Senior Manufacturing Engineer (Solar Modules)

Impulse Space; Redondo Beach (CA); On-site; USD 135,000 - 170,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Stock options

Medical, Vision & Dental

401(k) retirement plan

Job summary

Impulse Space in Redondo Beach is seeking a Senior Manufacturing Engineer (Solar Modules) to lead the build and testing of solar modules for space applications. You will own production processes and drive reliability for modules destined for space, with leveling commensurate with experience.

Work with cross-functional teams to improve yield, investigate failures, and ensure manufacturability. The role includes exposure to long-term incentives and stock options.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Materials Engineering, Chemistry, Physics, Mechanical or Electrical Engineering, or related field.
• 4+ years of demonstrated development and/or manufacturing experience with solar modules.
• 4+ years of experience setting up a solar manufacturing line (stringers, laminators).
• Experience with failure analysis of solar modules or electronic devices in development or production.

Responsibilities

• Develop and implement solar module manufacturing processes across vehicles, including development builds and process improvements.
• Define solar module manufacturing process flow and scale production rate.
• Analyze the manufacturing process to reduce defects, improve quality and yield.
• Lead failure analysis during prototype fabrication to inform design decisions.
• Collaborate with design engineers for manufacturability (DFM/DFA) of solar modules.
• Coordinate with cross-functional teams on long-term reliability in space environments.
• Provide day-to-day production floor support, resolve build issues, and update work instructions.
• Provide guidance to solar manufacturing technicians.
• Support environmental and functional testing in production.

Skills

Solar manufacturing

Failure analysis

DFM/DFA

Cross-functional

Education

Bachelor's degree in Electrical Engineering

Master's degree in Materials Engineering

Job description

Department: Manufacturing

Location: Redondo Beach

Compensation: $135,000 - $170,000 / year

Description

As a Senior Manufacturing Engineer (Solar Modules) at Impulse, you will work with cross-functional teams to build solar modules for space applications. You will own the build and testing of solar modules in production. Your expertise will directly impact the reliability and performance of the systems we send into low-earth orbit and beyond.

Leveling will be commensurate with experience.

Responsibilities

• Develop and implement solar module manufacturing processes across our vehicles, including development builds and to understand how to improve the manufacturing process and iterate new designs.
• Define the manufacturing process flow of solar modules and scale-up of module production rate.
• Conduct comprehensive analysis on the solar module manufacturing process to reduce defects, improve quality and improve yield.
• Lead failure analysis during prototype fabrication to inform design decisions.
• Collaborate with design engineers to ensure manufacturability, DFM/DFA of solar modules.
• Collaborate with cross functional teams long-term reliability in space environments.
• Provide day-to-day support for the production floor, resolving build issues, updating work instructions, and improving yields.
• Provide guidance to solar manufacturing technicians.
• Support environmental and functional testing in production.

Minimum Qualifications

• Bachelors' degree in Materials Engineering, Chemistry, Physics, Mechanical Engineering, Electrical Engineering or related field
• 4+ years of demonstrated development and/or manufacturing experience with solar modules, either for terrestrial or space applications
• 4+ years of experience with setting up a solar manufacturing line, including using stringers and laminators.
• Experience with failure analysis of solar modules or electronic devices in a development or production setting.

Preferred Skills And Experience

• MS degree in Materials Engineering, Chemistry, Physics, Mechanical Engineering, Electrical Engineering or related field
• 6+ years of demonstrated manufacturing experience in solar manufacturing, particularly for the unique demands of space applications
• Expertise with material selection for solar modules used in space applications and how these materials fail in space applications, including cover sheets, encapsulants, interconnects and backsheets.
• Experience with providing DFM feedback on space solar modules, with an emphasis on reliability in LEO and GEO.
• Experience with failure analysis of space solar modules and a deep understanding of failure modes of solar arrays in LEO and GEO and how to mitigate these in a manufacturing setting.

Additional Information

Compensation bands are determined by role, level, location, and alignment with market data. Individual level and base pay is determined on a case-by-case basis and may vary based on job-related skills, education, experience, technical capabilities and internal equity. In addition to base salary, for full-time hires, you may also be eligible for long-term incentives, in the form of stock options, and access to medical, vision & dental coverage as well as access to a 401(k) retirement plan.

To conform to U.S. Government space technology export regulations, including the International Traffic in Arms Regulations (ITAR) you must be a U.S. citizen, lawful permanent resident of the U.S., protected individual as defined by 8 U.S.C. 1324b(a)(3), or eligible to obtain the required authorizations from the U.S. Department of State. Learn more about the ITAR here.

Impulse Space is an Equal Opportunity Employer; employment with Impulse Space 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.