Thin-Film Materials Engineer for Solar Cells

SpaceX; 858 Farm to Market Road 1209, Bastrop, 78602, Texas, United States; On-site; USD 90,000 - 130,000; Full time

Job summary

SpaceX is seeking a Materials Engineer for thin films to partner with solar cell process engineering on PECVD-deposited films. You will characterize films, connect deposition conditions to material properties, support qualifications, and help lock in durable improvements to cell performance, yield, and cost.

You will work with senior engineers on higher-impact decisions, document results, and communicate status clearly.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in materials science, chemical engineering, electrical engineering, physics, or a STEM discipline
• 1+ years of professional experience with thin films, PECVD or vacuum-deposited coatings, or semiconductor/PV materials

Responsibilities

• Partner with solar cell process engineering on PECVD thin films, supporting materials characterization, film-property understanding, and production readiness
• Execute materials characterization and analysis of plasma-deposited films; correlate process conditions with thickness, refractive index, composition, lifetime, uniformity, and cell electrical/optical performance, and recommend next steps
• Build proficiency with thin-film materials, PECVD-relevant vacuum and plasma concepts, and lab/metrology methods; consult with senior engineers on higher-impact decisions while independently completing straightforward materials work
• Support DOEs and process trials: define materials measurements, collect high-quality data, and help interpret results with process engineering
• Support root cause analysis for film, interface, contamination, and yield issues: design experiments, execute failure analysis with characterization partners, and drive assigned corrective actions to completion with no loose ends
• Help define film material requirements, specifications, sampling plans, and acceptance criteria in partnership with process, quality, and production engineering
• Document materials results, specifications, and best practices; communicate status, risks, and recommendations clearly to cross-functional partners and, with support as needed, to leadership
• Identify opportunities to improve film materials performance, yield, cost, and manufacturability; raise issues early with proposed solutions rather than problems alone
• Support qualification of precursors, consumables, and film stacks, and production troubleshooting on the manufacturing floor; follow through until work is complete and understood
• Champion a culture of safety and quality in all vacuum, plasma, chemical/gas handling, lab, and production support activities

Skills

PECVD-deposited films

Thin-film materials

Vacuum deposition

Data analysis (Python/MATLAB)

Process engineering collaboration

Education

Bachelor's degree in Materials Science or related

Master's degree or PhD preferred

Tools

Spectroscopic Ellipsometry

SEM-EDS

XPS

FTIR

QSSPC/PL

Four-point Probe

Optical inspection

Job description

SpaceX is seeking a Materials Engineer for thin films to partner with solar cell process engineering on PECVD-deposited films. You will characterize films, connect deposition conditions to material properties, support qualifications, and help lock in durable improvements to cell performance, yield, and cost.

You will work with senior engineers on higher-impact decisions, document results, and communicate status clearly.