Space Photovoltaics Engineering Scientist

Job Summary  

The Aerospace Physical Sciences Laboratories (PSL) is a diverse scientific organization that provides a broad and innovative research and development backplane for a growing space enterprise.  PSL’s impact is grown through a diverse research portfolio that blends foundational scientific research with cutting-edge technology development to serve a broad customer base. PSL’s exclusive ability to work with all stakeholders: (government, industry, and academia) enables us to provide novel solutions to the most challenging issues in current and future technology applications. The strength of PSL comes from the combination of cutting-edge tools and facilities, a vast repository of space-system knowledge, and the extensive technical expertise of our people. We harness these tools and expertise in over 150 different laboratories to tackle the new challenges for the space enterprise.    

The Energy Technology Department (ETD) in PSL provides expert technical assistance for space solar cell and solar array technology used on a broad range of spacecrafts and leads the community by conducting basic and applied research in characterizing photovoltaic devices and understanding how they degrade in the space environment. Our capabilities for advanced characterization techniques and dedication to precision and accuracy supports our national security and civil and commercial space customers with reliable data to predict the performance and degradation of their solar arrays in the harsh environment in space.  

As a Space Photovoltaics Engineering Scientist (Senior Member of Technical Staff/ Research Scientist- Physics & Microelectronics/ Semiconductor Engineering), you will be responsible for leading efforts to develop techniques, tools, capabilities, and prototype for evaluating and assessing next generation spacecraft solar cell and solar array technology for national security space programs. You will collaborate with industry partners and program offices to ensure the success of critical space missions by evaluating and understanding the relevant properties of different components of the solar array and how they degrade in the relevant space environment. 

Highlights of our lab's capabilities can be seen here: Virtual Tour 

Work Model 

This is a full-time position based in El Segundo, CA, offering a hybrid work model that combines at least (3) regular onsite workdays and remote flexibility as the business needs allow.    

What You’ll Be Doing  

You will be supporting the development and characterization of advanced solar array technologies for national space missions: 

• Design and perform experiments that directly impacts the future direction of space photovoltaic and solar array technology for space missions 

• Combine hands-on engineering aptitude and scientific method approach to lead the design and development of industry leading capabilities for characterizing advanced space photovoltaic and other energy generation technologies 

• Apply your deep technical experience to support the development of test and measurement capabilities to characterize and understand photovoltaic devices 

• Contribute to data management, software analysis and modeling tools 

• Effectively communicate technical findings and provide technical consultation to stakeholders, and the larger scientific community through presentations and publications 

What You Need to be Successful  

Minimum Requirements for the  Senior Member of the Technical Staff  (Physics & Microelectronics/ Semiconductor Engineering): 

• Ph.D. in a STEM field or equivalent is required 

• 5 years of experience in conducting photovoltaics devices and materials research or device physics characterization 

• Experience with two or more of the following techniques in photovoltaics characterization: quantum efficiency measurements, four-point probe IV measurements, electroluminescence spectroscopy/imaging, DLTS, capacitance techniques, scanning defect mapping, reflectance spectroscopy 

• Experience with two or more of the following instruments: solar simulators (optical sources), Keithley source meter, lock-in amplifier (e.g. Stanford Research Systems), spectroradiometer, vacuum chamber system (roughing, turbo, diffusion pumps, pressure gauges, MFC, etc), thermal cycler for panel life testing 

• Demonstrated experience using common data analysis tool such as Python, MATLAB, Origin 

• Willing to travel occasionally to customer and contractor site to support customer needs or professional conferences for presenting research results approximately 10% (as required) 

• This position requires ability to obtain and maintain a security clearance, which is issued by the U.S. government. U.S. citizenship is required to obtain a security clearance. 

In addition to the above, the minimum requirements for the Research Scientist (Physics & Microelectronics/ Semiconductor Engineering) include: 

• 8+ years of experience in conducting photovoltaics materials research or device physics characterization or modeling 

• Experienced in design and execution of an experiment by building a new tool or modifying an existing tool to better understand the properties of an electro-optical device or microelectronics device 

• Experienced in managing a research project and collaborating with or leading a team of junior scientists/engineers by distributing and monitoring tasks, planning budget, and providing regular updates on progress 

How You Can Stand Out  

It would be impressive if you have one or more of these: 

• Experience investigating radiation and space environmental effects in photovoltaic materials such as Si, III-V, perovskites, CdTe, CIGS, or other power generation technologies 

• Developed advanced characterization techniques that elucidated a better understanding on what impacts energy generation systems 

• Demonstrated experience with developing laboratory test capabilities through hardware/software integration (LabVIEW, Python, C++, Arduino) 

• Developed software that implements new methods, models, etc. that helps users to better examine and understand photovoltaic or other energy generation systems 

• Experience with common database tools such as MongoDB, InfluxDB, PostgreSQL, or S3

• Experience with on-orbit telemetry analysis and data processing 

• Hands-on experience in solar array or solar cell manufacturing and production