PVD Process Engineer, Solar Cells (Starlink)

Future Ventures; Bastrop (TX); On-site; USD 70,000 - 100,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading aerospace manufacturer in Texas seeks a PVD Process Engineer to drive production processes for solar cells to support its Starlink project and more. The role involves designing and optimizing PVD processes essential for the solar cell production line, ensuring high efficiency and quality. Ideal candidates will have a bachelor's degree in engineering and relevant experience in chemical engineering processes. The position comes with competitive pay and opportunities for impact in sustainable energy and space technology.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in an engineering discipline.
• 1+ years of experience in chemical engineering design or system implementation.

Responsibilities

• Design, qualify, and optimize PVD sputtering processes for solar cells.
• Develop experiments to diagnose and correct manufacturing problems.
• Lead process development for new materials and technologies.

Skills

PVD process engineering

Thin-film solar manufacturing

Statistical analysis

Communication skills

Education

Bachelor’s degree in engineering

Tools

PVD machines

Statistical Process Control

Data analysis (Python, R, SQL)

Job description

PVD PROCESS ENGINEER, SOLAR CELLS (STARLINK)

As a PVD Process Engineer for our solar cell factory, you will spearhead state-of-the-art production processes for an internal solar cell production line, providing high efficiency and high‑quality solar cells for both our latest generation Starlink satellites and for Starship missions to the Moon and Mars. You will work through the life cycle of setting up a greenfield solar cell production plant, including equipment procurement, plant design/layout, equipment commissioning and ramp‑up, recipe and process development, and working to develop a world‑class production team and environment.

As a PVD Process Engineer, you will own the development, optimization, and scaling of Physical Vapor Deposition (PVD) processes critical for depositing transparent conductive oxide (TCO) layers, such as ITO, and other thin films essential to high‑efficiency SHJ cell performance. You will develop and iterate on the manufacturing processes and recipes to achieve a state‑of‑the‑art silicon cell efficiency, low defect rate and cost, and high reliability cell for space‑based applications. Your work will form the backbone of the Starlink network (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.

RESPONSIBILITIES

• Design, qualify, and optimize PVD sputtering processes (e.g., DC/RF magnetron sputtering) for SHJ front and back contacts, ensuring uniformity, adhesion, resistivity, and optical transmission at GW‑scale volumes.
• Lead process development for new toolsets and materials, including target management, deposition rate optimization, and defect reduction to support state‑of‑the‑art efficiency cells.
• Responsible for developing, implementing, and maintaining new and/or improved manufacturing processes, equipment, technologies, and facilities.
• Analyze production processes and machinery from a first‑principles, physics‑based approach.
• Develop experiments to diagnose and correct manufacturing problems, utilizing robust DOE and statistical methodologies.
• Optimize process conditions and materials to improve the optical and electrical quality of solar cells.
• Perform defect characterization and analysis to determine root cause and develop action plans to improve yields.
• Develop project plans, budgets, and cost/benefit analysis for implementation of new processes or machines.
• Own and perform machine activation and testing with a small team of engineers and technicians.
• Prepare detailed content for technical design reviews, and demonstrate extreme ownership of the production outcome of the Starlink solar factory across yield, uptime, and cost.

BASIC QUALIFICATIONS

• Bachelor’s degree in an engineering discipline.
• 1+ years of experience in chemical engineering design, analysis, and/or system implementation (internship and extracurricular experience is applicable).

PREFERRED SKILLS AND EXPERIENCE

• Master’s degree or Ph.D. in chemistry, chemical engineering, materials science, environmental, or other STEM discipline.
• 5+ years of hands‑on experience in PVD process engineering, preferably in thin‑film solar (SHJ, PERC, or CIGS), semiconductor, or display manufacturing.
• Proven track record of scaling PVD processes to high‑volume production (>1 GW/year equivalent).
• Strong understanding of vacuum systems, plasma physics, sputtering dynamics, and thin‑film characterization techniques (e.g., XRD, SEM, Hall effect).
• Experience with SPC, DoE, and lean manufacturing principles.
• Ability to work in a cleanroom environment.
• Hands‑on experience working with complex fluid or mechanical‑based production systems in a professional setting.
• Experience transitioning products from design to manufacturing and scaling to high volume as part of a cross‑functional team.
• Self‑motivated with strong organizational, written, and oral communication skills.
• Experience with solar cell manufacturing equipment, such as wet chemical processing equipment, PE‑CVD equipment, PVD machines, metallization and final test equipment, and wafer inspection equipment (experience in evaporation tools and ALD tools are a plus).
• Experience or expertise with perovskite solar cells or perovskite tandem solar cells.
• Experience with micro‑structure analysis tools (SEM, TEM, EDX, SIMS, etc.) and optical/electrical characterization tools (UV‑VIS, I‑V, resistance, etc.).
• Expertise in SHJ‑specific PVD processes, including low‑temperature ITO deposition for bifacial cells.
• Familiarity with advanced PVD tools and automation/integration for inline production.
• Proficiency in data analysis/scripting (Python, R, SQL) and simulation tools (e.g., SIMTRA for sputtering).
• Experience in cost‑of‑ownership modeling, CapEx justification, and fab ramp‑ups to multi‑GW scales.
• Passion for sustainable energy and space technology; prior work in photovoltaics at GW‑scale a plus.

ADDITIONAL REQUIREMENTS

• Ability to travel frequently for work, potentially for extended periods of time during machine buyoffs and startup.
• Ability to lift 25 lbs. unassisted.
• Lifting, standing, climbing, bending, grasping, sitting, pulling, pushing, stooping, stretching, and carrying are generally required to perform the functions of this position.
• Must be willing to work extended hours and weekends as needed.

ITAR REQUIREMENTS

• To conform to U.S. Government export regulations, applicant must be a (i) U.S. citizen or national, (ii) U.S. lawful, permanent resident (aka green card holder), (iii) Refugee under 8 U.S.C. § 1157, or (iv) Asylee under 8 U.S.C. § 1158, or be eligible to obtain the required authorizations from the U.S. Department of State. Learn more about the ITAR here.

SpaceX is an Equal Opportunity Employer; employment with SpaceX is governed on the basis of merit, competence and qualifications and will not be influenced in any manner by race, color, religion, gender, national origin/ethnicity, veteran status, disability status, age, sexual orientation, gender identity, marital status, mental or physical disability or any other legally protected status.

Applicants wishing to view a copy of SpaceX’s affirmative action plan for veterans and individuals with disabilities, or applicants requiring reasonable accommodation to the application/interview process should reach out to [e-mail].