Solar Cell Reliability Engineer for Spacecraft Power

SpaceX; Bastrop (TX); On-site; USD 120,000 - 150,000; Full time

Job summary

SpaceX is seeking a Solar Cell Reliability Engineer for Starlink. You will own the reliability lab, define test matrices for HJT cells, and develop failure‑mode analyses to ensure high power density for space missions.

You will collaborate with process and equipment teams to drive reliability improvements and support flight programs. The role requires hands-on lab work, data analysis skills, and the ability to communicate results to leadership.

Qualifications

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

Responsibilities

• Own and operate the solar cell reliability lab: equipment strategy, capability roadmap, calibration, maintenance, safety, throughput, and data integrity for HJT cell and coupon reliability testing.
• Define, execute, and continuously improve the space reliability test matrix for HJT solar cells (e.g., thermal cycling, thermal vacuum, humidity/damp heat as applicable, UV/photo-stability, reverse bias / hotspot, mechanical shock/vibration at cell/coupon level, radiation exposure coordination, and accelerated life tests)
• Build and own the reliability narrative for flight and program reviews: failure modes, physics of failure, acceleration models, life predictions, margins, and acceptance/qualification logic that ties lab data to on-orbit performance
• Partner with HJT process and equipment engineering to link process parameters, metrology, and in-line defects to reliability outcomes; drive corrective actions and design-for-reliability changes
• Establish reliability gates for process changes, tool qualifications, material substitutions, and supplier changes; own risk assessment (FMEA/PFMEA interfaces), sampling plans, and release criteria
• Develop and maintain test methods, SOPs, fixturing, and automation for high-throughput, statistically defensible reliability characterization; ensure methods are transferable and auditable
• Lead root cause analysis on reliability failures using SEM/FIB, EDS, FTIR, PL/EL, IV, quantum efficiency, adhesion, and other failure-analysis techniques; close the loop with manufacturing and design
• Define and track reliability KPIs (e.g., degradation rates, wear-out distributions, infant mortality, lot-to-lot variation) and report status to leadership with clear recommendations
• Interface with power systems, structures, thermal, radiation effects, quality, and flight reliability teams so cell-level reliability is coherent with array/module and spacecraft environments
• Support flight anomaly investigation and on-orbit performance trending; update models and test strategies as flight data matures.
• Mentor technicians and junior engineers; set lab culture for rigor, speed, and honest interpretation of data
• Author and present technical content for design reviews, production readiness reviews, and customer/internal reliability packages as required

Skills

Solar cell reliability

Python

MATLAB

Data analysis

Lab instrumentation

Sem/FTIR/XRD experience

Education

Bachelor's degree in an engineering discipline

Master's or PhD preferred

Tools

Sinton lifetime

EL/PL

SEM

FTIR

XRD

PVD/PECVD equipment

Job description

SpaceX is seeking a Solar Cell Reliability Engineer for Starlink. You will own the reliability lab, define test matrices for HJT cells, and develop failure‑mode analyses to ensure high power density for space missions.

You will collaborate with process and equipment teams to drive reliability improvements and support flight programs. The role requires hands-on lab work, data analysis skills, and the ability to communicate results to leadership.