Solution Processed Coating Research Engineer II

Blue Origin • Southgate, WA

14d

About The Position

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. As a Solution Processed Coating Research Engineer, you will execute and optimize solution-processed deposition to produce thin-film layers for advanced perovskite photovoltaic devices. Working alongside the lead engineer, you will prepare precursor inks, run coating experiments, characterize resulting films, and contribute to process optimization. This is a highly hands-on laboratory role with opportunities to develop deep expertise in coating science and thin-film materials.

Requirements

• B.S. in Chemical Engineering, Chemistry, Materials Science, or related field
• 0-5 years of experience in solution-processed thin-film deposition (academic or industry)
• Hands-on laboratory experience with wet chemistry techniques (solution preparation, spin coating, blade coating, slot-die coating)
• Basic understanding of solution thermodynamics, crystallization, and film formation from liquid precursors
• Familiarity with standard thin-film characterization (profilometry, optical microscopy, UV-Vis)
• Demonstrated safe handling practices for laboratory chemicals and solvents
• Strong organizational skills and attention to experimental documentation

Nice To Haves

• Ph.D. in Chemical Engineering, Materials Science, Chemistry, or related field
• Experience with slot die, gravure, or other scalable coating techniques
• Familiarity with perovskite, organic photovoltaic, or nanoparticle ink systems
• Experience with rheology measurement and ink characterization
• Knowledge of DOE methodology and statistical analysis (JMP, Minitab, Python, or R)
• Experience working in a glovebox or controlled-atmosphere environment
• Coursework or research experience in colloid science, polymer science, or surface chemistry

Responsibilities

• Prepare precursor solutions and functional inks following established formulations, including weighing, dissolving, filtering, and rheology verification
• Operate spin coaters, blade coaters, and slot die coating systems to deposit thin-film layers per DOE plans
• Execute annealing and post-treatment protocols (thermal, vacuum, gas-quench, anti-solvent)
• Perform film characterization: profilometry, optical microscopy, UV-Vis, photoluminescence, spectroscopy, contact angle, and surface roughness measurements
• Maintain detailed lab notebooks documenting ink preparation, coating parameters, environmental conditions, and results
• Support DOE campaigns by preparing substrate batches, executing parameter sweeps, and compiling statistical results
• Maintain coating equipment including cleaning, calibration, consumable replacement, and troubleshooting
• Analyze experimental data and present findings to the team with clear visualizations and trend identification
• Assist with ink shelf-life studies, accelerated aging experiments, and process capability assessments
• Perform routine laboratory and equipment maintenance: glovebox purification system regeneration, solvent trap replacement, coating head disassembly and cleaning, and pump servicing
• Manage chemical and consumables inventory (solvents, precursors, substrates, filters, blades) and coordinate reorders to prevent supply gaps
• Maintain lab cleanliness and organization including fume hoods, glovebox interiors, chemical hygiene, waste solvent collection, and hazardous waste disposal scheduling

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
• Stock Options for all regular employees (working at least 20 hours/week)
• Up to four (4) weeks per year based on weekly scheduled hours
• Up to 14 company-paid holidays

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Mid Level