Solar PV Test Engineer III – Solar Center of Excellence

BLUE ORIGIN•Seattle, WA

2d•$121,023 - $169,432

About The Position

This role is part of Blue Origin’s Advanced Concepts and Enterprise Engineering organization and supports the Solar Center of Excellence. The engineer will own environmental and reliability testing to assess how space solar hardware performs over its mission life. Test articles include solar cells, coverglass-interconnected cell assemblies (CICs), coupons, solar power modules (SPMs), and materials. Testing includes thermal cycling, thermal vacuum, atomic oxygen, and UV environments. The role also determines laboratory equipment needs, develops and qualifies test methods, and converts test data into degradation factors and design margins used to size arrays. The position combines hands-on laboratory testing with data analysis and presentation. A solar-cell device-physics background is not required, but practical stress-testing and measurement experience is needed. Blue Origin is primarily seeking an Engineer III and is open to exceptional candidates at adjacent career levels whose testing, reliability, and laboratory experience fit the role. Relocation is provided. Travel is expected to be up to 25% at peak and 10% on average, and interviews include a technical assessment.

Requirements

Bachelor’s degree in Mechanical, Electrical, Aerospace, or Materials Engineering, Physics, or a related technical field.
At least 5 years of hands-on environmental, reliability, or qualification testing experience in photovoltaics, semiconductors, electronics, aerospace, or a similar high-reliability industry; alternatively, at least 3 years with a Master’s degree or Ph.D.
Hands-on experience conducting thermal cycling, thermal shock, thermal vacuum, or UV tests, from test planning through execution and final reporting.
Experience designing test fixtures and data acquisition setups, and specifying or commissioning test equipment.
Ability to analyze data using Python, MATLAB, or a similar tool, apply basic statistics, and explain results clearly.
Must be a U.S. citizen or national, U.S. permanent resident with a current Green Card, or lawfully admitted into the U.S. as a refugee or granted asylum.

Nice To Haves

Master’s degree or Ph.D. in a relevant field.
Experience testing solar cells, CICs, or PV modules, including solar simulator I-V testing or EL imaging, and familiarity with PV qualification standards such as AIAA S-111/S-112, ECSS-E-ST-20-08, or IEC 61215.
Experience with space environmental testing, such as TVAC, UV, or combined-effects testing, or with radiation and vibration campaigns at outside facilities.
Experience with pull, peel, or shear testing of solder and weld joints, and familiarity with workmanship standards such as IPC J-STD-001 or NASA-STD-8739.3.
Experience with measurement system analysis (gauge R&R), uncertainty budgets, accelerated life testing, and degradation modeling such as Weibull, regression, or DOE.
Experience testing adhesives, encapsulants, coverglass, coatings, or films and linking material changes to electrical loss.
Experience automating tests and building test databases using Python, LabVIEW, SQL, or similar tools.
Experience supporting root cause investigations using methods such as 8D or 5-Why, and mentoring technicians and engineers.
Prior solar or space experience; candidates from terrestrial PV, semiconductor, electronics reliability, automotive, or aerospace test laboratories are encouraged to apply.

Responsibilities

Write test plans and procedures, and conduct thermal cycling, thermal vacuum, atomic oxygen, and UV tests on cells, CICs, coupons, SPMs, and materials.
Operate PV characterization equipment, including EQE, I-V, electroluminescence, and photoluminescence equipment, to determine how tests affect cell and product performance.
Conduct pull, peel, and shear tests on solder and weld joints before and after environmental exposure to establish process windows and lot acceptance limits.
Assess laboratory equipment needs; recommend whether equipment should be built, purchased, or sourced from an outside laboratory; and specify, procure, and commission new equipment.
Design and build test fixtures, instrumentation, and data acquisition systems, including in-situ temperature and continuity monitoring.
Qualify test methods, including chamber uniformity, UV irradiance, calibration, repeatability, and uncertainty, and establish test conditions and acceleration factors based on mission environments.
Plan and witness proton and electron radiation, atomic oxygen, and vibration test campaigns at outside facilities.
Analyze test data to identify degradation and failure modes, support root cause investigations, and provide degradation factors and design margins for power and life predictions.
Maintain traceability between test data, samples, build history, test conditions, and calibration, and automate the process from instrument output to analysis.
Present results and clear statistical findings at design reviews.
Own equipment safety, calibration, and maintenance, and train technicians and engineers in equipment use.

Benefits

Medical, dental, and vision insurance.
Basic and supplemental life insurance.
Paid parental leave.
Short- and long-term disability coverage.
401(k) with company match of up to 5%.
Education Support Program.
Stock options for all regular employees working at least 20 hours per week.
Paid time off of up to four weeks per year, based on weekly scheduled hours.
Up to 14 company-paid holidays.
Depending on role type and job level, employees may be eligible for benefits and bonuses based on individual contributions or other factors; bonus amounts and eligibility are not guaranteed and may change or be canceled.
Relocation provided.