{"id":1803391,"url":"https://alion.io/job/spacex-materials-rd-technician-solar-cell-characterization","title":"Materials R&D Technician, Solar Cell Characterization","company":{"id":66,"name":"SpaceX","domain":"spacex.com","url":"https://alion.io/company/spacex","size_band":"5000+","is_staffing_agency":false,"employer_type":"direct","is_intermediary":false,"listed_via":null,"ats_vendor":"Greenhouse","truth_index":{"grade":"A","score":88,"open_postings":34,"ghost_share":0,"stale_share":0.265,"repost_share":0,"time_to_fill_p50_days":81,"computed_at":"2026-10-26T05:57:25Z"}},"role":"Energy","role_family":"Energy","seniority":"senior","employment_type":null,"work_mode":"on_site","remote_scope":null,"remote_scope_basis":null,"remote_working_hours":null,"hiring_geo_confidence":"structured","locations":["Bastrop, United States"],"countries":["US"],"hiring_countries":[],"hiring_countries_total":0,"salary":null,"salary_estimate":{"min_usd":75000,"max_usd":147000,"period":"year","method":"role_seniority_country_remote_cell","sample_n":3331},"experience_years_min":5,"visa_sponsorship":false,"relocation_package":false,"has_equity":false,"technologies":[{"name":"LIMS","optional":true}],"status":"live","first_seen_at":"2026-09-01T17:28:36Z","employer_posted_date":"2026-09-29","last_verified_at":"2026-10-26T03:57:08Z","board_verified":true,"closed_at":null,"days_open":54,"trust":{"level":"ok","repost_count":null,"flags":[],"days_open":54},"description":"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.\nMATERIALS R&D TECHNICIAN, SOLAR CELL CHARACTERIZATION\nStarlink is building the world's largest satellite constellation to deliver fast, reliable internet to people who need it most-and powering that constellation starts on the factory floor. We are insourcing solar cell manufacturing end-to-end, from crystal growth and ingot production through wafering and cell fabrication, to drive performance, cost, and scale at every step. High-efficiency, high-reliability cells made in-house are the backbone of the Starlink network: more photons in means more data out to customers around the world.\nAs a Materials R&D Technician for solar cell characterization, you will partner directly with engineering to stand up lab equipment and run characterization testing of insourced solar cells. You will execute metrology and sample preparation, keep lab tools calibrated and producing trusted data, and support root cause analysis for cell performance and yield. The measurements you take will feed recipe development, process control, and high-volume manufacturing of cells that power next-generation Starlink satellites and Starship missions to the Moon and Mars.\nRESPONSIBILITIES\nPartner with engineering to bring online and perform solar cell metrology and materials characterization testing of insourced cells\nExecute routine and non-routine electrical, optical, and materials measurements on wafers and solar cells (e.g., I-V, PL/EL imaging, lifetime, optical inspection, microscopy, and related techniques)\nPrepare samples for characterization and failure analysis, including sectioning, polishing, coating, and chemical processing as required\nDrive equipment setup, calibration, troubleshooting, preventative maintenance, and tool matching so metrology data is accurate and repeatable\nCollect, organize, and report high-quality data to support DOEs, process trials, and root cause analysis of performance and yield issues\nSupport engineering on failure analysis of underperforming or failed cells; flag anomalies, preserve evidence, and help close the loop to process owners\nSafely handle chemicals and adhere to all EHS protocols to maintain a safe work environment\nEnsure 5S standards and cleanroom/lab protocols are upheld by maintaining a clean and organized work area\nFollow and help refine SOPs, travelers, and measurement recipes; train production technicians on metrology methods as processes transfer to manufacturing\nBASIC QUALIFICATIONS:\nHigh school diploma or equivalency certification\n3+ years of hands-on experience in metrology, materials characterization, semiconductor; or working in a photovoltaic laboratory or characterization in a manufacturing environment\nExperience handling flammable, toxic, corrosive, and/or hazardous chemicals safely\nPREFERRED SKILLS AND EXPERIENCE:\nBachelor's or Associate's degree in a STEM field\n5+ years of hands-on work experience in semiconductor, solar, or materials characterization laboratories\nExperience operating and maintaining characterization equipment such as solar simulators / I-V testers, PL/EL imaging, lifetime testers, optical microscopes, SEM, ellipsometers, spectrophotometers, four-point probes, and related tools\nExperience using a laboratory