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Chemical Engineering R&D Jobs in Austin, TX (NOW HIRING)

KLA Corporation

Customer Support Engineer

Austin, TX · On-site

$29.19 - $49.62/hr

KLA focuses more than average on innovation and we invest 15% of sales back into R&D. Our expert ... Field Operations, Engineering, Product Training, and Technical Support. The KLA Services ...

KLA Corporation

Customer Support Engineer

Austin, TX

$29.19 - $49.62/hr

KLA focuses more than average on innovation and we invest 15% of sales back into R&D. Our expert ... Field Operations, Engineering, Product Training, and Technical Support. The KLA Services ...

Apptronik

Staff Mechanical Engineer - R&D

Austin, TX

Bachelor's Degree in Mechanical Engineering (or equivalent experience) * 8+ years of experience in R&D-focused mechanical engineering roles * Preferred: experience on advanced robotics, NASA/DARPA ...

VVater

Electrical Engineer

Austin, TX

Bachelor's or Master's degree in Electrical Engineering, Chemical Engineering, Electrochemical Engineering, or a related field; a Ph.D. is a plus. * Preference will be given to candidates with ...

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Chemical Engineering R D information

See Austin, TX salary details

$50.6K

$96.9K

$147.7K

How much do chemical engineering r&d jobs pay per year?

As of Jul 16, 2026, the average yearly pay for chemical engineering r&d in Austin, TX is $96,852.00, according to ZipRecruiter salary data. Most workers in this role earn between $65,400.00 and $141,700.00 per year, depending on experience, location, and employer.

What is a Chemical Engineering R&D job?

A Chemical Engineering R&D (Research and Development) job involves designing, testing, and improving chemical processes, materials, and products. Engineers in this role work on developing new technologies, optimizing manufacturing processes, and ensuring sustainability and efficiency. They collaborate with scientists, engineers, and manufacturers to translate research into practical applications. This role often includes lab experiments, data analysis, and scaling up processes for industrial use.

What types of projects and daily tasks can I expect in a Chemical Engineering R&D role?

As a Chemical Engineering R&D professional, you’ll typically work on projects such as developing new chemical processes, optimizing existing manufacturing techniques, and evaluating novel materials or catalysts. Daily tasks may include conducting laboratory experiments, analyzing data, scaling up processes from bench to pilot plant, and documenting your findings in technical reports. Collaboration is common with cross-functional teams, including chemists, process engineers, and production staff, to move innovations from concept to implementation. This role often involves balancing independent research with team-based problem-solving, making it both intellectually rewarding and highly collaborative.

What are the key skills and qualifications needed to thrive in the Chemical Engineering R&D position, and why are they important?

To thrive as a Chemical Engineering R&D professional, you need a solid background in chemical engineering principles, experimental design, data analysis, and a relevant degree such as a BS, MS, or PhD in chemical engineering or a related field. Experience with laboratory instrumentation, process simulation software (like Aspen Plus or ChemCAD), and safety certification (such as OSHA training) is highly valuable. Strong problem-solving abilities, creativity, and effective teamwork and communication skills set candidates apart in this innovative environment. These competencies are essential for advancing new processes and products while ensuring safety and efficiency in R&D initiatives.

What are popular job titles related to Chemical Engineering R&D jobs in Austin, TX? For Chemical Engineering R&D jobs in Austin, TX, the most frequently searched job titles are:
What job categories do people searching Chemical Engineering R&D jobs in Austin, TX look for? The top searched job categories for Chemical Engineering R&D jobs in Austin, TX are:
Chemical Engineering R D jobs near you
Infographic showing various Chemical Engineering R&D job openings in Austin, TX as of July 2026, with employment types broken down into 78% Full Time, 14% Part Time, 4% Temporary, and 4% Contract. Highlights an 96% In-person, and 4% Remote job distribution, with an average salary of $96,852 per year, or $46.6 per hour.
PVD Process Engineer, Solar Cells (Starlink)

PVD Process Engineer, Solar Cells (Starlink)

