Equipment Engineering Manager - Solar Cell Factory (Starlink)

• ◆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

• ✓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

• ✓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

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

ITAR

• ✓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 .

and will not be influenced in any manner by race, color, religion, gender, national origin/ethnicity, veteran status, disability status, age, sexual orientation, gender identity, marital status, mental or physical disability or any other legally protected status.

Applicants wishing to view a copy of SpaceX’s Affirmative Action Plan for veterans and individuals with disabilities, or applicants requiring reasonable accommodation to the application/interview process should reach out to EEOCompliance@spacex.com .