Manufacturing Jobs at First Solar with Visa Sponsorship
Manufacturing jobs at First Solar span process engineering, equipment maintenance, production operations, and quality systems across the company's thin-film solar panel facilities. First Solar has a consistent track record of sponsoring international talent in manufacturing functions, supporting candidates through H-1B visa, OPT, and permanent residence pathways.
Find Manufacturing Jobs at First SolarOverview
Showing 5 of 14+ Manufacturing Jobs at First Solar
See all Manufacturing Jobs at First Solar
Sign up for free to unlock all listings, filter by visa type, and get alerts for new Manufacturing Jobs at First Solar.
Get Access To All JobsJob Description
First Solar reserves the right to offer you a role most applicable to your experience and skillset.
Basic Job Functions:
Assist in the installation and qualification of systems, troubleshoot day-to-day manufacturing issues, identify, and/or implement system improvements that contribute to the achievement of throughput, yield, and product performance goals.
Education/Experience:
- High School Diploma or GED required and must meet one of the following criteria to qualify:
- Associates degree in technical discipline.
- 2+ years of machine or mechanic experience as a primary job function.
- One year First Solar technical experience.
- Six months’ experience as Temporary Manufacturing Engineering Technician at First Solar.
Required Skills/Competencies:
- Safety first mindset.
- General electrical/electronic and mechanical knowledge.
- Self-directed, ability to work with minimal supervision.
- Good written and oral communications skills in English.
- Able to troubleshoot and solve problems on the manufacturing line.
- Ability to deal with administrative as well as technical tasks.
Essential Responsibilities:
- Solve day-to-day production, equipment, and process problems.
- Identify and implement yield and product performance improvements.
- Develop methods to assign causes to yield excursions.
- Set up and maintain gauges.
- Ensure all processes are running on target as defined by the Process Control Plan.
- Respond to SPC process control alarms, bringing processes back into control.
- Execute planned process experiments, collect, and analyze data and report experimental results.
- Collect data relating to daily tool performance and associated product performance.
- Provide training to production associates.
- Develop and update internal documentation including drawings, standard operating procedures, and process specifications.
- Interface with internal associates and supplier representatives, as required, to complete assigned projects.
- Develop a complete understanding of area processes, equipment, and support systems.
- Maintain effective communication with production associates and manufacturing engineers.
- Disposition non-conforming product according to established criteria (NCP).
- Adhere to all safety procedures and good housekeeping standards.
- Ensure waste materials are discarded in their designated containers.
- Ensure hazardous waste containers stay closed except when adding or removing waste.
- Ensure satellite accumulation containers stay in their designated locations.
- Other duties as assigned.
- Job description subject to change at any time.
Reporting Relationships:
This position reports to the Engineer - Manufacturing.
This position will not have direct reports.
Travel:
0 - 5%
Estimated Salary Range:
$18.56 - $25.98 US
Physical Requirements:
- Will sit, stand, or walk short distances for up to 12 hours per day.
- Will climb stairs or steps on a frequent basis.
- Will lift up to 58 pounds on an occasional basis, according to work instruction.
- Will lift up to 37 pounds on a frequent basis.
- Will push or pull up to 50 pounds of force on an occasional basis.
- Will push or pull up to 37 pounds of force on a frequent basis.
- Required to use hands to grasp, lift, handle, carry or feel objects on a frequent basis.
- 20/40 vision in each eye separately and both eyes (with or without correction), the ability to distinguish between red, yellow, and green and peripheral vision >70 degrees is required.
- May reach above shoulder heights and below the waist on a frequent basis.
- May stoop, kneel, or bend, on an occasional basis.
- Must comply with all safety standards and procedures.
- Ability to wear personal protective equipment is required (including, but not limited to: steel-toed shoes, cut-resistant gloves, jackets, aprons &/or arm guards, safety glasses or goggles, hearing protection & respirators) as 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.
Job Description
First Solar reserves the right to offer you a role most applicable to your experience and skillset.
Basic Job Functions:
Assist in the installation and qualification of systems, troubleshoot day-to-day manufacturing issues, identify, and/or implement system improvements that contribute to the achievement of throughput, yield, and product performance goals.
Education/Experience:
- High School Diploma or GED required and must meet one of the following criteria to qualify:
- Associates degree in technical discipline.
- 2+ years of machine or mechanic experience as a primary job function.
- One year First Solar technical experience.
- Six months’ experience as Temporary Manufacturing Engineering Technician at First Solar.
Required Skills/Competencies:
- Safety first mindset.
- General electrical/electronic and mechanical knowledge.
- Self-directed, ability to work with minimal supervision.
- Good written and oral communications skills in English.
- Able to troubleshoot and solve problems on the manufacturing line.
- Ability to deal with administrative as well as technical tasks.
Essential Responsibilities:
- Solve day-to-day production, equipment, and process problems.
- Identify and implement yield and product performance improvements.
- Develop methods to assign causes to yield excursions.
- Set up and maintain gauges.
- Ensure all processes are running on target as defined by the Process Control Plan.
- Respond to SPC process control alarms, bringing processes back into control.
- Execute planned process experiments, collect, and analyze data and report experimental results.
- Collect data relating to daily tool performance and associated product performance.
- Provide training to production associates.
- Develop and update internal documentation including drawings, standard operating procedures, and process specifications.
- Interface with internal associates and supplier representatives, as required, to complete assigned projects.
- Develop a complete understanding of area processes, equipment, and support systems.
- Maintain effective communication with production associates and manufacturing engineers.
