Chemical / Materials Engineer, Space Solar
Overview
You will own materials and chemistries behind space solar cells and encapsulation systems, supporting development, characterization, and scale-up for Starpath's Starlight team. Work alongside senior chemists on cell chemistry, polymer encapsulation, and barrier systems, running experiments and building process workflows. Translate bench-scale chemistry into stable, reproducible manufacturing. This role powers the majority of new satellites and all Starpath equipment on the Moon and Mars, offering direct impact on an ambitious mission.
What You'll Do9
- 1Develop and optimize chemistries and processes across cell materials, polymer encapsulation, and barrier systems, with a focus on space solar performance.
- 2Run experiments, characterize materials, and analyze data to inform chemistry and process decisions, using techniques like XRD, XPS, FTIR, and SEM.
- 3Build and maintain lab workflows, sample tracking, and characterization pipelines that support fast iteration.
- 4Perform materials and device characterization using DSC, TGA, photoluminescence, and IV testing, plus stability and degradation tests.
- 5Partner with senior chemists on root-cause investigations connecting chemistry to device and encapsulation performance.
- 6Scale bench-level chemistry to stable, reproducible processes on the manufacturing line.
- 7Contribute to environmental stability strategies for moisture, oxygen, thermal, UV, and radiation tolerance.
- 8Maintain lab safety, chemical inventory, and contamination control practices.
- 9Push back on unnecessary complexity: simplify chemistries, reduce process steps, and cut overhead wherever it doesn't add value.
Requirements12
- 1Bachelor's or Master's degree in chemistry, chemical engineering, materials science, applied physics, or a related discipline.
- 21+ years of hands-on experience with thin-film photovoltaic, optoelectronic, polymer, or related materials (internship and academic research applicable).
- 3Working knowledge of materials characterization techniques and the ability to interpret chemical, thermal, and electrical data.
- 4Demonstrated ability to run experiments, collect and analyze data, and draw conclusions from bench work.
- 5Master's degree in a relevant discipline (preferred).
- 6Direct experience with thin-film PV, OLED, OPV, or related solution-processed optoelectronic materials (preferred).
- 7Hands-on experience with polymer chemistry, including encapsulants, adhesives, barrier films, or bonded joints (preferred).
- 8Experience with solution-processed deposition methods such as spin coating, blade coating, or slot-die coating, or polymer curing and lamination (preferred).
- 9Proficiency with XRD, XPS, FTIR, DSC, TGA, SEM, AFM, photoluminescence, IV, and EQE (preferred).
- 10Experience translating bench chemistry to larger-area or pilot-scale processes (preferred), and familiarity with glovebox operations, cleanroom protocols, and chemical safety (preferred).
- 11Ability to use Python, MATLAB, or comparable tools for data analysis (preferred).
- 12Exposure to aerospace, space, or other high-reliability hardware environments (preferred).
Salary Insight
$125 - $160k per year
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