Development Lead, Silicon Ingot & Wafer Production

Starlink; Bastrop (TX); On-site; USD 120,000 - 190,000; Full time

Job summary

Starlink seeks a Development Lead for Solar Ingot & Wafer to drive development trials, from recipe versions to ramping to production. You will coordinate cross-functional teams, define process windows, track KPIs, and own trial documentation and ECOs to ensure stable, high-quality silicon production for Starlink wafering operations.

Responsibilities include planning development trials, coordinating tool time and consumables, and leading transitions from pilot to production while adhering to EHS

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in materials science, chemistry, mechanical engineering, industrial engineering, or a STEM field.
• 5+ years in manufacturing process development or production coordination (semiconductor, PV, crystal growth, precision machining, or injection molding/process engineering strongly preferred)

Responsibilities

• Plan, schedule, and run development trials on ingot pullers, crop and square, multi-wire saws, cleaning, and related metrology
• Turn engineering intent into trial plans: DOE, recipe versions, material lots, fixtures and consumables, and success criteria (yield, TTV, warp, resistivity, lifetime, breakage, kerf)
• Define process windows (pull rate, rotation, hot zone, slurry or diamond wire, tension, coolant, clean chemistry) and track KPIs such as kg/pull, wafer yield, kerf loss, downtime, scrap, and first-pass yield
• Coordinate tool time, material readiness, operator coverage, fixtures, hot-zone parts, wires, slurry and coolant, crucibles, and other consumables with production, maintenance, quality, EHS, and supply chain
• Track status, blockers, and results; elevate schedule, quality, or safety risks with options and owners; and give leadership concise updates
• Collect trial data and support root cause on trial and early-production issues (ingot defects, saw marks, TTV, warp, stains, lifetime)
• Own trial reports, work instructions, travelers, checklists, training notes, and revision control of recipes, fixtures, and consumable specs
• Initiate and track ECOs and process changes, including training and first-article or first-lot verification before release
• Partner with quality and metrology on incoming silicon, in-process checks, and outgoing wafer specs, and support vendor trials and incoming qualifications of new materials or tools
• Lead pilot-to-production transfer (standard work, operator training, control and reaction plans), support the ramp until rate and quality are stable, and capture lessons learned
• Enforce EHS requirements for high temperature, chemicals, slurry, wafer handling, lockout, PPE, and clean-area rules

Skills

Ingot growth

Wafering

Process development

Manufacturing coordination

Tool coordination

Education

Bachelor's degree in STEM fields

Tools

MES

QMS

CAD

Job description

Starlink seeks a Development Lead for Solar Ingot & Wafer to drive development trials, from recipe versions to ramping to production. You will coordinate cross-functional teams, define process windows, track KPIs, and own trial documentation and ECOs to ensure stable, high-quality silicon production for Starlink wafering operations.

Responsibilities include planning development trials, coordinating tool time and consumables, and leading transitions from pilot to production while adhering to EHS