Senior SHJ Solar Cell Engineer — Production Scale-Up

SpaceX; Texas; On-site; USD 180,000 - 230,000; Full time

Job summary

SpaceX is seeking a Sr. Device Physics Engineer to lead end-to-end SHJ solar cell efficiency and reliability across a greenfield production lifecycle.

You will collaborate with process and equipment engineers to maximize power density and durability for Starlink missions, from ingot growth to module fabrication, ensuring state-of-the-art performance in demanding space environments. The role requires leading cross-functional teams, developing metrology strategies, and building a world-class

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in engineering required.
• 5+ years in chemical engineering design, analysis, or system implementation.
• Advanced degrees preferred in chemistry, chemical engineering, or materials science.
• Extensive experience with SHJ PV technologies and reliability testing.

Responsibilities

• Own end-to-end cell efficiency roadmap across growth, prep, deposition, passivation, metallization, and testing.
• Define incoming wafer specs (resistivity, lifetime, thickness uniformity) for SHJ compatibility.
• Design SHJ cell architectures optimized for space: radiation tolerance and high power density.
• Develop fab-wide metrology strategy and calibrate inline/offline tools for real-time process control.
• Lead reliability engineering with accelerated life testing per ECSS/AEC-Q standards.

Skills

SHJ cells

PV metrology

Device modeling

Vacuum systems

Thermal cycling

Reliability testing

DOE & statistics

Education

Bachelor's degree in engineering

Master's degree or PhD in STEM

Tools

PVD/PECVD equipment

EL/PL metrology

Sinton lifetime

Quokka

SIMTRA

SEM/TEM

Job description

SpaceX is seeking a Sr. Device Physics Engineer to lead end-to-end SHJ solar cell efficiency and reliability across a greenfield production lifecycle.

You will collaborate with process and equipment engineers to maximize power density and durability for Starlink missions, from ingot growth to module fabrication, ensuring state-of-the-art performance in demanding space environments. The role requires leading cross-functional teams, developing metrology strategies, and building a world-class