Solution Processed Coating Researcher — Lead Engineer

Blue Origin LLC; Washington; On-site; USD 145,000 - 203,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Medical, dental, vision

Stock options

Paid time off

Education Support Program

Job summary

Blue Origin seeks a senior materials engineer to develop and optimize solution-processed deposition for perovskite absorbers and related materials in Washington state. You will design and commission coating equipment, implement DOE campaigns, and map process-structure relationships to enable scalable lab-to-pilot production.

The role emphasizes rheology, precursors, and defects control, with heavy focus on scaling coatings and ensuring quality across stages.

Qualifications

• BS or higher in a related field; PhD preferred.
• 8+ years in solution-processed thin-film deposition for PV/OLED/printed electronics.
• Experience formulating functional precursors (perovskite, metal oxide, organic semiconductor, or nanoparticles).
• Understanding of film formation: solvent evaporation, nucleation, anti-solvent crystallization.
• Hands-on rheology characterization related to coating quality.
• History of scaling solution-processed films lab-to-pilot/production.

Responsibilities

• Develop and optimize deposition processes for perovskite absorber layers and charge transport materials.
• Formulate and characterize precursors: solvent systems, additives, shelf-life.
• Design and commission coating equipment for perovskite-specific needs (inert atmosphere, heating, drying).
• Develop drying/annealing protocols to control nucleation and crystallography.
• Map process-structure-property relationships via DOE campaigns.
• Establish scalable coating processes with defined windows and inline QC.
• Develop defect analysis methods for coating defects.
• Define scale-up pathway from lab-scale to pilot-scale coating.

Skills

Thin-film deposition

DOE campaigns

Rheology for coating

Scale-up to pilot

Coating equipment design

Education

BS in Chemical Eng / Materials Sci

PhD in Chemical Eng / Materials Sci

Tools

Roll-to-roll coating

Inline metrology

Solvent systems & precursors

Job description

Application close date: Applications will be accepted on an ongoing basis until the requisition is closed.

At Blue Origin, we envision millions of people living and working in space for the benefit of Earth. We're working to develop reusable, safe, and low-cost space vehicles and systems within a culture of safety, collaboration, and inclusion. Join our team of problem solvers as we add new chapters to the history of spaceflight! This role is part of Advanced Concepts and Enterprise Engineering (ACE), supporting Blue Origin's mission of millions of people living and working in space for the benefit of Earth. The team fosters innovation and drives engineering workflows of the future, shared solutions and standards, simplicity and lower costs, and manufacturable design.

Responsibilities

• Develop and optimize solution-based deposition processes for perovskite absorber layers and charge transport materials
• Formulate and characterize precursors: solvent systems, additive engineering, shelf-life stability
• Design and commission coating equipment for perovskite-specific requirements (inert atmosphere, substrate heating, meniscus control, drying zones)
• Develop drying and annealing protocols (thermal, vacuum-assisted, gas quenching, anti-solvent) that control nucleation, grain growth, and crystallographic orientation
• Map process-structure-property relationships through systematic DOE campaigns correlating coating parameters with film morphology and device performance
• Establish scalable coating processes with defined process windows, uniformity specifications, and in-line quality metrics
• Develop defect classification and root-cause analysis methods for coating defects (pinholes, dewetting, thickness non-uniformity)
• Define scale-up pathway from lab-scale to pilot-scale continuous coating

Minimum Qualifications

• B.S. in Chemical Engineering, Materials Science, Chemistry, or related field
• 8+ years of experience in solution-processed thin-film deposition for photovoltaic, OLED, or printed electronics applications
• Demonstrated experience formulating functional precursors (perovskite, metal oxide, organic semiconductor, or nanoparticle)
• Strong understanding of film formation mechanisms from solution: solvent evaporation, nucleation and growth, anti-solvent crystallization
• Hands-on experience with rheology characterization and its relationship to coating quality
• Track record of scaling solution-processed films from lab to pilot or production scale

