Senior Test Engineer

SPACE SYSTEMS

Rocket Lab’s Space Systems team is responsible for every satellite and satellite component made by Rocket Lab: from complete satellites destined for missions to the Moon and Mars, to the individual components and subsystems that make up a satellite like solar panels, flight software, reaction wheels and star trackers, separation systems, radios, and more. Our Space Systems team is made up of engineers, technicians, and designers who design, create, and put together our own satellites for missions across the commercial, government, and defense sectors, or who build and assemble satellite hardware and software that supports other satellite missions.

SENIOR TEST ENGINEER

Based out of Rocket Lab's site in Albuquerque, New Mexico, the Senior Test Engineer will support the manufacturing and testing of advanced space solar cell products. This engineer will work in a clean room production environment to develop processes, upgrade/maintain equipment, and develop techniques to aid the manufacturing and testing of cutting-edge solar cell products.

 WHAT YOU’LL GET TO DO:

• Daily monitoring of test data and work with other engineering teams to ensure a high-quality product is being produced.
• Help to develop process controls around the test area to ensure high-quality testing.
• Develop a basic understanding of the design, construction, manufacturing methods and operating principles of series interconnected multi-junction solar cells.
• Develop a basic understanding of how external variables such as temperature, illumination intensity, illumination uniformity, and spectral characteristics influence the operation and performance of multi-junction solar cells.
• Develop a basic understanding of semiconductor bandgaps, their influence on light absorption, light emission, photogenerated current production, and voltage production in solar cells.
• Develop both a basic theoretical and practical working knowledge of the entire suite of test equipment used to characterize and rate the performance of multi-junction solar cells, including quantum efficiency, illuminated current-voltage, dark current-voltage, electroluminescence, UV/VIS absorptance/reflectance, etc. 
• Identify the important parameters that can be extracted from an IV curve such as short circuit current, open circuit voltage, fill factor, shunt resistance, series resistance, ideality factor, and the phenomena that are responsible for variability in the above parameters.
• Combine the understanding described above to help define the problem or need, help to identify the correct measurement method or tool to address the need, efficient and correct use of the measurement tool, and basic analysis of the data.
• Combine the understanding described above to assess current testing capability and help to improve new test equipment or modifying/implementing new testing procedures.
• Use analysis tools such as Excel, JMP and presentation tools such as Word and PowerPoint to present measurement results and basic analysis, in a clear manner, to others.
• Occasional off-hour support is needed to ensure manufacturing quality and throughput.
• Effectively train technicians on the proper use of equipment, and support their work with proper guidance, expertise and help.
• Document procedures and write work instructions to ensure the proper execution of developed procedures.
• Develop collaborative working relationships with technicians and engineers.
• Work with technicians and engineers to coordinate and prioritize the workload.

YOU’LL BRING THESE QUALIFICATIONS:

• 5+ years of engineering experience and a bachelor's degree in test engineering, electrical engineering, physics, or other technical degree.
• Experience with either solar cell, semiconductors, batteries, or similar technologies. 

THESE QUALIFICATIONS WOULD BE NICE TO HAVE:

• Master’s or PhD in test engineering, electrical engineering, physics, or other technical degree.
• Experience with solar cell testing is advantageous.
• Training in semiconductor device theory is advantageous.
• Experience with LabView is advantageous.
• Attention to detail and careful application of engineering rigor are essential.

ADDITIONAL REQUIREMENTS: 

• Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision, distance vision, peripheral vision, depth perception, and the ability to focus.   
• Regularly required to sit, use hands and fingers, operate computer keyboard and controls, and communicate verbally and in writing.  
• Must be physically able to commute to buildings 
• Occasional exposure to dust, fumes and moderate levels of noise.