Senior Thin Film Deposition Engineer

The Company:

Solestial is pioneering the future of space-based solar power by developing advanced solar technologies optimized for the harsh conditions of space. Our innovative, low-cost, and scalable solar arrays are engineered for next-generation satellites, spacecraft, and orbital infrastructure. We are driven by a mission to power the space economy and unlock limitless opportunities in orbit and beyond.

The Role

As a Senior Thin Film Deposition Engineer, you will own and advance our thin film deposition processes, with a strong focus on PVD and PECVD . This role will be responsible for maintaining stable, repeatable deposition processes while also driving process development, optimization, and equipment modifications as we scale manufacturing.

This is a hands-on engineering role. The ideal candidate has deep experience with sputter deposition and understands the relationship between the process, equipment, materials, and resulting film properties . They should be comfortable troubleshooting from both a process and equipment perspective and working directly on deposition tools to keep them operating reliably.

Your Mission

• Own and optimize PVD/PECVD processes .
• Develop and modify deposition processes to improve film performance, repeatability, yield, and throughput
• Monitor process performance and troubleshoot deposition issues, excursions, and variability
• Maintain deposition equipment from a process and engineering perspective, including hands-on troubleshooting and preventative maintenance
• Diagnose equipment-related issues involving vacuum systems, gas delivery, power supplies, targets, chambers, and other deposition system components
• Partner with engineering and manufacturing teams to keep deposition tools running reliably and minimize downtime
• Develop process recipes, operating parameters, and process controls
• Plan and execute experiments and DOEs to understand process windows and optimize performance
• Support modifications and upgrades to existing deposition equipment as manufacturing needs evolve
• Analyze process and equipment data to identify trends, root causes, and opportunities for improvement
• Develop and maintain process documentation, specifications, work instructions, and equipment maintenance procedures
• Support the transition of new or modified deposition processes from development into production

What You Bring

• Bachelor's degree in Materials Science, Chemical Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, Physics, or a related technical field; advanced degree a plus
• Significant hands-on experience with physical vapor deposition (PVD) and plasma enhanced chemical vapor deposition (PECVD) processes and equipment
• Deep technical knowledge of thin film deposition , including process parameters, plasma behavior, vacuum systems, target/material interactions, and thin film properties
• Experience developing, optimizing, and troubleshooting thin film deposition processes in a manufacturing or production environment
• Hands-on experience maintaining, troubleshooting, and modifying PVD/sputtering equipment
• Strong understanding of vacuum equipment and components, including pumps, valves, pressure measurement, gas delivery, and related systems
• Experience using structured problem-solving, DOE, and data analysis to improve process performance
• Ability to independently troubleshoot complex issues that cross the boundary between process and equipment
• Comfortable working directly with production equipment in a fast-paced manufacturing environment

What Gives You an Edge

• Experience with thin film deposition for semiconductor, photovoltaic, aerospace, or other high-reliability applications
• Experience scaling deposition processes from R&D or development into manufacturing
• Experience with equipment upgrades, retrofits, or custom modifications
• Familiarity with SPC and manufacturing process controls
• Experience with additional vacuum deposition or thin film characterization techniques

Our Benefits

• Competitive salary
• Generous, high-quality medical, dental, and vision coverage on day one of employment
• 15 vacation days, 5 sick days, and 10 paid holidays annually - with an extended holiday break at year’s end
• 401K with employer match up to 4% of salary
• Employer-paid short-term and long-term disability and employer-sponsored life insurance
• Your work will literally go to space!