CVD Equipment Engineer, Solar Cells (Starlink)

SpaceX was founded under the belief that a future where humanity is out exploring the stars is fundamentally more exciting than one where we are not. Today SpaceX is actively developing the technologies to make this possible, with the ultimate goal of enabling human life on Mars.

CVD EQUIPMENT ENGINEER, SOLAR CELLS (STARLINK)

Starlink believes in providing fast, reliable internet to those that need it most. We design, build, and launch the world's largest and most advanced satellite constellation that is capable of delivering high-speed internet to even the most remote locations.

As a CVD Equipment Engineer for our solar cell factory, you will own the PECVD equipment used to manufacture silicon heterojunction solar cells at massive scale. You will work closely with our existing CVD Process Engineering team to ensure world-class equipment performance, reliability, and uptime. While the process team focuses on film properties and cell efficiency, you will be the hardware owner responsible for tool availability, stability, and scaling to support our ambitious goals.

Your work will form the backbone of the Starlink network (photons of sunlight in is directly proportional to photons of data out to customers!) and help provide internet to tens of millions of customers all around the world. You will spearhead state of the art production equipment for an internal solar cell production line, providing high efficiency and high-quality solar cells for both our latest generation Starlink satellites and for Starship missions to the Moon and Mars.

RESPONSIBILITIES:

Work with facilities and process engineering teams to install, qualify, maintain, and continuously improve high-throughput PECVD equipment for heterojunction silicon solar cell manufacturing

Drive equipment reliability and uptime to support very large volume production with minimal downtime

Run experiments and analyze data to improve capacity (UPH), reduce tool to tool variation, and improve defect performance

Develop and execute robust preventive and predictive maintenance strategies, spare parts programs, and tool matching protocols for high-volume manufacturing

Lead root cause analysis and corrective actions on all equipment-related issues, including vacuum systems, RF generators, gas delivery, temperature control, and automation

Partner closely with Process Engineers to implement new process requirements on existing and future equipment platforms

Evaluate and select next-generation high-throughput PECVD tools capable of supporting 1GW+ per tool scale production

Work with vendors on equipment design improvements, upgrades, and custom solutions tailored to heterojunction solar cell requirements

Establish equipment performance metrics (OEE, MTBF, MTTR) and implement statistical process control for hardware stability

Ensure all equipment meets cleanroom, safety, and high-reliability manufacturing standards

Analyze production processes and machinery from a first principles, physics-based approach

Attend meetings to communicate factory state to leadership with respect to the team’s equipment

BASIC QUALIFICATIONS:

Bachelor’s degree in mechanical engineering, electrical engineering, chemical engineering, materials Science, or other STEM discipline

2+ years of hands-on experience owning and maintaining CVD or PECVD equipment in a high-volume semiconductor, solar, or other manufacturing environment 

Experience handling flammable, toxic, corrosive, and/or hazardous chemicals and gases safely

PREFERRED SKILLS AND EXPERIENCE:

5+ years of hands-on experience owning and maintaining CVD or PECVD equipment in a high-volume semiconductor, solar, or display manufacturing environment

Strong technical expertise in vacuum systems, RF plasma systems, gas delivery, mass flow controllers, and temperature control hardware

Demonstrated success improving equipment uptime and reliability in a 24/7 high-volume production setting

Experience with heterojunction (HJT) silicon solar cell manufacturing equipment

Previous work at high-volume solar, semiconductor, or display manufacturing facilities (multi-GW or 300mm fab experience is a plus)

Deep knowledge of PECVD tool architecture and subsystems

Experience with throttle valve PID tuning, leak rate measurements, helium leak checking, manometer adjustment, slit valve. and actuator troubleshooting, etc.

Experience with CDA controlled valving and equipment

Experience with electro-pneumatic robot and transfer module systems

Experience with pyrophoric and toxic gas delivery and handling systems

Experience with vacuum chamber clean optimization and RPS unit qualification

Experience with RF generators and impedance matching systems

Experience scaling equipment from pilot to very high volume production

Proficiency with statistical tools (JMP, Minitab), failure analysis techniques, and reliability engineering principles

Strong project management skills with the ability to drive complex equipment installations and qualifications

Familiarity with high-reliability manufacturing standards for aerospace applications

ADDITIONAL REQUIREMENTS:

Must be able to work extended hours and weekends as needed to support production and urgent equipment downtime situations

Ability to lift 25 lbs. unassisted, work in cleanroom environments, and move between multiple production areas

Willingness to travel domestically and internationally to vendor sites (up to 20%)

ITAR REQUIREMENTS:

To conform to U.S. Government export regulations, applicant must be a (i) U.S. citizen or national, (ii) U.S. lawful, permanent resident (aka green card holder), (iii) Refugee under 8 U.S.C. § 1157, or (iv) Asylee under 8 U.S.C. § 1158, or be eligible to obtain the required authorizations from the U.S. Department of State. Learn more about the ITAR here.  

SpaceX is an Equal Opportunity Employer; employment with SpaceX is governed on the basis of merit, competence and qualifications and will not be influenced in any manner by race, color, religion, gender, national origin/ethnicity, veteran status, disability status, age, sexual orientation, gender identity, marital status, mental or physical disability or any other legally protected status.

Applicants wishing to view a copy of SpaceX’s Affirmative Action Plan for veterans and individuals with disabilities, or applicants requiring reasonable accommodation to the application/interview process should reach out to EEOCompliance@spacex.com.