Sr. Solar Cell Reliability Engineer (Starlink)

SpaceX
United States
Workplace: OnsiteFull timeFunction: Energy & Utilities OperationsExperience: 5+ yearsEducation: bachelorsSkills: ["Organizational skills","Written communication","Oral communication","Data analysis","Self-motivated","Mentorship"]

Own the solar cell reliability lab and the end-to-end reliability story for HJT solar cells in space, spanning wafer/cell processing, module integration, environmental qualification, on-orbit performance, and continuous manufacturing improvement. Define and optimize the space reliability test matrix, establish reliability gates and KPIs, run failure analysis using advanced microscopy/spectroscopy, and partner with PV process/equipment engineering to drive design-for-reliability changes.

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FursaFursa
SpaceX
SpaceX
1 month ago

Sr. Solar Cell Reliability Engineer (Starlink)

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Source: Company careers pageValidated by: Fursa AI
Last checked: 18 hours agoStatus: Live

Job Summary

Own the solar cell reliability lab and the end-to-end reliability story for HJT solar cells in space, spanning wafer/cell processing, module integration, environmental qualification, on-orbit performance, and continuous manufacturing improvement. Define and optimize the space reliability test matrix, establish reliability gates and KPIs, run failure analysis using advanced microscopy/spectroscopy, and partner with PV process/equipment engineering to drive design-for-reliability changes.
Location: United States
Workplace: Onsite
Employment Type: Full time
Job Function: Energy & Utilities Operations
Seniority: Mid level

Key Responsibilities

  • •Own and operate the solar cell reliability lab, including equipment strategy, capability roadmap, calibration, maintenance, safety, throughput, and data integrity for HJT cell/coupon reliability testing.
  • •Define, execute, and continuously improve the space reliability test matrix for HJT solar cells, including accelerated and environmental stress tests.
  • •Build and own the reliability narrative for flight and program reviews, tying failure modes and acceleration models to life predictions, margins, and acceptance/qualification logic.
  • •Partner with HJT process and equipment engineering to link process parameters, metrology, and in-line defects to reliability outcomes and drive corrective actions.
  • •Lead root cause analysis on reliability failures and establish reliability gates for process/tool/material/supplier changes, including sampling plans and release criteria.
Travel: High travel

Key Requirements

  • •Bachelor’s degree in an engineering discipline.
  • •5+ years of experience in chemical engineering, materials science, electrical engineering, physics, or mechanical engineering in design, analysis, and/or system implementation.
  • •Ability to work full-time on-site in a production and lab environment.
  • •Experience designing, running, or analyzing accelerated environmental or reliability tests and interpreting degradation/failure data.
  • •Proficiency with data analysis (e.g., Python, MATLAB, JMP, R) and comfort with statistics (distributions, confidence bounds, DOE basics).
Experience:5+ yearsSpaceSatelliteSolarPVReliability testing
Education:Bachelor's
Skills:Organizational skillsWritten communicationOral communicationData analysisSelf-motivatedMentorship
Languages:En
Tech Stack:StarlinkHeterojunction (HJT) solar cellsThermal cyclingThermal vacuumHumidity/damp heatUV/photo-stabilityReverse bias / hotspotMechanical shock/vibrationRadiation exposureAccelerated life testsFMEAPFMEAPythonMATLABJMPRSEMFIBEDSFTIR

Company Brief

SpaceX
Designs, manufactures, and launches advanced rockets and spacecraft for commercial and government customers, aiming to reduce space transportation costs and enable human life on Mars through reusable launch vehicles and integrated space systems.
Industry: Aerospace Manufacturing
Company Size: Enterprise (1,001+ employees)
Growth: Established Company
Valuation: Hectocorn (USD 100B+)
Funding: Series E+
Headquarters: Hawthorne, United States
Founded: 2002
Glassdoor
Glassdoor: 4.2
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