Equipment Engineer, Solar Cell Metallization (Starlink)

The role

You will own the screen printing and related metallization equipment used to manufacture silicon heterojunction solar cells at massive scale. You will work to ensure equipment performance, reliability, and uptime for an internal solar cell production line.

What you will do

• Install, qualify, maintain, and improve high-throughput screen printing equipment
• Drive equipment reliability and uptime for large volume production
• Run experiments and analyze data to improve capacity and reduce variation
• Develop preventive and predictive maintenance strategies and spare parts programs
• Lead root cause analysis and corrective actions on equipment issues
• Partner with Process Engineers to implement new process requirements
• Evaluate and select next-generation high-throughput screen printing tools
• Work with vendors on equipment design improvements and custom solutions
• Establish equipment performance metrics and implement statistical process control
• Ensure equipment meets cleanroom, safety, and high-reliability standards

Required qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Mechanical Engineering, Electrical Engineering, Chemical Engineering, Materials Science, or related technical discipline
• 2+ years of hands-on experience owning and maintaining screen printing or metallization equipment in a high-volume semiconductor, solar manufacturing, or related environment
• Experience handling flammable, toxic, corrosive, and/or hazardous chemicals and materials safely
• Must be able to work extended hours and weekends as needed
• Ability to lift 25 lbs unassisted
• Ability to work in cleanroom environments
• Ability to move between multiple production areas
• Willingness to travel domestically and internationally to vendor sites (up to 20%)

Nice to have

• 5+ years of hands-on experience owning and maintaining screen printing equipment in a high-volume semiconductor or solar manufacturing environment
• Strong technical expertise in screen printing systems, vision/alignment, paste handling, drying/curing ovens, conveyors, and automation 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 screen printing tool architecture and subsystems
• Experience with screen tensioning, squeegee pressure control, print registration, paste rheology handling, and dryer temperature profiling
• Experience with electro-pneumatic robot and transfer module systems
• Experience with paste delivery systems and solvent handling
• Experience scaling equipment from pilot to very high volume production

Before you apply

• Must be a U.S. citizen or national, U.S. lawful permanent resident, Refugee, or Asylee, or be eligible to obtain required authorizations from the U.S. Department of State

About the company

SpaceX is developing technologies to enable human life on Mars. Starlink provides fast, reliable internet through a large satellite constellation.