Materials R&D Specialist

SpaceX•Bastrop, TX

About The Position

The Materials R&D Specialist partners with engineering to establish and operate processes and develop methods for SpaceX’s in-house solar cell manufacturing, spanning silicon ingot growth, wafering, and cell metrology. The role independently performs processing, characterization, and equipment work; recommends experimental plans; and helps transfer stable methods into production. This work supports solar cells for the Starlink satellite constellation and Starship missions. The specialist also helps bring process and metrology equipment online, develops and documents procedures, conducts process trials and materials characterization, and trains technicians and other team members. The position is based in production and laboratory environments and involves hazardous chemicals, required PPE, and physical activity including extended standing and lifting.

Requirements

Bachelor’s degree in materials science, chemistry, chemical engineering, or another STEM discipline, or at least 4 years of hands-on laboratory experience; internship, co-op, and relevant academic laboratory coursework may count toward experience.
Must be open to working all shifts, overtime, and/or weekends as needed.
Must be comfortable working in production and laboratory environments with hazardous chemicals such as acids, alkalis, and solvents.
Must be able to wear appropriate PPE for laboratory and electro-chemical manufacturing environments.
Must be able to walk and stand for long periods and lift 25 pounds unassisted.
Must be able to climb ladders and perform grasping, lifting, bending, pulling, pushing, stooping, stretching, carrying, crawling, and maneuvering in tight spaces.
Must meet ITAR eligibility requirements: be a U.S. citizen or national, U.S. lawful permanent resident, refugee, or asylee, or be eligible to obtain required U.S. Department of State authorizations.

Nice To Haves

Hands-on experience in semiconductor or photovoltaic manufacturing, silicon crystal growth, wafer manufacturing, materials characterization, or a similar laboratory or manufacturing environment.
Experience using and maintaining materials-characterization or process equipment, such as microscopy, spectroscopy, electrical or optical metrology, wet benches, or related equipment.
Ability to independently run processing and experimental methods, analyze data, and determine causes of irregular results.
Experience writing SOPs, training documents, or work instructions and training others to follow them.
Experience safely handling flammable, toxic, corrosive, or hazardous chemicals; academic laboratory experience is applicable.
Experience installing, calibrating, and maintaining process or characterization equipment, including diagnosing issues that affect results.
Experience recommending and executing processing or experimental plans and transferring stable methods to production.
Ability to understand and accurately follow complex laboratory and manufacturing procedures and safety requirements, with strong attention to detail.
Comfort with data collection, documentation, and basic statistical analysis in a clear, organized manner.
Strong interpersonal, verbal, and written communication skills, including the ability to work across engineering and technician teams and summarize technical results.
Ability to set priorities and determine next steps to move projects forward.
Ability to shift roles and responsibilities, work independently, and perform in a fast-paced, challenging environment with limited oversight.

Responsibilities

Partner with engineering to bring processes and equipment online and drive process development, equipment qualification, and test method development from silicon ingot growth through wafering and cell metrology.
Perform routine and non-routine processing and experimental methods for crystal growth, wafer fabrication, and/or cell metrology; identify next steps and recommend process plans to engineers.
Implement new processing methods, standards, and equipment, including required documentation, and improve lab and line operations.
Commission, install, calibrate, maintain, and troubleshoot process and metrology equipment; diagnose issues affecting process or test results and work with engineering and OEMs to resolve them.
Prepare seeds and hot-zone components for crystal growth; perform wafer processing such as cropping, slicing, cleaning, and surface conditioning; and prepare samples for characterization and production trials.
Execute design of experiments (DOEs) and process trials involving recipe development, thermal management, impurity and defect control, contamination control, and supplier material evaluation.
Characterize silicon ingots, wafers, and cells using methods such as lifetime testing, resistivity measurement, FTIR, and microscopy; maintain and calibrate lab equipment.
Document procedures and data for repeatability and traceability; write SOPs, training documents, and work instructions; train technicians and team members as methods move to manufacturing.
Work with engineering on design, testing, and process development; present results and provide data-based recommendations.
Handle chemicals safely, follow EHS protocols, and maintain lab and cleanroom organization to 5S standards.