Photovoltaic Material and Process Development Engineer II

Blue Origin • Seattle, WA

69d • $96,310 - $134,833

About The Position

At Blue Origin, we envision millions of people living and working in space for the benefit of Earth. We're working to develop reusable, safe, and low-cost space vehicles and systems within a culture of safety, collaboration, and inclusion. Join our team of problem solvers as we add new chapters to the history of spaceflight! This role is part of Advanced Concepts and Enterprise Engineering (ACE), supporting Blue Origin's mission of millions of people living and working in space for the benefit of Earth. The team fosters innovation and drives engineering workflows of the future, shared solutions and standards, simplicity and lower costs, and manufacturable design. 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 contribute to advances in solar cell materials-including both traditional silicon and emerging photovoltaics-while supporting the integration of these cells into high-performance solar power modules (SPMs) for space applications.

Requirements

• Bachelor's degree in Materials Science, Chemistry, Chemical Engineering, Physics, Electrical Engineering, or a related field
• 2+ years of experience in photovoltaic materials/process R&D OR Ph.D. in a relevant field
• Hands-on experience with PV materials-including deposition, processing, and characterization of solar cells
• Experience with thin-film deposition techniques (such as inkjet printing, slot-die coating, sputtering, or evaporation) for semiconductor materials
• Familiarity with annealing techniques for thin-film and/or silicon PV processing
• Basic understanding of photovoltaic cell integration into modules, including electrical and mechanical considerations
• Skills in materials and device characterization techniques (SEM, XRD, UV-Vis, electrical measurements)
• Strong analytical and problem-solving abilities
• Good communication skills and ability to work effectively in cross-functional teams
• 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.

Nice To Haves

• Master's or Ph.D. in Materials Science, Chemistry, Chemical Engineering, Physics, Electrical Engineering, or a related field
• Experience with crystalline and/or thin-film silicon PV processes
• Exposure to emerging PV materials (perovskite, CIGS, CdTe, III-V, organic PV) or multijunction device concepts
• Understanding of process scaling considerations from laboratory to pilot scale
• Knowledge of module reliability testing concepts for aerospace applications
• Experience with advanced characterization techniques (AFM, Hall effect, photoluminescence)
• Familiarity with automated deposition or testing equipment
• Academic publications, conference presentations, or patent applications in PV-related fields

Responsibilities

• Support research, development, and optimization of advanced PV materials-including silicon and next-generation technologies-for space-grade solar cells.
• Assist in the design, synthesis, and characterization of absorber materials, transport layers, and electrical contacts for high-efficiency, high-reliability photovoltaic devices in extreme space environments.
• Support the development and optimization of both conventional and high-rate thin-film deposition processes, including inkjet printing, slot-die coating, and roll-to-roll methods, with emphasis on rapid prototyping and manufacturability.
• Evaluate and implement 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-scale solar cells, including both silicon and emerging PV devices; analyze material, electrical, and optical properties using advanced instrumentation.
• Support the integration of photovoltaic cells into solar power modules (SPMs), ensuring mechanical, electrical, and environmental compatibility for aerospace power systems.
• Work closely with module design, systems engineering, and manufacturing teams to support cell-to-module integration, including encapsulation, electrical interconnects, and qualification testing.
• Document experimental and process data thoroughly and support technology transfer activities to manufacturing, following aerospace quality and traceability requirements.
• Contribute to a culture of technical innovation, process safety, and multidisciplinary collaboration within a high-performance engineering environment.

Benefits

• Medical, dental, vision, basic and supplemental life insurance
• Paid parental leave
• Short and long-term disability
• 401(k) with a company match of up to 5%
• Education Support Program
• Paid Time Off: Up to four (4) weeks per year based on weekly scheduled hours, and up to 14 company-paid holidays
• Discretionary bonus designed to reward individual contributions as well as allow employees to share in company results

What This Job Offers

• Industry: Transportation Equipment Manufacturing
• Education Level: Bachelor's degree
• Number of Employees: 5,001-10,000 employees