Application Engineering Manager (m/w/d)

Job Description

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

Basic Job Functions

• The Manager - Application Engineering role at First Solar is critical for driving technical excellence, product integration, and market expansion. This position demands strong leadership, deep technical expertise, and a strategic approach to developing and maintaining global partnerships. The role will provide technical leadership and management of First Solar's BOS and EPC interests while managing the team's support of strategic, commercial and technical objectives. This role will also influence product roadmaps, define product value positioning, promote technical transparency, and support the sale of technically sophisticated solutions at module and system levels globally.
• The Manager of Application Engineering is responsible for integrating First Solar products into the solar industry ecosystem and developing solutions to enhance current and future product offerings. The role serves as the primary technical authority on MBOS, EBOS, and EPC technical and commercial optimization of First Solar products. The Manager will manage the Application Engineering team, ensuring technical understanding of First Solar products in global markets to inform product and business strategy. This role will support troubleshooting, cost estimating, and maximize product competitiveness through technical economic optimizations.

Education/Experience

• Bachelor of Science in Engineering or related field.
• Masters/MBA in Engineering or related field (optional).
• 5+ years professional experience in PV Module/Systems/Project Development.
• 5+ years professional experience in renewables, utility, or construction-related fields.
• 5+ years of customer-facing experience (PV Module/Systems experience strongly preferred).
• Demonstrated knowledge of module product design, energy prediction, PV systems, and project construction.
• Expertise in Solar module technology, and industry trends thereof.
• Expertise in building codes, risk mapping and governing requirements of solar products.
• Strong knowledge of design and activities for construction projects, EPC means and methods, and detailed understanding in Balance of System components (structures, wiring harnesses, and inverters).
• Strong organizational skills and experience managing multiple projects in parallel.
• Proven leadership skills with a history of managing a team of engineers.

Required Skills/Competencies

• Excellent interpersonal skills and professional demeanor.
• Proven cross-functional collaboration experience.
• Strong leadership skills with a history of managing engineering teams.
• Effective written and oral communication skills.
• Ability to simplify complex technical arguments for diverse audiences.
• Proficiency in cost estimation for procurement and construction of PV power plants.
• Familiarity with industry practices in active markets.
• Proficiency in MS Office, especially Excel, and PV energy simulation software.
• Willingness to travel up to 50%, including international travel.

Essential Responsibilities

• Leadership & Management: Lead a team of engineers to maximize competitiveness in presales negotiations and optimize project execution. Direct supervision of regional application engineering resources.
• Technical Expertise: Provide technical application support for module and balance of system design and support. Contributes strategic insight to development and refinement of new market developments, technological advances and adjacent product roadmaps. Maintain and grow ecosystem relationships to support current and future products globally.
• Industry Engagement: Build strong relationships with leading solar EBOS, MBOS, and EPC firms to enable cost-effective installations and rapid adoption of First Solar products. Lead cost estimating and BOS activities.
• Risk Mitigation & Value Creation: Develop technical solutions that mitigate risk, create value, and benefit First Solar and its partners in new and existing markets.
• Voice of Customer: Integrate regional customer feedback into product and system requirements, contributing to product advances and roadmaps. Provide technical trade show support and onsite customer/partner visit support.
• Customer Interaction: Engage with customer technical and commercial staff throughout the sales cycle and post-sales to facilitate product adoption and maximize value.
• Ecosystem Solutions: Drive the development of new ecosystem solutions to enhance the competitiveness of First Solar products.
• Technical Collateral: Develop and distribute technical collateral for internal and external training, supporting new product launches, market entries, and customer acquisition.
• New Business Development: Assist with technical presentations and critical product feature development to support new business opportunities.
• Other duties as assigned.
• Job description subject to change at any time.

Reporting Relationships

• This position will report to the Director of Product Management.
• This position will have direct reports.

Travel

• 10% - 20%

Estimated Salary Range

• $109,500-$156,000 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 27 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 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 (require little or no facial hair).

All positions in our office require interaction with people and technology while either standing or sitting. To best service our customers, internal and external, all associates must be able to communicate face-to-face and on the phone with or without reasonable accommodation. First Solar is committed to compliance with its obligations under all applicable state and federal laws prohibiting employment discrimination. In keeping with this commitment, it attempts to reasonably accommodate applicants and employees in accordance with the requirements of the disability discrimination laws. It also invites individuals with disabilities to participate in a good faith, interactive process to identify reasonable accommodations that can be made without imposing an undue hardship.

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.