Engineer- Analytics III USA

First Solar - Perrysburg, OH

Full-time - Mid Level

Perrysburg, OH

Utilities

About the position

The Analytics Engineer III at First Solar is responsible for developing, validating, and continuously improving methodologies that characterize the performance of photovoltaic products and systems. This role involves leading cross-functional teams to identify research needs, execute methods and test plans, and ensure quality data collection and analysis. The successful candidate will adapt to various analytical requests, engage in statistical and contract analysis, and manage projects while building relationships with internal and external stakeholders.

Responsibilities

• Develop solar module device characterization methods.
• Design, plan, and execute testing to evaluate module performance for competitive insights.
• Forecast and model long-term energy performance of First Solar modules in production and field environments.
• Perform model vs actual analysis periodically and identify areas for improvement in the models.
• Validate model predictions with measured data from plant monitoring systems and field test results.
• Evaluate the feasibility of new products and model energy performance of new module technologies under various meteorological climates.
• Improve models through successive iterations and ensemble results to develop robust models.
• Use advanced analytics tools to automate data analysis and write reusable scripts with APIs and packages.
• Develop methods to determine the statistical level of certainty around solar insolation at various project sites.

Requirements

• At least 3 years in a Photovoltaics, Power Engineering, or renewable energy field.
• At least 3 years in physical/technical data analysis.
• Advanced degree in Materials Science, Physics, or Electrical Engineering required; PhD preferred.
• In-depth understanding of solar PV device behaviors and field performance of various technologies.
• Familiarity with renewable energy prediction modeling and processing meteorological data.
• Proficient with solar simulation software (PVSyst, PlantPredict, PV Sol, PV Design Pro or similar).
• Proficient with programming languages (Python, Matlab, R, or similar) and relational databases (SQL server).
• Experienced with data analysis and visualization software (preferably JMP, Tableau, SAS).
• Solid understanding of machine learning model stack and packages (Scikit learn, Xgboost, Keras, Pytorch, Tensorflow, statsmodels).
• Excellent communication, organization, and interpersonal skills.