Materials R&D Specialist

About the Role

SpaceX is insourcing solar cell manufacturing end-to-end for the Starlink satellite constellation, aiming to deliver fast, reliable internet. As a Materials R&D Specialist, you will partner with engineering to establish and operate processes, drive process development, and conduct materials processing and characterization from silicon ingot growth through cell metrology.

Key Responsibilities

• Partner with engineering to bring processes and equipment online, drive process development, equipment qualification, and test method development from silicon ingot growth through wafering and cell metrology.
• Independently perform routine and non-routine processing and experimental methods for crystal growth, wafer fabrication, and/or cell metrology.
• Identify next steps and recommend complete process plans to engineers.
• Identify and implement new processing methods, standards, and equipment, including required documentation.
• Make practical improvements to lab and line operations.
• Commission, install, calibrate, maintain, and troubleshoot process and metrology equipment.
• Diagnose issues affecting process or test results and collaborate with engineering and OEMs for correction.
• Perform hands-on materials work, including preparing seeds and hot-zone components for crystal growth, wafer processing, and sample preparation for characterization and production trials.
• Execute Design of Experiments (DOEs) and process trials covering recipe development, thermal management, impurity and defect control, contamination control, and supplier material evaluation.
• Perform silicon ingot, wafer, and cell characterization and maintain lab equipment.
• Document procedures and data for repeatability and traceability.
• Write SOPs, training documents, and work instructions.
• Train production technicians and other team members as methods move to manufacturing.
• Work with engineering on design, testing, and process development.
• Present results clearly and provide data-based recommendations.
• Handle chemicals safely and follow all EHS protocols.
• Maintain lab and cleanroom organization to 5S standards.

Requirements & Tech Stack

• Materials Science
• Chemistry
• Chemical Engineering
• STEM
• Solar Cell Manufacturing
• Silicon Crystal Growth
• Wafer Manufacturing
• Materials Characterization
• Process Equipment
• Metrology Equipment
• Microscopy
• Spectroscopy
• Electrical or Optical Metrology
• Wet Benches
• DOEs
• 5S Standards
• EHS Protocols
• Hazardous Chemicals (acids, alkalis, solvents)
• PPE

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in materials science, chemistry, chemical engineering, or another STEM discipline; OR a minimum of 4 years of hands-on laboratory experience.
• Hands-on experience in semiconductor or photovoltaic manufacturing, silicon crystal growth, wafer manufacturing, materials characterization, or a similar laboratory or manufacturing environment is preferred.
• Experience using and maintaining materials-characterization or process equipment is preferred.
• Ability to run processing and experimental methods independently, analyze data, and determine the cause of irregular results.
• Experience writing SOPs, training documents, or work instructions, and training others is preferred.
• Experience handling flammable, toxic, corrosive, or hazardous chemicals safely is preferred.
• Experience installing, calibrating, and maintaining process or characterization equipment, including diagnosing issues, is preferred.
• Experience recommending and executing processing or experimental plans and transferring stable methods to production is preferred.
• Proven ability to understand and accurately follow complex laboratory and manufacturing procedures and adhere to safety requirements.
• Strong attention to detail.
• Comfortable with data collection, documentation, and basic statistical analysis.
• Strong interpersonal, verbal, and written communication skills.
• Ability to work with engineers, technicians, and cross-functional teams and summarize technical results.
• Ability to set priorities and determine the next step needed to move a project forward.
• Ability to shift roles and responsibilities while working independently in a fast-paced, challenging environment with limited oversight.

Additional Requirements

• Open to work all shifts, overtime, and/or weekends as needed.
• Comfortable working in a production and laboratory environment using hazardous chemicals.
• Able to wear appropriate PPE for lab and electro-chemical manufacturing environments.
• Able to walk and stand for long periods.
• Able to lift 25 lbs. unassisted.
• Comfortable with climbing ladders, grasping, standing, lifting, bending, pulling, pushing, stooping, stretching, carrying, crawling, and maneuvering in tight spaces.

ITAR Requirements

• Applicant must be a U.S. citizen or national, U.S. lawful permanent resident (green card holder), Refugee under 8 U.S.C. § 1157, or Asylee under 8 U.S.C. § 1158, or eligible to obtain required authorizations from the U.S. Department of State.