Thin-Film PV Materials Scientist - Space Solar

Location: Los Angeles (Hawthorne), CA

Employment Type: Full-time

Department: Starlight Solar

Travel: Occasional

Develop and optimize precursor formulations and solution-processed deposition routes for perovskite solar cells, including film growth, post-treatment, and process scaling

Engineer charge transport layers, interfaces, and contact stacks to maximize cell efficiency and operational stability

Drive root-cause investigations on yield, efficiency, and degradation issues — connecting chemistry to electrical and optical performance

Develop environmental stability strategies — moisture, oxygen, thermal, UV, and radiation tolerance — and partner with the polymer/encapsulation team on integration

Characterize materials, interfaces, and devices using techniques such as XRD, XPS, photoluminescence, and IV/EQE

Translate bench chemistry into stable, reproducible, high-yield processes in partnership with manufacturing engineering

Push back on unnecessary complexity — simplify chemistries, reduce process steps, and cut overhead wherever it doesn't add value

Master's or PhD in chemistry, materials science, chemical engineering, applied physics, or a related discipline

Graduate research experience with perovskite, thin-film photovoltaic, or related optoelectronic materials

Demonstrated ability to connect materials chemistry to device performance through characterization and analysis

PhD in a relevant discipline with a research focus on perovskite photovoltaics

Direct experience with solution-processed deposition methods — spin coating, blade coating, slot-die coating, or vapor-assisted deposition

Hands-on experience with precursor formulation, solvent engineering, and additive optimization

Familiarity with charge transport materials, interface passivation, and contact stack engineering

Experience scaling perovskite chemistry from research scale to larger-area or pilot manufacturing

Knowledge of perovskite degradation mechanisms and stability strategies (moisture, oxygen, thermal, UV, radiation)

Familiarity with glovebox and cleanroom operations, chemical safety, and contamination control

Exposure to aerospace, space, or other high-reliability hardware environments

To conform to U.S. Government export regulations, you 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.

Starpath is an equal opportunity employer. We celebrate diversity and are committed to creating an inclusive environment for all employees.