About this role
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.
SR. MANUFACTURING ENGINEER, SOLAR CELL FACTORY (STARLINK)
At SpaceX we’re leveraging our experience in building rockets and spacecraft to deploy Starlink, the world’s most advanced broadband internet system. Starlink is the world’s largest satellite constellation and is providing fast, reliable internet to millions of users worldwide. We design, build, test, and operate all parts of the system — thousands of satellites, ground station gateways, and consumer antennae that allow users to connect within minutes of unboxing. We’ve only begun to scratch the surface of Starlink’s potential global impact, and we are looking for best-in-class engineers to help maximize Starlink’s utility for communities and businesses around the globe.
The Solar Cell team is scaling production of high-efficiency solar cells that power Starlink satellites, launch vehicles, and beyond. These cells have to be high-performance, low-cost, and ultra-reliable, and the factory that builds them has to ramp quickly without giving up yield. As a manufacturing engineer for solar cells, you will own the production processes and equipment that turn development hardware into full-rate manufacturing. You will drive the line from early process concept through commissioning, qualification, and sustained production, and you will be the link between engineering development and the factory floor. Come join this high-performing team and build the factory behind the world’s largest satellite constellation.
RESPONSIBILITIES:
• Design, commission, and qualify production processes and equipment for solar cell manufacturing, from pilot builds through full-rate production
• Lead the production ramp by working through multi-disciplinary issues to hit volume, yield, and cost targets
• Drive yield, uptime, and rate improvements to hit program targets (OEE)
• Lead prototype and engineering builds, ensuring incremental milestones for production development are met
• Provide feedback to the design and process teams to improve design for manufacturability and process robustness
• Collaborate with equipment engineering, supply chain, production technicians, and quality to keep processes stable and solve production problems quickly
• Identify and establish requirements for automation opportunities, and evaluate them for return on investment
• Manage work instructions, process documentation, and training for owned processes
• Drive corrective actions, root cause analysis, and process improvements on owned processes and products
• Use process and equipment data to find bottlenecks, cut scrap, and put preventive actions in place that protect rate and yield
BASIC QUALIFICATIONS:
• Bachelor’s degree in an enginee