Equipment Engineer, Solar Cell Metallization (Starlink)

Spacex; United States; Remote; USD 110,000 - 160,000; Full time

Job summary

SpaceX's Starlink program seeks an Equipment Engineer, Solar Cell Metallization, to own the screen printing and metallization hardware for mass production of silicon solar cells. You will ensure tool availability, reliability, and scalability to support Starlink satellites and Moon/Mars missions.

You will partner with process and facilities teams to drive uptime, analyze data for capacity gains, and implement preventive maintenance strategies across a high-throughput production line.

Qualifications

• Experience operating high-throughput screen printing systems for solar cell manufacturing.
• Ability to analyze production data to improve UPH, reduce variation and defect rates.
• Strong collaboration with process and facilities teams to optimize equipment performance.

Responsibilities

• Install, qualify, maintain, and continuously improve high-throughput screen printing equipment for heterojunction silicon solar cell manufacturing.
• Drive reliability and uptime to support very large volume production; run experiments and analyze data to improve capacity and reduce tool-to-tool variation.
• Develop and execute preventive and predictive maintenance strategies, spare parts programs, and tool matching protocols for high-volume manufacturing.
• Lead root cause analysis and corrective actions on all equipment-related issues, including print heads, squeegee systems, alignment/vision systems, conveyors, drying ovens, paste delivery, and automation.
• Partner with Process Engineers to implement new process requirements on existing and future equipment platforms.
• Evaluate and select next-generation high-throughput screen printing tools capable of supporting 1GW+ per tool scale production.
• Work with vendors on equipment design improvements, upgrades, and custom solutions tailored to heterojunction solar cell requirements.
• Establish equipment performance metrics (OEE, MTBF, MTTR) and implement statistical process control for hardware stability.
• Ensure all equipment meets cleanroom, safety, and high-reliability manufacturing standards.
• Analyze production processes and machinery from a first principles, physics-based approach.

Skills

Equipment operation

Process optimization

Data analysis

Cross-functional collaboration

Tools

Screen printing equipment

Metallization equipment

Condition monitoring

Job description

the company 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 the company is actively developing the technologies to make this possible, with the ultimate goal ofenabling human life on Mars.

EQUIPMENT ENGINEER, SOLAR CELL METALLIZATION (STARLINK)

Starlinkbelieves in providing fast, reliable internet to those that need it most. We design, build, and launch the world's largest and most advanced satellite constellation thatis capable of deliveringhigh-speed internet to even the most remote locations.

As a Equipment Engineer, Solar Cell Metallization, you will own the screen printing and related metallization equipment used to manufacture silicon heterojunction solar cells at massive scale. You will work closely with our existing Metallization/Screen Printing Process Engineering team to ensure world-class equipment performance, reliability, and uptime. While the process team focuses on paste properties, contact formation, and cell efficiency, you will be the hardware owner responsible for tool availability, stability, and scaling to support our ambitious goals.

Your work will form the backbone of theStarlinknetwork (photons of sunlight in is directly proportional to photons of data out to customers!) and help provide internet to tens of millions of customers all around the world. You will spearhead state of the art production equipment for an internal solar cell production line, providing high efficiency and high-quality solar cells for both our latest generationStarlinksatellites and for Starship missions to the Moon and Mars.

RESPONSIBILITIES:

• Work with facilities and process engineering teams to install, qualify, maintain, and continuously improve high-throughput screen printing equipment for heterojunction silicon solar cellmanufacturing
• Drive equipment reliability and uptime to support very large volume production with minimal downtime. Run experiments and analyze data to improve capacity (UPH), reduce tool-to-tool variation, and improve defect performance
• Develop and execute robust preventive and predictive maintenance strategies, spare parts programs, and tool matching protocols for high-volume manufacturing
• Lead root cause analysis and corrective actions on all equipment-related issues, including print heads, squeegee systems, alignment/vision systems, conveyors, drying ovens, paste delivery, and automation
• Partner closely with Process Engineers to implement new process requirements on existing and future equipment platforms
• Evaluate and select next-generation high-throughput screen printing tools capable of supporting 1GW+ per tool scale production
• Work with vendors on equipment design improvements, upgrades, and custom solutions tailored to heterojunction solar cell requirements
• Establish equipment performance metrics (OEE, MTBF, MTTR) and implement statistical process control for hardware stability
• Ensure all equipment meets cleanroom, safety, and high-reliability manufacturing standards
• Analyze production processes and machinery from a first principles, physics-based approach