PV Engineer
Spectrawatt

Engineering

Location: Hopewell Junction : NY Region: North America Job Category: Engineering

Position Type: Full-time

Reports to Director of Engineering

 

POSITION SUMMARY:

 

The PV Engineer is responsible for improving solar cell efficiencies and enhancing yield and reliability through process development and optimization.  The position requires a working knowledge of photovoltaic device design, processing and characterization.  This position requires the individual to be able to perform in a highly collaborative team environment.  Excellent communication skills and the ability to create and document development plans are essential.   This engineering position will be a PV advisor and team member to the existing process engineering team for addressing the specific issues of solar cell physics associated with high-efficiency cells.

 

Essential Duties and Responsibilities:

 

Process development on leading edge and next-generation high-efficiency crystalline silicon solar cell technologies using proprietary process, device, and tool technologies. Development of industry leading edge high-efficiency new cell design, yield, reliability, metrology, and optimization of process steps with a view to minimization of manufacturing cost per watt. This requires deep understanding of the full sequence of production steps and the related process flow and equipment technologies.

 

Job Knowledge, Skills and Abilities:

 

·        Expert in PV metrology tools and analytical techniques.

 

·        Strong background in evaluating and qualifying leading edge crystalline silicon solar cell process technology and factory experience with hands-on knowledge is required.

 

·        Proficiency in solar cell device physics and optical properties of materials is also required.

 

Practical knowledge of various equipment platforms and tool design tradeoff considerations is a big plus.

 

·        Ability to interface and collaborate with external vendors and suppliers of solar manufacturing equipment is desired.

·        Excellent communication skills (written and verbal).

·        Strong computer skills including knowledge of solar cell device simulation packages such as PC1D or Sentaurus.

Qualifications:

·        Ph.D. preferred, MS in Engineering/Physics/Material Science required

·        Solar industry experience required – 5 to 10 years minimum

·        Desire to stay on the leading edge of the renewable energy industry

·        Strong work ethic, self motivated, organization and a can-do attitude

·        Team player who listens, and actively communicates

·        Critical thinker good at problem solving and implementing ideas

 

Training Requirements:

 

·        General Safety.

·        Six Sigma and other statistical analysis methodologies.

Personal Protective Equipment:

·        Safety Glasses

·        As required per Corporate Safety Policy

Work Environment:

·        Work usually performed in a manufacturing center setting.

 

Will be required to perform other duties as requested, directed or assigned.

 

SpectraWatt manufactures and distributes high performance silicon solar cells for use in solar modules. Our company is dedicated to furthering the development of advanced solar cell technologies and improving current manufacturing processes in order to reduce the cost of photovoltaic energy generation. SpectraWatt aims to enable solar generated electricity to compete, on an unsubsidized basis, with conventional sources of electricity. SpectraWatt was formed from assets spun out of Intel Corporation in June 2008 and complimented by a $50M Series A investment from multiple investors. SpectraWatt has operations in New York and Oregon. In 2009, the company constructed its first solar cell factory in Hopewell Junction, New York which is capable of housing over 200 MWp of capacity. Initial production has begun on SpectraWatt's first 60 MWp manufacturing line. SpectraWatt's research and development team is working on new technologies to increase cell efficiencies well beyond today's average silicon solar cell efficiencies. Our research team is comprised of some of the brightest minds in the industry who have spent years at places such as Stanford, UC Berkeley and Georgia Tech honing their research skills. Our extensive laboratory facilities enable us to quickly move from idea to prototype testing. As our new technologies enter production and reach the market, they will significantly lower the levelized cost of solar energy for end users.