Is First Solar a good company to work for?

First Solar has an overall rating of 3.7 out of 5, based on over 805 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 been stable over the past 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, 3.7 for culture and values and 3.3 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 60 reviews)); "People are understanding of mistakes and it's great as a first full time corporate job." ((in 53 reviews)); "Good pay and work with top tallent peers" ((in 46 reviews)); "Good culture Friendly co" ((in 36 reviews)); "good work / life balance" ((in 21 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 12 reviews)); "Long hours necessary to accomplish workload." ((in 10 reviews)); "Could have a better communication" ((in 10 reviews)); "favoritism, poor management skills, bloated management team, little opportunity for career development, too frequent re" ((in 10 reviews)); "senior management is incompetent and lazy" ((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

First Solar reviews

3.7

70% would recommend to a friend

(683 total reviews)

Mark Widmar

86% approve of CEO

62% positive business outlook

Company ratings over time

Ratings trend for the last 6 months (683 reviews)

Ratings by demographic groups

Race / Ethnicity

Gender

Sexual orientation

Disability

Parent or family caregiver

Veteran status

First Solar has an employee rating of 3.7 out of 5 stars, based on 683 company reviews on Glassdoor which indicates that most employees have a good working experience there. The First Solar employee rating is in line with the average (within 1 standard deviation) for employers within the Manufacturing industry (3.5 stars).

Reviews by job title

683 reviews

4.0

Jul 15, 2025

Ready for a challenge

Manager process development

Recommend

CEO approval

Business Outlook

Pros

intellectually stimulating environment. Fast paced. lots of smart people!

Cons

communication up and down the chain of command is difficult. Priorities pivot quickly, and sometimes without apparent comprehension of consequences.

First Solar Response

12mo

Thank you for your feedback. We're glad to hear you find the environment intellectually stimulating and enjoy working alongside talented colleagues in a fast-paced setting. We also appreciate your candid input on communication and shifting priorities. These are important areas, and we’re continuously working to improve clarity and alignment across all levels of the organization. If you have specific suggestions or experiences you'd like to share, we welcome your insights at jobs@firstsolar.com.

4.0

Jul 14, 2025

Great atmosphere

Senior manager, operations

Recommend

CEO approval

Business Outlook

Pros

Very dynamic, latest technologies, opportunities for learning and growth

Cons

None identified at this point

First Solar Response

12mo

Thank you for your kind words! We're thrilled to hear that you find the environment dynamic and full of opportunities for learning and growth. Embracing the latest technologies and fostering continuous development are key parts of our culture. We're glad it's resonating with you. If you ever have feedback or ideas to share, feel free to reach out to us at jobs@firstsolar.com.

3.0

Jul 10, 2025

Fast pace environment

Associate manufacturing engineer

Recommend

CEO approval

Business Outlook

Pros

Fast-paced environment. High level of trust for engineers.

Cons

Unlimited improvement in most areas can feel overwhelming.

First Solar Response

12mo

Thanks for your feedback! We're glad you value the fast-paced environment and the trust given to engineers. If you'd like to share more, feel free to reach out at jobs@firstsolar.com.

Viewing 52 - 54 of 683 Reviews

Top companies for "Compensation and Benefits" near you

Siemens

3.7★Compensation & Benefits

Samsung Electronics

3.7★Compensation & Benefits

Eaton

3.7★Compensation & Benefits

Broadcom

4.2★Compensation & Benefits

Jobs at First Solar

Production Operator (Nights)

Production Operator (Night Crew)

Production Operator (Days)

Production Operator (Day Crew)

First Solar

First Solar reviews

Company ratings over time

Ratings by demographic groups

Reviews by job title

Ready for a challenge

Great atmosphere

Fast pace environment

Top companies for "Compensation and Benefits" near you

Jobs at First Solar