Senior Thin Film Deposition Engineer
Solestial, Inc.
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.
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Own and optimize PVD/PECVD processes.
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Develop and modify deposition processes to improve film performance, repeatability, yield, and throughput
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Monitor process performance and troubleshoot deposition issues, excursions, and variability
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Maintain deposition equipment from a process and engineering perspective, including hands-on troubleshooting and preventative maintenance
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Diagnose equipment-related issues involving vacuum systems, gas delivery, power supplies, targets, chambers, and other deposition system components
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Partner with engineering and manufacturing teams to keep deposition tools running reliably and minimize downtime
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Develop process recipes, operating parameters, and process controls
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Plan and execute experiments and DOEs to understand process windows and optimize performance
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Support modifications and upgrades to existing deposition equipment as manufacturing needs evolve
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Analyze process and equipment data to identify trends, root causes, and opportunities for improvement
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Develop and maintain process documentation, specifications, work instructions, and equipment maintenance procedures
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Support the transition of new or modified deposition processes from development into production
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Bachelor's degree in Materials Science, Chemical Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, Physics, or a related technical field; advanced degree a plus
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Significant hands-on experience with physical vapor deposition (PVD) and plasma enhanced chemical vapor deposition (PECVD) processes and equipment
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Deep technical knowledge of thin film deposition, including process parameters, plasma behavior, vacuum systems, target/material interactions, and thin film properties
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Experience developing, optimizing, and troubleshooting thin film deposition processes in a manufacturing or production environment
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Hands-on experience maintaining, troubleshooting, and modifying PVD/sputtering equipment
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Strong understanding of vacuum equipment and components, including pumps, valves, pressure measurement, gas delivery, and related systems
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Experience using structured problem-solving, DOE, and data analysis to improve process performance
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Ability to independently troubleshoot complex issues that cross the boundary between process and equipment
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Comfortable working directly with production equipment in a fast-paced manufacturing environment
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Experience with thin film deposition for semiconductor, photovoltaic, aerospace, or other high-reliability applications
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Experience scaling deposition processes from R&D or development into manufacturing
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Experience with equipment upgrades, retrofits, or custom modifications
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Familiarity with SPC and manufacturing process controls
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Experience with additional vacuum deposition or thin film characterization techniques
- 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!