Sr. Materials Engineer, Silicon Crystal Growth (Starlink)

United States Digital Space LLC; Lockhart (TX); On-site; USD 140,000 - 180,000; Full time

Job summary

United States Digital Space LLC in Texas is seeking a Sr. Materials Engineer, Silicon Crystal Growth, to lead the full lifecycle of silicon ingot and wafer production for Starlink. You will specify equipment, develop metrology, and guide qualification from R&D to production.

The role requires a BS in materials science/engineering, 5+ years in semiconductor crystal growth, and a proven record in high-purity ingot development. Travel up to 25% and extended hours may be required.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in materials science, chemical engineering, or a STEM field.
• 5+ years in semiconductor crystal growth manufacturing, research, or characterization.
• Master's or PhD in materials science or related field (preferred).
• 8+ years in photovoltaics, semiconductor, or crystal growth sectors (preferred).

Responsibilities

• Own the full lifecycle of equipment specification, validation, and process development for silicon ingot and wafer production.
• Specify and implement in-process and off-line metrology tools for quality control.
• Develop silicon ingot and wafer quality specifications; conduct testing and performance evaluation.
• Lead root cause failure investigations to resolve process issues.
• Push material and crystal growth process limits to enable higher PV efficiency.
• Collaborate with leadership to drive scale-up from R&D to production of silicon ingots and wafers.

Skills

Cross-functional leadership

Process optimization

Quality control

Root cause analysis

Project management

Education

Bachelor's degree in materials science or chemical engineering

Master's or PhD in materials science or related field

Tools

ICP-MS

GDMS

XRT

SEM/TEM

FTIR

Resistivity mapping

PL (minority carrier lifetime) testing

Job description

the company was founded under the belief that a future where humanity is out exploring the stars is fundamentally more exciting than one where we are not. Today the company is actively developing the technologies to make this possible, with the ultimate goal ofenabling human life on Mars.

SR. MATERIALS ENGINEER, SILICON CRYSTAL GROWTH (STARLINK)

Starlink, our revolutionary satellite constellation, will deliver low-latency broadband internet worldwide. We are committed to offering access to high-speed internet to customers and are looking for a Materials Engineer to utilize their knowledge, experience, and creativity to solve materials and processing challenges in silicon crystal growth and wafer production for Starlink solar cells.

RESPONSIBILITIES:

• Own the full lifecycle of equipment specification, validation, and process development for silicon ingot and wafer production.
• Specify and implement in-process and off-line metrology tools for quality control.
• Develop silicon ingot and wafer quality specifications; conduct testing and performance evaluation to ensure specifications are met.
• Lead root cause failure investigations to resolve process issues.
• Push material and crystal growth process limits to enable higher PV efficiency.
• Collaborate with leadership and stakeholders to drive scale-up plans from R&D to production of silicon ingots and wafers.

BASIC QUALIFICATIONS:

• Bachelor's degree in materials science, chemical engineering, or a STEM field.
• 5+ years of experience in semiconductor crystal growth manufacturing, research, or characterization.

PREFERRED SKILLS AND EXPERIENCE:

• Master's degree or PhD in materials science, chemical engineering, or a related field.
• 8+ years of professional work experience (photovoltaics, semiconductor, or crystal growth sectors preferred).
• Expertise in CZ crystal growth fundamentals, including thermal management, impurity control, and defect mitigation.
• In-depth knowledge of polysilicon feedstock, dopants, crucible materials, and their impact on ingot quality and yield.
• Proficiency in silicon ingot/wafer characterization techniques and equipment, including ICP-MS, GDMS, XRT, SEM/TEM, FTIR, resistivity mapping, and minority carrier lifetime testing (PL).
• Experience with Statistical Process Control (SPC), Design of Experiments (DOE), and manufacturing metrics (e.g., CPK, yield, OEE) in production environments.
• Demonstrated track record in developing new processes, improving efficiencies (e.g., pull rates, purity >9N), and successfully transferring to production in a rapidly growing, fast-paced environment.
• Proven cross-functional leadership skills, with experience aligning diverse teams to achieve shared technology goals.

ADDITIONAL REQUIREMENTS:

• Must be available to work extended hours and weekends as needed.
• Willingness and ability to travel up to 25% time.
• Work performed in an environment requiring exposure to fumes, odors, and noise.
• Comfort occasionally working in tight or confined spaces.

ITAR REQUIREMENTS:

• To conform to U.S. Government export regulations, applicant must be a (i) U.S. citizen or national, (ii) U.S. lawful, permanent resident (aka green card holder), (iii) Refugee under 8 U.S.C. § 1157, or (iv) Asylee under 8 U.S.C. § 1158, or be eligible to obtain the required authorizations from the U.S. Department of State. Learn more about the ITAR here.

the company is an Equal Opportunity Employer; employment with the company is governed on the basis of merit, competence and qualifications and will not be influenced in any manner by race, color, religion, gender, national origin/ethnicity, veteran status, disability status, age, sexual orientation, gender identity, marital status, mental or physical disability or any other legally protected status.

Applicants wishing to view a copy of the company’s Affentiative Action Plan for veterans and individuals with disabilities, or applicants requiring reasonable accommodation to the application/interview process should reach out [e-mail].