First Solar · 1 month ago
Development Engineering Intern (Spring & Summer 2026)
Santa Clara, CA
Internship
Onsite
Intern
$22.50/hr - $31.25/hr
Start in 2026 SpringFirst Solar is leading the world’s sustainable energy future, and they are seeking a Development Engineering Intern for Spring and Summer 2026. The intern will assist in the fabrication and characterization of photovoltaic devices while gaining real-world experience in a collaborative environment.
Clean EnergyManufacturingSolar
Responsibilities
Assist in the fabrication of research-scale photovoltaic devices, including support for non-standard and experimental processes
Contribute to the electrical and material characterization of thin films and photovoltaic devices, aiding in data collection and analysis
Upon the completion of this internship, the intern is required to present their accomplishments and project summary to the leadership team
Qualification
Required
At least junior year enrollment in an undergraduate program required
Must be pursuing a degree in Material Science, Chemistry, Physics, Electrical Engineering, Chemical Engineering, or related STEM field
Proficiency in Microsoft Office Suite (Excel, PowerPoint, Word)
Strong critical thinking and attention to detail and effective communication skills
Ability to follow Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) and work instructions and basic troubleshooting skills
Apply foundational skills and progressively develop advanced competencies using tools and equipment relevant to the role or area of specialization
Perform tasks that may vary day-to-day and are not always standardized; resolve routine issues independently and escalate more complex problems to senior team members
Operate under daily supervision, adhering to established procedures and instructions to complete assigned duties effectively
Assist in the fabrication of research-scale photovoltaic devices, including support for non-standard and experimental processes
Contribute to the electrical and material characterization of thin films and photovoltaic devices, aiding in data collection and analysis
Upon the completion of this internship, the intern is required to present their accomplishments and project summary to the leadership team
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)
Preferred
Hands-on experience with wet chemistry processing preferred but not mandatory
Hands-on experience with Lab experience in materials characterization, device fabrication, or testing but not mandatory
Hands-on experience with vacuum equipment preferred but not mandatory
Hands-on experience in photovoltaic device fabrication/testing preferred but not mandatory
Working knowledge of analytical tools (UV-Vis, AFM, SEM, SIMS, XRD, XRR, ellipsometry) preferred but not mandatory
Company
First Solar
First Solar manufactures thin film photovoltaic modules and provides PV power plants and supporting services.
Founded in 1999
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
2026-01-07
Company data provided by crunchbase