Materials Engineer, Solar Cell CharacterizationActive

The opportunity

SpaceX was founded under the belief that a future where humanity is out exploring the stars is fundamentally more exciting than one where we are not. Today SpaceX is actively developing the technologies to make this possible, with the ultimate goal of enabling human life on Mars.

What you'll do

  • Own characterization and metrology strategy for insourced solar cells across: cell interfaces—from method development and tool qualification through production-ready measurement recipes

  • Build and maintain a suite of offline electrical, optical, and materials: characterization techniques to quantify cell performance, reliability, and yield-limiting defects (e.g., I-V, quantum efficiency, PL/EL imaging, lifetime, SEM-EDS, optical microscopy, spectroscopy, and related methods)

  • Lead root cause analysis for performance and yield excursions: design experiments, execute failure analysis, correlate process history with metrology signatures, and drive corrective actions to first principles

  • Define measurement requirements, sampling plans, gauge R&R, calibration, and: acceptance criteria in partnership with process, quality, and production engineering

  • Stand up and develop processes for offline metrology equipment; own data: integrity, tool matching, and measurement uncertainty so results can be trusted for process decisions

  • Translate characterization results into clear material and process: recommendations that improve efficiency, reliability, cost, and manufacturability

What they're looking for

  • Partner with process engineering on DOEs and golden-line development; provide: rapid feedback loops during recipe, materials, and equipment changes
  • Document methods, specifications, FA reports, and best practices; communicate: status, risks, and recommendations clearly to cross-functional partners and leadership
  • Champion a culture of safety and quality in all sample preparation, chemical: handling, lab operations, and production support activities
  • Bachelor's degree in materials science, materials engineering, chemical: engineering, or a related technical discipline