Solar Cell Reliability Lead for Space Power Systems

InvestedintheMission; Bastrop (TX); On-site; USD 140,000 - 210,000; Full time

Job summary

SpaceX in Texas is seeking a Sr. Solar Cell Reliability Engineer to own the reliability lab and drive end-to-end reliability for HJT solar cells in space.

You will oversee testing from wafer to module, establish failure-mode analyses, and link lab data to on-orbit performance for Starlink and other missions. The role involves coordinating with process/engineering teams, defining reliability gates, and mentoring technicians in a high-throughput lab environment on-site.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in an engineering discipline.
• 5+ years of experience in design, analysis, and/or system implementation.
• Master’s degree or Ph.D. in chemistry, chemical engineering, materials science, or space power systems.
• 7+ years of hands-on experience in solar cell, PV module, semiconductor device, or aerospace hardware reliability.
• Experience with accelerated environmental or reliability tests and data interpretation.
• Proficiency with data analysis tools (Python, MATLAB, JMP, R).
• Ability to work full-time on-site in a production and lab environment.
• Experience with PV metrology tools (Sinton lifetime, EL/PL).
• Experience with SPC, DoE, and lean manufacturing.
• Strong written and oral communication skills.

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, UV/photo-stability, reverse bias, hotspots, vibration, radiation, accelerated life tests)
• Build and own the reliability narrative for flight and program reviews: failure modes, physics of failure, models, life predictions, margins, and qualification logic
• Partner with HJT process and equipment engineering to link process parameters to reliability outcomes; drive corrective actions
• Establish reliability gates for process changes and supplier changes; own risk assessment, sampling plans, and release criteria
• Develop test methods, SOPs, fixturing, and automation for high-throughput reliability characterization; ensure methods transferable
• Lead root cause analysis on reliability failures using SEM/FIB, EDS, FTIR, PL/EL, IV, and other techniques; liaise with manufacturing
• Define and track reliability KPIs and report status with clear recommendations
• Interface with power systems, structures, thermal, radiation effects, quality, and flight reliability teams
• Support flight anomaly investigation and on-orbit performance trending; update models as data matures
• Mentor technicians and junior engineers; promote rigorous data interpretation
• Author and present technical content for design reviews and reliability packages

Skills

Python

MATLAB

Statistical analysis

Root cause analysis

Complex problem solving

Education

Bachelor’s degree in an engineering discipline

Master’s degree or Ph.D. in chemistry/space power systems

Tools

Sinton lifetime

EL/PL

XRD

SEM

PVD tools

PE-CVD

ALD tools

Wafer inspection equipment

Job description

SpaceX in Texas is seeking a Sr. Solar Cell Reliability Engineer to own the reliability lab and drive end-to-end reliability for HJT solar cells in space.

You will oversee testing from wafer to module, establish failure-mode analyses, and link lab data to on-orbit performance for Starlink and other missions. The role involves coordinating with process/engineering teams, defining reliability gates, and mentoring technicians in a high-throughput lab environment on-site.