PECVD Process Engineer: High-Efficiency Solar Cells

Spacex; Bastrop (TX); On-site; USD 120,000 - 180,000; Full time

Job summary

SpaceX is seeking a PECVD Process Engineer for Starlink solar cells in Bastrop, TX. You will own development, optimization, and scaling of PECVD processes to passivate wafers and form carrier-selective contacts for high-efficiency SHJ cells.

You will lead tool qualification, DOE-driven improvements, and cross-functional collaboration to deliver high-throughput, low-defect solar devices for space missions.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in an engineering discipline.
• 1+ years of experience in system design, analysis, or implementation (internships allowed).
• Preferred: Master’s or Ph.D. in chemistry, chemical engineering, materials science, physics, or related field.
• 5+ years hands-on PECVD process engineering experience, preferably in SHJ/HJT or TOPCon.
• Proven track record of scaling PECVD processes to high-volume production (>1 GW/year).
• Strong understanding of vacuum systems, plasma physics, and thin-film silicon.

Responsibilities

• Design, qualify, and optimize PECVD processes for SHJ layers, ensuring uniformity and passivation quality.
• Lead toolset development, including gas chemistry, plasma power and pressure optimization.
• Own chamber conditioning strategy and clean intervals to maximize uptime.
• Collaborate with CVD Equipment Engineering on tool qualification and throughput improvements.
• Develop and maintain new manufacturing processes and facilities.
• Analyze production processes from first principles to improve yields.
• Design DOE experiments to diagnose problems and improve cell quality.
• Perform defect characterization and root-cause actions.
• Develop project plans, budgets, and cost/benefit analyses for new processes.
• Lead machine activation and testing with a small team.
• Prepare content for technical design reviews and own production outcomes.

Skills

PECVD process engineering

SHJ/HJT or TOPCon solar

Solar cell manufacturing

Vacuum systems

Plasma physics

DOE / DoE

Lean manufacturing

Cross-functional teamwork

Education

Bachelor’s degree in engineering

Master’s degree or Ph.D. in relevant field

Tools

PECVD equipment

PVD machines

Wafer inspection equipment

Python scripting

COMSOL / Quokka

Job description

SpaceX is seeking a PECVD Process Engineer for Starlink solar cells in Bastrop, TX. You will own development, optimization, and scaling of PECVD processes to passivate wafers and form carrier-selective contacts for high-efficiency SHJ cells.

You will lead tool qualification, DOE-driven improvements, and cross-functional collaboration to deliver high-throughput, low-defect solar devices for space missions.