IT Analyst (MES)

*** Manufacturing Execution System IT Analyst (MES)

Basic Job Functions:

Design and continuous improvement of First Solar’s Manufacturing Execution Systems (MES). This encompasses raw material consumption, work in process inventory tracking, PLC/machine based quality assurance testing, packaging, and transition to shipping. Systems may include client/server .NET applications (mostly C# and some VB6/VB.NET), web applications (asp.NET and Java), PLC-based control systems, and database technologies.

Primary Responsibilities:

• Analyze MES system change requests, provide risk assessment, test plan, back up plan and coordinate deployment across all manufacturing plants.

• Ability to work within a customer-focused, global team-oriented environment.

• Collaborate with various resources at global level to drive resolution of issues or completion of small-to-medium sized tasks/projects.

• Proven understanding of the Software Development Lifecycle and Quality Lifecycle.

• Design & develop requested system/application changes/enhancements.

• Execute and/or transition pre-defined projects.

• Work with IT/MES team to manage MES assets during system upgrades.

• Responsible for technical and procedural documentation.

• Perform troubleshooting and problem solving for issues related to application, manufacturing process data & system data.

• Provide support for First Solar applications and Participate in a rotation of on-call support outside of normal office hours as necessary during critical times.

• Responsible for Incident/ Request management & Problem management.

• Responsible for system downtime tracking and prevention.

Experience:

• Minimum 5 years of related work experience.

Education:

• Bachelor’s degree in Information Technology or related field or equivalent years of work experience

Required Skills/Competencies:

• Capable of designing and writing (C#.NET) software using Microsoft Visual Studio

• Ability to demonstrate understanding of the Software Development Lifecycle and Quality Lifecycle required.

• Experience with effectively using troubleshooting mindset to design robust solutions and isolate failures is required.

• Experience developing test plans and test cases/scripts/scenarios required.

• Experience writing queries in MS SQL Server T-SQL required.

• Experience analyzing end-user application GUIs required.

• Experience analyzing back-end systems (APIs, Services, Messaging) required.

• Experience handling multiple issues/tasks/projects of varying size simultaneously required.

• Demonstrated success at collaborating & communicating effectively with project team and business partners is required.

• Experience documenting and understanding business processes and internal controls is required.

• Experience analyzing solutions integrated with controls automation (HMI, Data collection, PLC, integrated hardware/software) is highly desired.

• Experience in a production-critical environment with end-users is highly desired.

• Experience working under an Agile/Scrum methodology is highly desired.

• Experience with HPALM is desired.

• Experience working with automated testing methods is desired.

• Experience programming in MS .NET is a plus.

• Experience administrating and maintaining application platform performance, with Splunk experience a plus

• Experience in front end JavaScript, with AngularJS a plus

• Experience integrating mobile or scanner devices with testing is a plus.

• Experience in multi-tiered architecture using some of the following: C#.Net, SQL, XML, HTML, Microsoft Message Queueing (MSMQ).

• Experience or Familiar with SQL Server Integration Service (SSIS) technology.

• Experience or Familiar with reporting technology.

• Understands Manufacturing processes is a plus

• Adheres to SDLC processes, standards, and compliance measures (SOx, etc.)

• Possess good analytical, troubleshooting, & continuous improvement thinking skill.

• SCRUM Master, ITIL V3 Certification is a plus

• Knowledge about Server environments (both Windows and Infrastructure) is a plus.

• Must demonstrate initiative and commitment to achieve results

• Good Communications skills both oral and written in English.

• Must be team orientated & Must be business-partner oriented (internal)

• Ability to write system specifications (technical & functional) using Microsoft office application suite.

• Able to participate in phone and online conference calls outside of normal office hours with global team.