Senior Photovoltaic Material and Process Development Engineer

At Blue Origin, our mission is to enable a future where millions of people are living and working in space. The Product Formulation team is an innovative, fast-paced group dedicated to developing and maturing next-generation technologies essential for future aerospace missions. We thrive in a results-oriented, prototype-driven, and fail-fast environment. As a Photovoltaic (PV) Materials and Process Engineer, you will drive advances in solar cell materials-including both traditional silicon and emerging photovoltaics-while playing a crucial role in integrating these cells into high-performance solar power modules (SPMs) for space applications.

Responsibilities:

As a Photovoltaic Materials and Process Engineer, you will be responsible for the end-to-end development of advanced photovoltaic materials and processes for next-generation solar cells and their integration into solar power modules. You will bridge fundamental research and applied engineering, designing materials solutions, optimizing high-rate thin-film deposition, evaluating cutting-edge annealing techniques, and enabling the seamless transition of innovative cells into reliable, flight-ready modules that meet the rigorous demands of aerospace environments.

• Lead research, development, and optimization of advanced PV materials-including silicon and next-generation technologies-for space-grade solar cells.

• Design, synthesize, and characterize absorber materials, transport layers, and electrical contacts for high-efficiency, high-reliability photovoltaic devices in extreme space environments.

• Develop, optimize, and scale both conventional and high-rate thin-film deposition processes, including inkjet printing, slot-die coating, and roll-to-roll methods, emphasizing rapid prototyping and manufacturability.

• Implement and evaluate advanced annealing techniques (e.g., intense pulsed light/photonic curing, laser annealing) to enhance thin-film and silicon material quality and device performance.

• Fabricate and characterize laboratory and pilot-scale solar cells, including both silicon and emerging PV devices; analyze material, electrical, and optical properties using advanced instrumentation.

• Integrate photovoltaic cells into solar power modules (SPMs), ensuring mechanical, electrical, and environmental compatibility for aerospace power systems.

• Collaborate closely with module design, systems engineering, and manufacturing teams to mature cell-to-module integration, encompassing encapsulation, electrical interconnects, and qualification testing.

• Document experimental and process data in detail and facilitate technology transfer to manufacturing, complying with aerospace quality and traceability requirements.

• Champion a culture of technical innovation, process safety, and multidisciplinary collaboration within a high-performance engineering environment.

Minimum Qualifications:

• Bachelor's degree in Materials Science, Chemistry, Chemical Engineering, Physics, Electrical Engineering, or a related field

• 7+ years progressive experience in photovoltaic materials/process R&D, including at least 3 years in a senior or technical leadership capacity.

• Direct hands-on experience with silicon PV materials-including deposition, processing, and integration into functional solar cells and modules.

• Strong background in high-rate thin-film deposition techniques (such as inkjet printing, slot-die coating, roll-to-roll) for semiconductor materials.

• Expertise in advanced annealing techniques (e.g., intense pulsed light, photonic curing, laser annealing) for thin-film and/or silicon PV processing.

• Proven experience integrating photovoltaic cells-especially silicon-based-into modules, with holistic consideration for electrical, mechanical, and reliability requirements.

• Comprehensive skills in materials and device characterization (SEM, XRD, AFM, UV-Vis, Hall effect) and relationship to deposition methods.

• Working knowledge of module-level design, including thermal management, encapsulation, interconnect design, and qualification testing.

• Exceptional analytical, troubleshooting, and process-improvement skills.

• Strong communication, technical documentation, and cross-functional teamwork abilities.

• Must be a U.S. citizen or national, U.S. permanent resident (current Green Card holder), or lawfully admitted into the U.S. as a refugee or granted asylum.

Preferred Qualifications:

• Master's or Ph.D. in Materials Science, Chemistry, Chemical Engineering, Physics, Electrical Engineering, or a related field.

• Direct experience with crystalline and/or thin-film silicon PV processes, including their integration into aerospace-grade modules.

• Background with emerging PV materials (perovskite, CIGS, CdTe, III-V, organic PV) and hybrid silicon/multijunction device development.

• Demonstrated capability to scale innovative deposition and annealing processes from laboratory to pilot and full-production scale.

• Knowledge of module reliability testing and qualification (thermal cycling, vacuum, radiation) for aerospace power systems.

• Patent filings, peer-reviewed publications, or notable record of technology transfer in PV materials and module integration.

• Experience with automated/advanced deposition, annealing, and high-throughput module assembly or testing equipment.