Chemical / Materials Engineer - Space Solar

About the role

You will own the materials and chemistry work that directly enables space solar power systems for satellites and lunar infrastructure. You will translate bench-scale polymer and thin-film chemistry into robust, scalable processes that survive the space environment. You will run experiments, build characterization pipelines, and partner with senior chemists to solve performance and reliability challenges. You will simplify complex workflows while pushing back on unnecessary process steps that do not add value to the final system. You will contribute to defining environmental stability strategies for moisture, oxygen, thermal, UV, and radiation tolerance. You will maintain rigorous lab safety, chemical inventory, and contamination control practices across all materials work. You will translate experimental results into stable, reproducible manufacturing workflows for the Starlight production line. You will help characterize and optimize cell materials, polymer encapsulation, and barrier systems to meet demanding reliability targets.

Key facts

What you'll do

Support development and optimization of chemistries and processes across cell materials, polymer encapsulation, and barrier systems.

Run experiments, characterize materials, and analyze data to inform chemistry and process decisions for space-grade reliability.

Build and maintain lab workflows, sample tracking, and characterization pipelines that support fast iteration and rapid learning.

Perform materials and device characterization using techniques such as XRD, XPS, FTIR, DSC, TGA, SEM, photoluminescence, IV, and stability/degradation testing.

Partner with senior chemists on root-cause investigations connecting chemistry to device and encapsulation performance in orbital environments.

Support scale-up of bench-level chemistry into stable, reproducible processes on the manufacturing line for high-volume production.

Contribute to environmental stability strategies focused on moisture, oxygen, thermal, UV, and radiation tolerance for long-duration missions.

Maintain lab safety, chemical inventory, and contamination control practices that meet aerospace and regulatory standards.

Push back on unnecessary complexity by simplifying chemistries, reducing process steps, and cutting overhead wherever it does not enhance performance or reliability.

Requirements

Bachelor's or Master's degree in chemistry, chemical engineering, materials science, applied physics, or a related discipline as a foundational requirement for this role.

1+ years of hands-on experience with thin-film photovoltaic, optoelectronic, polymer, or related materials, including internship and academic research applications.

Working knowledge of materials characterization techniques and the ability to interpret chemical, thermal, and electrical data for informed decision-making.

Demonstrated ability to run experiments, collect and analyze data, and draw conclusions from bench work in a structured laboratory setting.

Experience with solution-processed deposition methods such as spin coating, blade coating, or slot-die coating relevant to optoelectronic materials.

Proficiency with common characterization techniques including XRD, XPS, FTIR, DSC, TGA, SEM, AFM, photoluminescence, IV, and EQE for materials and device analysis.

Experience translating bench chemistry to larger-area or pilot-scale processes while maintaining performance and reproducibility targets.

Familiarity with glovebox operations, cleanroom protocols, and chemical safety procedures essential for handling sensitive materials and high-reliability hardware.

Nice to have

Master's degree in a relevant discipline providing deeper specialization in materials or chemical engineering.

Direct experience with thin-film PV, OLED, OPV, or related solution-processed optoelectronic materials for space or terrestrial applications.

Hands-on experience with polymer chemistry including encapsulants, adhesives, barrier films, or bonded joints critical for environmental protection.

Experience with polymer curing and lamination processes that ensure dimensional stability and long-term performance under stress.

Experience using Python, MATLAB, or comparable tools for data analysis, visualization, and automated experiment tracking.

Exposure to aerospace, space, or other high-reliability hardware environments that demand rigorous process control and traceability.

Practical notes

Travel: Occasional travel may be required for collaboration, testing, or site support.

Employment Type: Full-time.

Location: Los Angeles (Hawthorne), CA.

This role requires compliance with U.S. Government export regulations; eligible applicants must meet citizenship, permanent residency, refugee, or asylum requirements as defined by law.