Preferred Qualifications

• Ph.D. in Chemical Engineering, Materials Science, Chemistry, or related field
• Direct experience with perovskite precursor formulation, coating, and crystallization
• Experience with roll-to-roll or sheet-to-sheet coating at pilot scale
• Knowledge of additive engineering strategies for perovskite grain size control and defect passivation
• Experience with in-line metrology for coating processes (optical, thermal imaging, spectroscopic)
• Familiarity with amine-based solvents (DMF, DMSO, NMP) - handling, waste management, and exposure controls
• Publication record in solution-processed perovskite or printed photovoltaics
• Experience managing or mentoring a team of 3+ researchers

Base Pay Range for: WA applicants is $145,188.00 - $203,263.20

Culture Statement Don’t meet all desired requirements? Studies have shown that some people are less likely to apply to jobs unless they meet every single desired qualification. At Blue Origin, we are dedicated to building an authentic workplace, so if you’re excited about this role but your past experience doesn’t align perfectly with every desired qualification in the job description, we encourage you to apply anyway. You may be just the right candidate for this or other roles.

Export Control Regulations

Applicants for employment at Blue Origin must be a U.S. citizen or national, U.S. permanent resident (i.e. current Green Card holder), or lawfully admitted into the U.S. as a refugee or granted asylum.

Background Check Required for all positions

Blue's Standard Background Check Required for Certain Job Profiles: Defense Biometric Identification System (DBIDS) background check if at any time the role requires one to be on a military installation

Required for Certain Job Profiles: Drivers who operate Commercial Motor Vehicles with a Gross Vehicle Weight (GVW), Gross Vehicle Weight Rating (GVWR) or combination of power unit and trailer that meets or exceeds 10,001 lbs. and/or transports placardable amounts of hazardous materials by ground in any vehicle on a public road while in commerce, may be subject to additional Federal Motor Carrier Safety Regulations including: Driver Qualification Files, Medical Certification (obtained before onboarding), Road Test, Hours of Service, Drug and Alcohol Testing, vehicle inspection requirements, CDL requirements (if applicable) and hazardous materials transportation/shipping training.

Required for certain Job Profiles: Ability to obtain and maintain Merchant Mariner Credential, which includes pre-employment and random drug testing as well as DOT physical

Benefits

• Medical, dental, vision, basic and supplemental life insurance, paid parental leave, short and long-term disability, 401(k) with a company match of up to 5%, and an Education Support Program.
• Stock Options for all regular employees (working at least 20 hours/week)
• Paid Time Off: Up to four (4) weeks per year based on weekly scheduled hours, and up to 14 company-paid holidays.
• Dependent on role type and job level, employees may be eligible for benefits and bonuses based on the company's intent to reward individual contributions and enable them to share in the company's results, or other factors at the company's sole discretion. Bonus amounts and eligibility are not guaranteed and subject to change and cancellation. Please check with your recruiter for more details.

Equal Employment Opportunity

Blue Origin is proud to be an Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action Employer and is committed to attracting, retaining, and developing a highly qualified and dedicated work force. Blue Origin hires and promotes people on the basis of their qualifications, performance, and abilities. We support the establishment and maintenance of a workplace that fosters trust, equality, and teamwork. We provide all qualified applicants for employment and employees with equal opportunities for hire, promotion, and other terms and conditions of employment, regardless of their race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin/ethnicity, age, physical or mental disability, genetic factors, military/veteran status, or any other status or characteristic protected by federal, state, and/or local law. Blue Origin will consider for employment qualified applicants with criminal histories in a manner consistent with applicable federal, state, and local laws, including the Washington Fair Chance Act, the California Fair Chance Act, the Los Angeles Fair Chance in Hiring Ordinance, and other applicable laws.

Affirmative Action and Disability Accommodation

Applicants wishing to receive information on Blue Origin's Affinity Action Plans, or applicants requiring a reasonable accommodation in order to participate in the application and/or interview process, please contact us at [e-mail]. Please note this is a publicly managed inbox. Please do not include any personal medical information in your request.

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