Spacecraft Solar Array Engineer

Overview Energy • Ashburn, VA

14d

About The Position

Overview Energy is turning uninterrupted sunlight in space into directable energy on Earth. From our homebase in Virginia, we’re building satellites that will deliver energy from orbit to the grid and make solar a reliable 24/7 resource. Overview Energy’s Spacecraft Solar Array Engineer leads the design, development, qualification, and in‑orbit performance optimization of spacecraft solar array and power generation systems from concept through end‑of‑life. The role blends spacecraft power subsystem engineering, structural and thermal design awareness, and hands‑on test and integration work to deliver reliable, lightweight, and highly efficient photovoltaic power solutions for orbital and deep‑space missions. The ideal candidate has experience with space‑rated photovoltaic technologies, deployable solar array mechanisms, and spacecraft power architectures, and can own the solar array subsystem from requirements definition through flight support. This engineer collaborates closely with power electronics, structures, mechanisms, thermal, attitude control, avionics, and mission operations teams to ensure the solar array meets power, mass, volume, pointing, and reliability targets for all mission phases.

Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree in Electrical Engineering, Aerospace Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, or related field with a focus on power or space systems.
• 5+ years of experience in spacecraft power systems, spacecraft solar arrays, or closely related photovoltaic hardware for space applications (cell, module, panel, or array‑level).
• Strong proficiency with CAD and analysis tools for mechanical and/or electromechanical design, plus experience solar array sizing and performance modeling.
• Experience with power system design (voltage regulation, string configuration, bypass diodes).
• Experience with rapid prototyping and hands-on electrical and mechanical assembly.
• Experience in soldering techniques relevant to solar module assembly, including hand soldering, reflow methods, and cell interconnection (tabbing/stringing).
• Experience with environmental and qualification testing relevant to flight hardware (e.g., vibration, shock, thermal vacuum, radiation), including test planning and data review.
• U.S. citizenship and ability to work with ITAR‑controlled technical data and hardware, as required by program and regulatory constraints.

Nice To Haves

• Graduate degree (M.S. or Ph.D.) in Electrical, Aerospace, or Mechanical Engineering with emphasis on spacecraft power systems or space photovoltaics.
• Hands‑on experience with design and qualification of spacecraft solar arrays, solar array drive mechanisms, or power distribution hardware for flight programs.
• Experience with lightweight, flexible solar array stackups and associated support structures.
• Familiarity with space qualification and reliability standards (e.g., NASA, ECSS, MIL standards) applicable to power and structural hardware.
• Experience with radiation effects on solar cells and materials, including shielding strategies and degradation modeling over mission life.

Responsibilities

• Architect and design spacecraft solar array systems, including cell technology selection, string and panel configuration, array sizing, and interfaces.
• Perform power budget development, orbital energy balance analyses, and end‑of‑life power predictions across mission scenarios, eclipse seasons, and pointing constraints.
• Develop detailed design specifications, interface control documents (ICDs), and technical documentation for solar panels, harnessing, deployment mechanisms, and array drive assemblies using CAD and industry‑standard analysis tools.
• Conduct electrical, mechanical, and thermal analyses of solar array assemblies, including structural margins for launch loads, thermal gradients, degradation, and pointing performance impacts.
• Support design of deployment and articulation solutions (hinges, hold‑down and release mechanisms, solar array drive mechanisms), working with mechanisms and structures engineers to balance stiffness, strength, mass, and deployment reliability.
• Define, plan, and execute qualification and acceptance test campaigns for solar arrays and subassemblies, including vibration, shock, thermal vacuum, radiation, electrical performance, and deployment testing.
• Develop and maintain photovoltaic performance models and conduct cell/module/array‑level characterization to validate expected power output under AM0 conditions and over radiation and temperature environments.
• Work with manufacturing, supply chain, and production teams to ensure design‑for‑manufacturability, process control, and traceability of space‑qualified solar cells, substrates, and interconnect materials.
• Support spacecraft integration and test (I&T), providing technical direction for solar array installation, functional checkouts, deployment tests, and anomaly resolution.
• Monitor on‑orbit solar array performance, analyze telemetry to detect degradation or anomalies, and drive corrective actions or design improvements for future missions.

Benefits

• In addition to competitive salary and equity, we offer medical, dental, vision, disability, and life insurance coverage, a health and wellness stipend, 6 weeks of paid time off, parental leave, and employer 401K matching.
• The Company reserves the right to modify or change these benefits at any time.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Mid Level
• Number of Employees: 11-50 employees