house and outdoors module reliability testing and activities.
• Responsible for effective communication and team building.

Reporting Relationships:

• This position reports to the Manager- Test Operation.

Travel:

• If hiring to a new plant prior to plant start, associate will be required to spend extended time (60-80%) in another plant in either Ohio or Alabama for training until their assigned plan starts equipment installation.

Estimated Salary Range:

• $61,000-$87,000 Annually.

US Physical Requirements:

• Will sit, stand or walk short distances for up to 12 hours per day.
• Will climb stairs on an occasional basis.
• Will exert up to 50 pounds of force to lift, push or pull on a seldom basis.
• Will lift, push or pull up to 27 pounds on a frequent basis.
• Required to use hands to grasp, lift, handle, carry or feel objects repetitively 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).
• All associates working on the production floor may be required to wear a respirator at any given time and thus, the ability to wear a respirator is a condition of employment and continued employment (requires little or no facial hair).

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 and 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.