Is First Solar a good company to work for?

First Solar has an overall rating of 3.7 out of 5, based on over 806 reviews left anonymously by employees. This rating has decreased by 3% over the last 12 months. 70% of employees would recommend working at First Solar to a friend and 62% have a positive outlook for the business. The best reviews about First Solar have been left by employees working as Manufacturing Engineer , Development Engineer and Manager .

Does First Solar pay their employees well?

According to anonymously submitted Glassdoor reviews, First Solar employees rate their compensation and benefits as 3.4 out of 5. Find out more about salaries and benefits at First Solar. This rating has decreased by 1% over the last 12 months.

How satisfied are employees working at First Solar?

70% of First Solar employees would recommend working there to a friend based on Glassdoor reviews . Employees also rated First Solar 3.7 out of 5 for work life balance, 3.6 for culture and values and 3.4 for career opportunities.

What are the top reviewed jobs at First Solar?

Engineer (24) , Manufacturing Engineer (21) , Manager (17) , Technician (13) , Development Engineer (11) , Intern (9) , Development Engineer II (8) , Internship (8) , Manufacturing Associate (8) , Project Manager (8) , Production Operator (7) , Analyst (6) , Director (6) , Coater Technician (5) , Human Resources Generalist (5)

What are the pros of working at First Solar according to real employee reviews?

"Good benefit and growth of the company" ((in 63 reviews)); "People are understanding of mistakes and it's great as a first full time corporate job." ((in 50 reviews)); "Good pay and days off" ((in 44 reviews)); "Innovative culture and great co" ((in 34 reviews)); "Work life balance is good" ((in 22 reviews))

What are the cons of working at First Solar according to real employee reviews?

"Cultural challenges given the number of spread out offices and difficulty establishing a common culture; stock price volatility reducing the value of equity compensation, a number of silos which resulted in "us vs them" mentality (EPC versus Project Development); recent layoffs given shift in the market away from historically subsidized markets in Europe" ((in 10 reviews)); "Poor communication and coordination throughout the organization" ((in 10 reviews)); "Long hours necessary to accomplish workload." ((in 8 reviews)); "Simply no job security." ((in 5 reviews))

What are employees saying about First Solar layoffs in 2026?

Explore Glassdoor’s employee reviews to understand what current and former employees are saying about First Solar layoffs and their outlook for job security at First Solar in 2026.

What are the top reviewed First Solar locations?

Perrysburg , Tempe , Toledo , Santa Clara , Trinity , Phoenix , Bridgewater , Walbridge , San Francisco , Columbus , Sunnyvale , New York , Mesa , Palmdale , Oakland , New Iberia , Tampa , Butler , Bound Brook , Jersey City , Lumberton , Decatur , Farmington , Chandler , Tucson , Portland , Elm City , Austin , Dallas , Houston

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First Solar reviews

Some good, some bad - Production Technician I First Solar Employee Review

3.0

Jul 6, 2023

Production technician i

Recommend

CEO approval

Business Outlook

Pros

-Alternating work schedule, work every other weekend/weekday rotation -Simple enough job depending on the area you're assigned. -Very accepting of variable backgrounds/cultures -Free prescription safety glasses bi-annually, $100 given for steel toe boots, bonuses for attendance, etc. -Benefits are better than several other jobs that I have had in the past. -Holidays are mostly voluntary, can be mandated if there are not enough sign ups(I have only seen mandation one time in nearly a year) Usually 2-3 times pay for holidays. -No current limits on overtime. -Referral bonuses are quite good. -A lot of very knowledgeable staff that don't belittle you for being new, and will actively try to teach you about processes. -If a negative situation involving harassment happens, it is taken very seriously.

Cons

-Pay is low compared to other factories in the area. -Short staffing for every position, including supervisors. -Accountability is nearly non-existent. -Recruiters withhold information and actively try to start you at entry level, regardless of experience. As well as try to shoehorn you into whatever shift/crew they are actively trying to fill, regardless of your preference. -Recruiters also try to sell you on promotions that will not happen in the time-frame they give you. -They say that safety is number one, followed by quality and finally throughput. The supervisors and higher in the plants do not adhere to this in any capacity.

First Solar Response

Thank you for taking the time to share your thoughts. We’d appreciate the opportunity to discuss your concerns. Please email jobs@firstsolar.com and we will be sure to get you in touch with a First Solar team member that handles the topics you mentioned in the cons section above.

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5.0

Feb 25, 2026

Development engineering technician iii

Recommend

CEO approval

Business Outlook

Pros

People are very nice to work with

Cons

Career development opportunities are less

First Solar Response

4mo

Thank you for sharing your experience at First Solar. We’re happy to hear that you’ve enjoyed working with our team and found the people to be welcoming and supportive. We’re grateful for your contributions and for sharing your perspective with us. If you have any further thoughts or feedback, please feel free to connect with us at jobs@firstsolar.com.

4.0

Jul 14, 2026

Network engineer

Recommend

CEO approval

Business Outlook

Pros

The work-life balance is great! The company will provide opportunities for professional growth.

Cons

Being on the corporate team, you kinda get lost in the flow of the day-to-day.

First Solar Response

Thank you for your feedback and for being part of First Solar for more than three years. We're glad to hear that you've enjoyed a strong work-life balance and opportunities for professional growth. Creating an environment where associates can grow and thrive is something we value greatly. We also appreciate your thoughts on recognition and visibility. Feedback like yours helps us continue improving the associate experience and ensuring associates' contributions are recognized across the organization. Thank you again for sharing your perspective. If you'd like to provide additional insights, we encourage you to connect with us at jobs@firstsolar.com.

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Production Technician I (Days)

Production Technician I (Nights)

Production Technician I

Production Technician I (Day Crew)

Production Technician I - Nights

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Some good, some bad - Production Technician I First Solar Employee Review

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