inventory management system (LIMS) and maintaining data uploads\nExperience supporting root cause analysis or failure analysis for yield, reliability, or device-performance issues\nProven ability to understand and accurately follow complex laboratory and manufacturing procedures and adhere to safety requirements\nComfortable with data collection, basic statistical analysis, and documenting results in a clear, organized manner\nStrong interpersonal, verbal, and written communication skills to work closely with engineering, other technicians, and cross-functional teams\nAbility to identify and maintain priorities for work scope\nAbility to rapidly change roles/responsibilities while working independently in a high-paced, challenging work environment with minimal oversight\nADDITIONAL REQUIREMENTS:\nMust be open to work all shifts, overtime and/or weekends as needed\nMust be comfortable working in a production and laboratory environment using hazardous chemicals such as acids, alkalis, and solvents\nMust be able to wear appropriate PPE for lab and electro-chemical manufacturing environment\nMust be able to walk and stand for long periods of time\nITAR REQUIREMENTS:\nTo 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. \nSpaceX 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.\nApplicants 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 .","description_format":"text","description_chars":5661,"description_truncated":false,"requirements":{"experience_years_min":5,"management_years_min":null,"team_size_min":null,"manages_managers":false,"education":{"level":"high_school","optional":false},"security_clearance":true,"languages":[]},"benefits":[],"hiring_locations":[{"name":"United States","iso":"US","kind":"country"}],"hiring_excludes":[],"relocation_offered":false,"industries":["Solar Energy","Satellite Communications","Launch Services","Satellite Manufacturing"],"lifecycle":[{"event":"open","at":"2026-10-03T18:40:26Z"}],"visa":[],"liveness":{"score":61,"band":"ok","label":"Likely open","p_open":1,"p_active":0.848,"p_room":0.72,"age_days":54,"expected_fill_days":81,"reasons":["conf:2","velocity","win:mid","crowd:brand"],"computed_at":"2026-10-26T05:57:25Z"},"pay":null,"html_url":"https://alion.io/job/spacex-materials-rd-technician-solar-cell-characterization","json_url":"https://alion.io/job/spacex-materials-rd-technician-solar-cell-characterization.json","meta":{"generated_at":"2026-10-26T06:55:39Z","cache_seconds":300,"methodology":"https://alion.io/methodology","terms":"https://alion.io/terms","contact":"https://alion.io/contact","api":"https://alion.io/developers","about":"Alion is a live layer of people, companies and AI agents: who they are, whether they are real and active right now, what they do and how to work with them, readable by people and by agents and paid per call.","catalog":"https://alion.io/catalog.json","usage":{"tier":"crawler_verified","counted_by":"address","units_charged":1,"used_today":9223,"day_limit":null,"remaining_today":null,"minute_limit":300,"resets_at":"2026-10-27T00:00:00Z"}},"offers":[{"id":"company.slices","title":"One company in depth, by slice","status":"live","price":{"credits":0.02,"usd":0.002,"plus_per_slice":{"credits":0.05,"usd":0.005}},"unit":"per company, plus each slice with data","note":"the employer in depth","call":{"mcp_tool":"get_company","arguments":{"id":66},"rest":"https://alion.io/mcp/rest/get_company?id=66"},"human":"https://alion.io/catalog?offer=company.slices&for=job%2Fspacex-materials-rd-technician-solar-cell-characterization"},{"id":"market.stats","title":"A market slice: pay, demand and time to fill","status":"live","price":{"credits":1,"usd":0.1},"unit":"per slice","note":"pay, demand and time to fill for this role and place","call":{"mcp_tool":"market_stats"},"human":"https://alion.io/catalog?offer=market.stats&for=job%2Fspacex-materials-rd-technician-solar-cell-characterization"},{"id":"job.search","title":"Open jobs by role, technology, place, pay and visa","status":"live","price":{"credits":0.02,"usd":0.002},"unit":"per posting in a list","note":"similar open postings","call":{"mcp_tool":"search_jobs"},"human":"https://alion.io/catalog?offer=job.search&for=job%2Fspacex-materials-rd-technician-solar-cell-characterization"},{"id":"company.verify","title":"Is this company real and active right now","status":"pilot","price":null,"unit":"per company","request":{"url":"https://alion.io/catalog/request","method":"POST","body":"{\"offer\": \"company.verify\", \"for\": \"job/spacex-materials-rd-technician-solar-cell-characterization\", \"note\": \"what you need it for\"}"},"human":"https://alion.io/catalog?offer=company.verify&for=job%2Fspacex-materials-rd-technician-solar-cell-characterization"}]}