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Solestial Verified
Space technology, renewable energy, aerospace, materials science

Senior Thin Film Deposition Engineer

United StatesOnsiteFull TimeSeniorPosted 1 month ago

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Required skills

  • PVD
  • PECVD
  • sputter deposition
  • thin film deposition
  • process development
  • process optimization
  • equipment maintenance
  • vacuum systems
  • DOE
  • data analysis

Nice to have

  • semiconductor
  • photovoltaic
  • aerospace
  • high-reliability applications
  • scaling deposition processes
  • equipment upgrades

Role summary

Solestial is seeking a Senior Thin Film Deposition Engineer to own and advance their PVD and PECVD processes. This hands-on role involves maintaining stable, repeatable deposition processes, driving development and optimization, and modifying equipment for manufacturing scale. The ideal candidate has deep experience with sputter deposition, understands the interplay between process, equipment, materials, and film properties, and is comfortable troubleshooting both process and equipment issues directly on deposition tools to ensure reliable operation. Responsibilities include process recipe development, experimental planning, data analysis, and documentation to support the transition from development to production.

The Company: Solestial is pioneering the future of space-based solar power by developing advanced solar technologies optimized for the harsh conditions of space. Our innovative, low-cost, and scalable solar arrays are engineered for next-generation satellites, spacecraft, and orbital infrastructure. We are driven by a mission to power the space economy and unlock limitless opportunities in orbit and beyond. The Role:

As a Senior Thin Film Deposition Engineer, you will own and advance our thin film deposition processes, with a strong focus on PVD and PECVD. This role will be responsible for maintaining stable, repeatable deposition processes while also driving process development, optimization, and equipment modifications as we scale manufacturing.

This is a hands-on engineering role. The ideal candidate has deep experience with sputter deposition and understands the relationship between the process, equipment, materials, and resulting film properties. They should be comfortable troubleshooting from both a process and equipment perspective and working directly on deposition tools to keep them operating reliably.

Your Mission

  • Own and optimize PVD/PECVD processes.

  • Develop and modify deposition processes to improve film performance, repeatability, yield, and throughput

  • Monitor process performance and troubleshoot deposition issues, excursions, and variability

  • Maintain deposition equipment from a process and engineering perspective, including hands-on troubleshooting and preventative maintenance

  • Diagnose equipment-related issues involving vacuum systems, gas delivery, power supplies, targets, chambers, and other deposition system components

  • Partner with engineering and manufacturing teams to keep deposition tools running reliably and minimize downtime

  • Develop process recipes, operating parameters, and process controls

  • Plan and execute experiments and DOEs to understand process windows and optimize performance

  • Support modifications and upgrades to existing deposition equipment as manufacturing needs evolve

  • Analyze process and equipment data to identify trends, root causes, and opportunities for improvement

  • Develop and maintain process documentation, specifications, work instructions, and equipment maintenance procedures

  • Support the transition of new or modified deposition processes from development into production

    • What You Bring

  • Bachelor's degree in Materials Science, Chemical Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, Physics, or a related technical field; advanced degree a plus

  • Significant hands-on experience with physical vapor deposition (PVD) and plasma enhanced chemical vapor deposition (PECVD) processes and equipment

  • Deep technical knowledge of thin film deposition, including process parameters, plasma behavior, vacuum systems, target/material interactions, and thin film properties

  • Experience developing, optimizing, and troubleshooting thin film deposition processes in a manufacturing or production environment

  • Hands-on experience maintaining, troubleshooting, and modifying PVD/sputtering equipment

  • Strong understanding of vacuum equipment and components, including pumps, valves, pressure measurement, gas delivery, and related systems

  • Experience using structured problem-solving, DOE, and data analysis to improve process performance

  • Ability to independently troubleshoot complex issues that cross the boundary between process and equipment

  • Comfortable working directly with production equipment in a fast-paced manufacturing environment

    • What Gives You an Edge

  • Experience with thin film deposition for semiconductor, photovoltaic, aerospace, or other high-reliability applications

  • Experience scaling deposition processes from R&D or development into manufacturing

  • Experience with equipment upgrades, retrofits, or custom modifications

  • Familiarity with SPC and manufacturing process controls

  • Experience with additional vacuum deposition or thin film characterization techniques

    • Our Benefits

  • Competitive salary
  • Generous, high-quality medical, dental, and vision coverage on day one of employment
  • 15 vacation days, 5 sick days, and 10 paid holidays annually - with an extended holiday break at year’s end
  • 401K with employer match up to 4% of salary
  • Employer-paid short-term and long-term disability and employer-sponsored life insurance
  • Your work will literally go to space!
    • Ready to apply?
    You'll be redirected to Solestial's application page.

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