SpaceX

Bastrop, TX • On-site

Other

Re-posted 7 days ago

SpaceX rating

8.8

Company rating: 8.8 out of 10

Based on 146 frontline employees who took The Breakroom Quiz

7th of 61 rated aerospace companies

Job description

SpaceX was founded under the belief that a future where humanity is out exploring the stars is fundamentally more exciting than one where we are not. Today SpaceX is actively developing the technologies to make this possible, with the ultimate goal of enabling human life on Mars.
PVD PROCESS ENGINEER, SOLAR CELLS (STARLINK)
Starlink believes in providing fast, reliable internet to those that need it most. We design, build, and launch the world's largest and most advanced satellite constellation that is capable of delivering high-speed internet to even the most remote locations.
As a PVD Process Engineer for our solar cell factory, you will spearhead state of the art production processes for an internal solar cell production line, providing high efficiency and high-quality solar cells for both our latest generation Starlink satellites and for Starship missions to the Moon and Mars. You will work through the life cycle of setting up a greenfield solar cell production plant, including equipment procurement, plant design/layout, equipment commissioning and ramp-up, recipe and process development, and working to develop a world-class production team and environment.
As a PVD Process Engineer, you will own the development, optimization, and scaling of Physical Vapor Deposition (PVD) processes critical for depositing transparent conductive oxide (TCO) layers, such as ITO, and other thin films essential to high-efficiency SHJ cell performance. You will develop and iterate on the manufacturing processes and recipes to achieve a state-of-the-art silicon cell efficiency, low defect rate and cost, and high reliability cell for space-based applications. Your work will form the backbone of the Starlink network (photons of sunlight in is directly proportional to photons of data out to customers!) and help provide internet to tens of millions of customers all around the world.
RESPONSIBILITIES:
  • Design, qualify, and optimize PVD sputtering processes (e.g., DC/RF magnetron sputtering) for SHJ front and back contacts, ensuring uniformity, adhesion, resistivity, and optical transmission at GW-scale volumes
  • Lead process development for new toolsets and materials, including target management, deposition rate optimization, and defect reduction to support state-of-the-art efficiency cells
  • Responsible for developing, implementing, and maintaining new and/or improved manufacturing processes, equipment, technologies, and facilities
  • Analyze production processes and machinery from a first principles, physics-based approach
  • Develop experiments to diagnose and correct manufacturing problems, utilizing robust DOE and statistical methodologies
  • Optimize process conditions and materials to improve the optical and electrical quality of solar cells
  • Perform defect characterization and analysis to determine root cause and develop action plans to improve yields
  • Develop project plans, budgets, and cost/benefit analysis for implementation of new processes or machines
  • Own and perform machine activation and testing with a small team of engineers and technicians
  • Prepare detailed content for technical design reviews, and demonstrate extreme ownership of the production outcome of the Starlink solar factory across yield, uptime, and cost

BASIC QUALIFICATIONS:
  • Bachelor's degree in an engineering discipline
  • 1+ years of experience in chemical engineering design, analysis, and/or system implementation (internship and extracurricular experience is applicable)

PREFERRED SKILLS AND EXPERIENCE:
  • Master's degree or Ph.D. in chemistry, chemical engineering, materials science, environmental, or other STEM discipline
  • 5+ years of hands-on experience in PVD process engineering, preferably in thin-film solar (SHJ, PERC, or CIGS), semiconductor, or display manufacturing
  • Proven track record of scaling PVD processes to high-volume production (>1GW/year equivalent)
  • Strong understanding of vacuum systems, plasma physics, sputtering dynamics, and thin-film characterization techniques (e.g., XRD, SEM, Hall effect)
  • Experience with SPC, DoE, and lean manufacturing principles
  • Ability to work in a cleanroom environment.
  • Hands-on experience working with complex fluid or mechanical based production systems in a professional setting
  • Experience transitioning products from design to manufacturing and scaling to high volume as part of a cross-functional team
  • Self-motivated with strong organizational, written, and oral communication skills
  • Experience with solar cell manufacturing equipment, such as wet chemical processing equipment, PE-CVD equipment, PVD machines, metallization and final test equipment, and wafer inspection equipment (experience in evaporation tools and ALD tools are a plus)
  • Experience or expertise with perovskite solar cells or perovskite tandem solar cells
  • Experience with micro-structure analysis tools (SEM, TEM, EDX, SIMS, etc.) and optical/electrical characterization tools (UV-VIS, I-V, Resistance, etc.)
  • Expertise in SHJ-specific PVD processes, including low-temperature ITO deposition for bifacial cells
  • Familiarity with advanced PVD tools and automation/integration for inline production
  • Proficiency in data analysis/scripting (Python, R, SQL) and simulation tools (e.g., SIMTRA for sputtering).
  • Experience in cost-of-ownership modeling, CapEx justification, and fab ramp-ups to multi-GW scales
  • Passion for sustainable energy and space technology; prior work in photovoltaics at GW-scale a plus

ADDITIONAL REQUIREMENTS:
  • Ability to travel frequently for work, potentially for extended periods of time during machine buyoffs and startup
  • Ability to lift 25 lbs. unassisted
  • Lifting, standing, climbing, bending, grasping, sitting, pulling, pushing, stooping, stretching, and carrying are generally required to perform the functions of this position
  • Must be willing to work extended hours and weekends as needed

ITAR REQUIREMENTS:
    Learn more about the ITAR here.

SpaceX is an Equal Opportunity Employer; employment with SpaceX is governed on the basis of merit, competence and qualifications and will not be influenced in any manner by race, color, religion, gender, national origin/ethnicity, veteran status, disability status, age, sexual orientation, gender identity, marital status, mental or physical disability or any other legally protected status.
Applicants wishing to view a copy of SpaceX's Affirmative Action Plan for veterans and individuals with disabilities, or applicants requiring reasonable accommodation to the application/interview process should reach out to

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