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 quality of the solar cell fab: prevent escapes to module assembly, satellite integration, and flight; drive containment and disposition when product or process is out of family
Own inline and offline cell metrology as a system, including the offline: metrology lab, inline I-V testers, EL/PL, and related inspection equipment (ellipsometry, SEM/EDS, Raman, FTIR, microscopy, 4pt probe, hall effect measurement, optical measurements, etc.).
Define test methods, sampling frequency, acceptance criteria, and reaction: plans for in-process and end-of-line cell measurements
Own sorter/binning from a process and quality standpoint: bin definitions, grade gates, retest rules, and hold/release logic
Establish and maintain MSA/GR&R, calibration, correlation, and golden-sample: programs so inline and lab data can be trusted
Build SPC, spec limits, and out-of-control action plans on the metrics that: catch yield, reliability, and flight risk
What they're looking for
- Own documentation for quality and metrology tools and methods (SOPs, work: instructions, PMs, training) and be the SME for those tools through install, commissioning, and ramp
- Partner with process and equipment engineering (texturing, PECVD/a-Si stacks,: TCO, metallization) so in-process metrology catches drifts before they become lots of scrap—or lots of escapes
- Partner with the solar cell reliability engineer so factory screens (I-V,: EL/PL, visual, mechanical) protect the space-qualification envelope rather than duplicating or missing it
- Lead root cause analysis on quality escapes and metrology failures: (electrical, optical, interfacial, mechanical) using I-V, EL/PL, lifetime, sheet resistance, ellipsometry, and other characterization; close the loop with manufacturing
