Electrical and Power Systems Solar Panel Engineer

AST Space Mobile • Midland, TX

250d

About The Position

AST SpaceMobile and our global partners are building the first and only space-based cellular broadband network to be accessible by standard smartphones. Called SpaceMobile, this ultra-powerful network is being designed to provide connectivity at 4G/5G speeds everywhere on the planet - on land, at sea and in flight.

Requirements

• Bachelor of Science degree from an accredited course of study in engineering, engineering technology (includes manufacturing engineering technology), chemistry, physics, mathematics, data science, or computer science.
• 5+ years of relevant experience or equivalent in: Physics, Electronics, Electrical Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, Material Science, Industrial/Manufacturing Engineering, or similar field.
• Familiarity with solar cell design and device physics, semiconductor processing, material characterization and analytical techniques.
• 5+ years of experience in analyzing technical data and providing clear written and verbal presentation of the results.
• 5+ years of experience providing engineering support in a fast-paced manufacturing environment.
• 2 years minimum work experience on Solar Modules, Solar Cells, or Solar Arrays.
• Experience using basic MS Office software tools including Word, Excel, and PowerPoint.
• Proficiency with CAD (Computer Aided Design) and PLM (Product Lifecycle Management) systems.
• Experience working both independently and collaboratively as part of a team.

Nice To Haves

• Experience with alternative space solar technologies (multi-junction, thin-film, etc.).
• Design experience with Solar Arrays for Space Applications.
• Familiarity with satellite power systems and LEO environment effects.
• Background in cost modeling and manufacturing process optimization.
• Experience with machine learning applications in degradation modeling.
• Knowledge of statistical analysis, statistical process control, lean principles.
• Understanding of fundamental circuit design and analysis.
• Hands-on experience in assembling and testing electronic components including environmental testing.
• Familiarity with environmental effects (radiation, temperature, ESD, atomic oxygen, etc.) on semiconductor devices and associated design and analysis techniques for evaluating performance under a wide range of potential operating conditions.
• Familiarity with gated approach to product & process development and Aerospace industry material and qualification requirements (such as AIAA-S-111/112, NASA-STD-6016, and/or equivalent ECSS standards).
• Experience participating in or leading Root Cause/Corrective Action investigations (RCCA) and/or Design for Manufacturing Assembly & Test (DFMAT) initiatives.
• Proficiency in problem solving complex issues.
• Familiarity with developing and implementing targeted process automation or other continuous improvement initiatives for both production and production support environments.
• Experience working with interdisciplinary teams to execute product design from concept to production.
• Experience with the project management of technical projects.
• Master's degree in Mechanical, Aerospace, Electrical, Materials Science, or equivalent.
• Experience writing code in Python or other coding languages.
• Experience using Siemen's NX and TeamCenter for CAD and PLM software respectively.

Responsibilities

• Layout and design of photovoltaic solar arrays.
• Perform sizing and power analysis, charging analysis, grounding and ESD for deployable solar arrays.
• Execute the non-recurring engineering in support of new solar cell device definition and existing technology optimization to meet interface and performance requirements.
• Design, and model electrical schematics, power harnessing and circuit boards.
• Develop and execute qualification campaigns for photovoltaic and electrical components including mechanical, thermal and radiation testing.
• Work closely with manufacturing engineering to develop and validate electrical interconnect processes such as welding and bonding.
• In coordination with the test engineer, promptly develop test content, test equipment, procedures, and tools, review, and implement the test.
• Collaborate with systems engineering on electrical de-rating and EEE parts lists.
• Proactively interface with multi-disciplinary team members to optimize component and system designs that meet all technical, cost and schedule requirements.
• Apply engineering principles to ensure that designed components and systems meet all requirements.
• Utilize hardware-based techniques to perform research and development, iterate on design concepts, correlate engineering models, and develop manufacturing processes and procedures.
• Generate technical documentation, reporting and presentations of design, test, and analysis results.

What This Job Offers

• Industry: Telecommunications
• Education Level: Bachelor's degree
• Number of Employees: 101-250 employees