- Disposition non-conforming product according to established criteria (NCP).
- Adhere to all safety procedures and good housekeeping standards.
- Ensure waste materials are discarded in their designated containers.
- Ensure hazardous waste containers stay closed except when adding or removing waste.
- Ensure satellite accumulation containers stay in their designated locations.
- Other duties as assigned.
- Job description subject to change at any time.
Reporting Relationships:
This position reports to the Engineer - Manufacturing.
This position will not have direct reports.
Travel:
0 - 5%
Estimated Salary Range:
$18.56 - $25.98 US
Physical Requirements:
- Will sit, stand, or walk short distances for up to 12 hours per day.
- Will climb stairs or steps on a frequent basis.
- Will lift up to 58 pounds on an occasional basis, according to work instruction.
- Will lift up to 37 pounds on a frequent basis.
- Will push or pull up to 50 pounds of force on an occasional basis.
- Will push or pull up to 37 pounds of force on a frequent basis.
- Required to use hands to grasp, lift, handle, carry or feel objects on a frequent basis.
- 20/40 vision in each eye separately and both eyes (with or without correction), the ability to distinguish between red, yellow, and green and peripheral vision >70 degrees is required.
- May reach above shoulder heights and below the waist on a frequent basis.
- May stoop, kneel, or bend, on an occasional basis.
- Must comply with all safety standards and procedures.
- Ability to wear personal protective equipment is required (including, but not limited to: steel-toed shoes, cut-resistant gloves, jackets, aprons &/or arm guards, safety glasses or goggles, hearing protection & respirators) as 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.
See all Manufacturing Jobs at First Solar
Sign up for free to unlock all listings, filter by visa type, and get alerts for new Manufacturing Jobs at First Solar.
Get Access To All JobsTips for Finding Manufacturing Jobs at First Solar
Align Your Credentials with Thin-Film Production
First Solar manufactures cadmium telluride thin-film panels, not silicon-based modules. Tailor your resume to highlight experience with physical vapor deposition, vacuum systems, or semiconductor fabrication processes rather than generic solar or electrical manufacturing.
Target First Solar's U.S. Factory Locations Directly
First Solar's primary U.S. manufacturing campus is in Perrysburg, Ohio, with additional expansion sites in Alabama. Apply to roles tied to those specific locations, since visa sponsorship decisions are made at the facility level, not through a centralized corporate HR pool.
Start Your OPT Job Search at Least Four Months Early
USCIS recommends applying for OPT authorization up to 90 days before your program end date. Manufacturing roles at First Solar often have multi-round interviews and equipment-specific assessments, so build in enough lead time before your work authorization begins.
Understand Where TN Fits for Manufacturing Roles
Canadian and Mexican nationals in qualifying engineering or scientific roles can enter under TN status without waiting for an H-1B cap date. If your manufacturing function maps to an approved TN category, confirm that alignment with First Solar's HR team before the offer stage.
Clarify H-1B Filing Timing During Offer Negotiations
If you're outside the H-1B cap, ask First Solar's recruiting team whether they file in the April lottery or use cap-exempt pathways. Knowing this before you sign determines whether you're waiting up to a year for October 1 status to begin.
Use Migrate Mate to Find Sponsorship-Confirmed Openings
Not every Manufacturing posting at First Solar will state sponsorship availability upfront. Use Migrate Mate to browse roles at First Solar filtered by visa type, so you're applying to positions where sponsorship has already been confirmed rather than asking cold in the interview.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does First Solar sponsor H-1B visas for Manufacturing roles?
Yes, First Solar sponsors H-1B visas for Manufacturing positions, particularly in process engineering, equipment engineering, and quality roles that meet USCIS specialty occupation criteria. The role must require a bachelor's degree or higher in a directly related technical field. Production operator and general technician roles are less likely to qualify for H-1B sponsorship than engineering-level positions.
How do I apply for Manufacturing jobs at First Solar?
Applications go through First Solar's careers portal on their website. You can also find sponsorship-confirmed Manufacturing openings on Migrate Mate, which filters roles by visa type so you can identify positions where international candidates are actively considered. Before applying, confirm which facility the role is based at, since hiring processes differ between First Solar's Ohio and Alabama manufacturing campuses.
Which visa types does First Solar commonly use for Manufacturing roles?
First Solar sponsors H-1B visas for engineering-level Manufacturing positions and supports F-1 OPT and CPT for students in STEM programs completing internships or early-career roles. TN visa status is available for qualifying Canadian and Mexican nationals in eligible engineering classifications. For longer-term hires, First Solar also sponsors EB-2 and EB-3 Green Card pathways through the PERM labor certification process administered by the DOL.
What qualifications does First Solar look for in Manufacturing candidates?
Engineering roles typically require a bachelor's degree in chemical engineering, materials science, electrical engineering, or a closely related discipline, along with familiarity with cleanroom protocols, thin-film deposition, or semiconductor process control. For H-1B eligibility, the degree must be in a field directly related to the specific job duties. Hands-on experience with automated production equipment, statistical process control, or yield improvement is consistently valued across First Solar's manufacturing job postings.
How long does the visa sponsorship process take for a Manufacturing offer at First Solar?
Timeline depends on the visa type. OPT and TN can begin within days of an offer if documentation is in order. H-1B sponsorship for cap-subject candidates requires filing in April for an October 1 start, meaning a gap of up to six months between offer and work authorization. PERM-based Green Card sponsorship through EB-2 or EB-3 typically takes one to three years or longer depending on your priority date and country of birth.