Equipment Engineering Manager - Solar Cell Factory (Starlink)

MANAGER, EQUIPMENT ENGINEERING (SOLAR CELL MANUFACTURING)

SpaceX is seeking a highly motivated Equipment Engineering Manager to lead the development, installation, qualification, and sustainment of advanced manufacturing equipment for our next-generation solar cell production lines. In this role, you will drive equipment strategy, reliability, and performance to enable high-volume, high-efficiency solar cell manufacturing that supports SpaceX’s energy goals. Your scope will span initial factory turn-on, execution of ambitious factory ramps, and driving of equipment strategy to support continuous solar cell technology and performance improvements.

RESPONSIBILITIES:

• Grow, lead, and mentor a team of equipment engineers responsible for solar cell manufacturing tools including wet chemical benches, PECVD deposition systems, PVD/sputtering tools, metrology/inspection systems, and beyond
• Own equipment lifecycle management from installation and process qualification through high-volume production, including preventive maintenance strategies, spare parts optimization, and continuous improvement of overall equipment effectiveness (OEE).
• Drive root-cause analysis and corrective actions for equipment downtime, yield excursions, and process drift using structured problem-solving methodologies (e.g., 8D, FMEA, DOE).
• Collaborate with process engineering, manufacturing, and facilities teams to define equipment specifications, acceptance criteria, and capacity expansion roadmaps for solar cell technologies
• Develop and execute equipment roadmaps that improve throughput, reduce cost per watt, and increase cell efficiency while maintaining world-class uptime
• Establish and enforce equipment safety, cleanroom protocols, and change control processes in a high-volume semiconductor-style manufacturing environment.
• Partner with vendors and internal SpaceX designers to evaluate, qualify, and integrate new equipment platforms and drive performance improvements on existing tools
• Track and report key performance metrics (MTBF, MTTR, yield impact, cost of ownership) to senior leadership and drive data-driven decisions
• Support new product introduction (NPI) activities by ensuring equipment is ready for pilot and ramp phases of next-generation cell architectures

BASIC QUALIFICATIONS:

• Bachelor’s degree in mechanical engineering, electrical engineering, chemical engineering, or materials science
• 5+ years of experience in equipment engineering or maintenance in a high-volume manufacturing environment (semiconductor, solar, or related industry)
• 5+ years of experience managing or leading a team of engineers
• Experience with thin-film deposition, vacuum systems, or wet processing equipment

PREFERRED SKILLS AND EXPERIENCE:

• Experience specifically with silicon solar cell manufacturing equipment, processes, chemicals, and gases
• Strong background in semiconductor equipment (PECVD, PVD, ALD, etch, or CMP) or photovoltaic production lines
• Machine design and/or manufacturing background with proven track record of going from idea to working system
• Proven track record of improving equipment availability, reducing cost of ownership, and scaling manufacturing capacity
• Experience with statistical process control (SPC), data analytics platforms, and equipment automation (SECS/GEM, PLCs, SCADA)
• Knowledge of cleanroom operations, contamination control, and safety standards in a high-tech manufacturing setting
• Excellent leadership, communication, and cross-functional collaboration skills

ADDITIONAL REQUIREMENTS:

• Must be willing to work extended hours and long weekends when needed to meet critical deadlines

ITAR REQUIREMENTS:

• To conform to U.S. Government export regulations, applicant must be a (i) U.S. citizen or national, (ii) U.S. lawful, permanent resident (aka green card holder), (iii) Refugee under 8 U.S.C. § 1157, or (iv) Asylee under 8 U.S.C. § 1158, or be eligible to obtain the required authorizations from the U.S. Department of State. Learn more about the ITAR here.