First Solar · 3 weeks ago
Software Engineering Lead- Operations MES USA (1st Shift)
Gaffney, SC
Full-time
Onsite
Senior Level
$110K/yr - $156K/yr
6+ years expFirst Solar is a leading provider of solar energy solutions, and they are seeking a Software Engineering Lead for their Operations MES team. This role involves evaluating, designing, and implementing projects to control manufacturing processes while ensuring seamless integration with MES systems and providing support for software issues.
Clean EnergyManufacturingSolar
Responsibilities
Evaluate, configure, and deploy execution system software for controlling manufacturing processes and tool data collection
Design and develop data visualization and user input systems for manufacturing and related processes
Design and develop database structures and procedures to operate and maintain software systems
Supplies manufacturing data and operation reports based on production data to strategic MES partners and supports ongoing data collection operations
Develop software and database applications on a variety of platforms
Manages outsourced software development work
Ensures good QA standards for software development
Manages transitions from the developers (solutions group) to the support group
Oversees local MES operation development activities to support business objectives
Coordinate activities and development of the Local MES Support Team members, including on-call rotations and escalation procedures
Maintains focus on team programs and key changes requests
Interfaces with solutions/project teams to ensure smooth support hand-off of new or modified applications
Fosters collaboration, open communication, and team building
Undertakes analytical activities and delivers analysis outputs, in accordance with customer needs and conforming to agreed standards
Maintains knowledge of specific technical specialists provides detailed advice regarding their application and executes specialized tasks. The specialism can be any area of information or communication technology, technique, method, product or application area
Monitors the market to gain knowledge and understanding of currently emerging technologies. Identifies new and emerging hardware and software technologies and products based on own area of expertise, assesses their relevance and potential value to the organization, contributes to briefings of staff and management
Promotes and ensures use of appropriate techniques, methodologies and tools
Applies data analysis, data modeling, and quality assurance techniques, based upon a detailed understanding of business processes, to establish, modify or maintain data structures and associated components (entity descriptions, relationship descriptions, attribute definitions). Advises database designers and other application development team members on the details of data structures and associated components
Specifies user/system interfaces, and translates logical designs into physical designs taking account of target environment, performance requirements and existing systems. Produces detailed designs and documents all work using required standards, methods and tools, including prototyping tools where appropriate
Develops specialist knowledge of database concepts, object and data modeling techniques and design principles. Translates object and data models into appropriate database schemas within design constraints. Interprets installation standards to meet project needs and produces database components as required. Evaluates potential solutions, demonstrating, installing and commissioning selected products
Designs, codes, tests, correct and documents large and/or complex programs and program modifications from supplied specifications using agreed standards and tools, to achieve a well-engineered result. Takes part in reviews of own work and leads reviews of colleagues' work
Selects and uses tools and methods to establish, clarify and communicate the user experience, users' characteristics and tasks, and identifies the technical, organizational and physical environment in which complex products or systems will operate
Defines the integration build, accepts software modules from software developers, and produces software builds for loading onto the target environment. Configures the hardware environment, produces integration test specifications, and conducts tests, recording details of any failures and carrying out fault diagnosis
Assesses and analyses release components. Provides input to scheduling. Carries out the builds and tests in coordination with testers and component specialists maintaining and administering the tools and methods – manual or automatic - and ensuring, where possible, information exchange with configuration management. Ensures release processes and procedures are maintained
Identifies and resolves issues with applications, following agreed procedures. Uses application management software and tools to collect agreed performance statistics. Carries out agreed applications maintenance tasks
Investigates problems in systems and services. Assists with the implementation of agreed remedies and preventative measures
Uses appropriate methods and tools in the development, maintenance, control and distribution of quality and environmental standards. Makes technical changes to quality and environmental standards according to documented procedures. Distributes new and revised standards
Leads in the introduction and use of techniques, methodologies and tools to match overall business requirements
Maintain defined communication channels and/or stakeholder groups, acting as a single point of contact. Gather information from stakeholders to understand their needs and detailed requirements. Facilitate open communication between stakeholders. Facilitate planning and implementation of changes and maintain contact with stakeholders throughout to ensure requirements are met
Other duties as assigned
Qualification
Required
Bachelor's degree in Information Technology or related field or equivalent years of work experience
Minimum 6 years of work experience
6+ years in either manufacturing systems or on software development teams using Microsoft .NET technologies
4+ years of experience with manufacturing control systems, shop floor interface/automation systems, programmable logic controllers (PLCs), or OPC data transfer
Proven Organizational and Project Managerial skills
Demonstrated expertise with manufacturing software architecture and execution systems
Successful leadership of software development projects and processes
Strong C# development skills
Proven Microsoft SQL Server design and development expertise
Demonstrated success in application support
Excellent understanding of computer operating systems and software applications
Excellent understanding of enterprise data systems
Proven employee and customer relations skills
Proven interpersonal communications, including the ability to drive international projects with multinational team members
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
2026-01-07
2026-01-07
Company data provided by crunchbase