Lead PVD Research Engineer – Perovskite Solar Cells

Blue Origin; Seattle (WA); On-site; USD 121,000 - 169,000; Full time

Job summary

Blue Origin in Washington state is seeking a Lead Physical Vapor Deposition Researcher to develop and optimize PVD processes for perovskite photovoltaic cells, guiding from first principles to yield optimization while mentoring two associate researchers.

You will specify vacuum deposition equipment, design multi-source recipes, and implement in-situ monitoring, translating layer specs into robust process windows, in a safety- and collaboration-centered spaceflight-focused culture.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Materials Science, Chemical Engineering, Physics, or related field
• 5+ years of vacuum thin-film deposition experience in PV/semiconductor/optoelectronics
• Expert knowledge of thermal evaporation and/or sputtering physics
• Experience with multi-source co-evaporation or sequential deposition of multi-component films
• Hands-on vacuum system design, operation, and maintenance
• Proficiency with thin-film characterization techniques (XRD, SEM, profilometry, ellipsometry)

Responsibilities

• Develop and optimize PVD processes (thermal evaporation, co-evaporation, sputtering) for perovskite layers and related interfaces
• Drive innovation for new deposition processes to improve device performance
• Design deposition recipes for multi-source materials
• Specify, commission, and qualify vacuum deposition equipment
• Develop in-situ process monitoring and feedback control strategies
• Establish statistical process control for film properties
• Lead DOE campaigns to map process-structure-property relationships
• Collaborate to translate layer specifications into deposition recipes
• Mentor two associate deposition researchers
• Maintain process documentation and safety protocols
• Analyze film characterization data to correlate parameters with quality

Skills

Vacuum deposition

PVD process development

In-situ monitoring

Team leadership

Education

Bachelor's degree

Tools

XRD

SEM

Ellipsometry

Vacuum pumps

Job description

Blue Origin in Washington state is seeking a Lead Physical Vapor Deposition Researcher to develop and optimize PVD processes for perovskite photovoltaic cells, guiding from first principles to yield optimization while mentoring two associate researchers.

You will specify vacuum deposition equipment, design multi-source recipes, and implement in-situ monitoring, translating layer specs into robust process windows, in a safety- and collaboration-centered spaceflight-focused culture.