Solar Cell Metrology Technician - R&D & Yield

SPACE EXPLORATION TECHNOLOGIES CORP; Bastrop, Northern (TX, KY); Hybrid; USD 65,000 - 90,000; Full time

Job summary

SpaceX in Bastrop, TX is seeking a Materials R&D Technician to lead solar cell characterization. You will collaborate with engineering to stand up lab equipment, perform metrology, and generate trusted data to guide recipe development and manufacturing of Starlink cells.

Responsibilities include electrical, optical, and materials measurements, sample prep, calibration, root-cause analysis, and maintaining safety and 5S in a cleanroom.

Qualifications

• High school diploma or equivalency certification.
• 3+ years of hands-on metrology or materials characterization in PV/semiconductor environments.
• Experience handling flammable, toxic, corrosive, and/or hazardous chemicals safely.

Responsibilities

• Partner with engineering to bring online and perform solar cell metrology and materials characterization testing of insourced cells.
• Execute routine and non-routine electrical, optical, and materials measurements on wafers and solar cells (e.g., I-V, PL/EL imaging, lifetime, optical inspection, microscopy).
• Prepare samples for characterization and failure analysis, including sectioning, polishing, coating, and chemical processing.
• Drive equipment setup, calibration, troubleshooting, preventative maintenance, and tool matching for accurate data.
• Collect, organize, and report high-quality data to support DOEs and root-cause analysis of performance and yield.
• Support engineering on failure analysis of underperforming or failed cells; flag anomalies and preserve evidence.
• Safely handle chemicals and adhere to all EHS protocols; maintain a clean and organized lab area.
• Follow and help refine SOPs and train production technicians on metrology methods.

Skills

Metrology

Materials characterization

Semiconductor

PV lab experience

Data analysis

Education

Bachelor's or Associate's degree in STEM

Tools

Solar simulators

I-V testers

PL/EL imaging

Lifetime testers

Optical microscopes

SEM

Ellipsometers

Spectrophotometers

Four-point probes

Job description

SpaceX in Bastrop, TX is seeking a Materials R&D Technician to lead solar cell characterization. You will collaborate with engineering to stand up lab equipment, perform metrology, and generate trusted data to guide recipe development and manufacturing of Starlink cells.

Responsibilities include electrical, optical, and materials measurements, sample prep, calibration, root-cause analysis, and maintaining safety and 5S in a cleanroom.