Sr. Materials Engineer, Thin Films

<div class="content-intro"><p>SpaceX 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 SpaceX is actively developing the technologies to make this possible, with the ultimate goal of&nbsp;enabling human life on Mars.</p></div><p><strong>SR. MATERIALS ENGINEER, THIN FILMS</strong></p> <p><span data-contrast="none">Starlink is building the world's largest satellite constellation to deliver fast, reliable internet to people who need it most—and powering that constellation starts on the factory floor. We are insourcing solar cell manufacturing end-to-end, from crystal growth and ingot production through wafering and cell fabrication, to drive performance, cost, and scale at every step. High-efficiency, high-reliability cells made in-house are the backbone of the Starlink network: more photons in means more data out to customers around the world.</span></p> <p><span data-contrast="none">As a Sr. Materials Engineer for thin films, you will partner with solar cell process engineering on PECVD-deposited films that set the optical and electrical performance of insourced cells. You will build deep understanding of film chemistry, microstructure, interfaces, and failure modes, then work with process, production, and quality teams to turn that insight into higher efficiency, yield, reliability, and cost. You will operate as a technical expert for the team: setting priorities from program needs, solving poorly defined materials problems autonomously, and raising the bar for how we specify, evaluate, and improve thin-film materials. If you are passionate about solving hard problems, anchor your engineering judgment with first principles thinking, and are relentless about acting with urgency, this role is for you.</span></p> <p><span data-contrast="none"><strong>RESPONSIBILITIES:</strong></span></p> <ul> <li><span data-contrast="none"> Partner with solar cell process engineering on PECVD thin films (e.g., passivation, anti-reflection, and related dielectric or semiconductor layers), developing materials requirements, film-property targets, and the physical understanding of how deposited films perform in the cell</span></li> <li>Build deep technical understanding of plasma-deposited film materials: composition, hydrogen content, density, stress, optical constants, passivation quality, interfaces, and reliability; translate that understanding into clear recommendations that improve cell performance and manufacturability</li> <li>Operate as the technical expert for thin-film materials: independently apply advanced materials concepts to highly complex issues, develop new characterization or evaluation methods where they do not already exist, and make high-impact materials decisions with limited tactical guidance</li> <li>Set your own priorities from program needs; execute multiple complex, multi-month materials projects in parallel (new film stacks, materials qualification, yield or reliability recovery, supplier materials) and come to leadership with solved problems and already-implemented solutions</li> <li>Partner with process engineering on DOEs and process trials: define materials-relevant responses, interpret how plasma, chemistry, and hardware changes affect film properties and cell results, and recommend durable improvements</li> <li>Define film material requirements, specifications, and acceptance criteria; qualify precursors, consumables, and film stacks so materials used in production are understood, controlled, and scalable</li> <li>Lead structured root cause analysis for materials-limited performance, yield, and reliability issues (film defects, interface failure, contamination, stoichiometry, stress, delamination); correlate process history with metrology (ellipsometry, lifetime, FTIR, SEM, I-V, and related methods) and drive corrective actions to first principles</li> <li>Influence cross-functional decisions with process, equipment,