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Internship Solar Jobs in Austin, TX (NOW HIRING)

SpaceX

Solar Cell Reliability Engineer (Starlink)

Bastrop, TX · On-site

$101K - $128K/yr

SOLAR CELL RELIABILITY ENGINEER (STARLINK) Starlink believes in providing fast, reliable internet ... implementation (internship and extracurricular experience is applicable) PREFERRED SKILLS AND ...

SpaceX

Solar Cell Reliability Engineer (Starlink)

Bastrop, TX · On-site

$101K - $128K/yr

SOLAR CELL RELIABILITY ENGINEER (STARLINK) Starlink believes in providing fast, reliable internet ... implementation (internship and extracurricular experience is applicable) PREFERRED SKILLS AND ...

SpaceX

Solar Cell Quality Engineer (Starlink)

Bastrop, TX

$71K - $92K/yr

... internship and extracurricular experience is applicable) PREFERRED SKILLS AND EXPERIENCE: * Master's degree or Ph.D. in chemistry, chemical engineering, materials science, electrical engineering, or ...

SpaceX

Solar Cell Quality Engineer (Starlink)

Bastrop, TX · On-site

$71K - $92K/yr

... internship and extracurricular experience is applicable) PREFERRED SKILLS AND EXPERIENCE: * Master's degree or Ph.D. in chemistry, chemical engineering, materials science, electrical engineering, or ...

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How much do internship solar jobs pay per hour?

As of Aug 30, 2026, the average hourly pay for internship solar in Austin, TX is $17.15, according to ZipRecruiter salary data. Most workers in this role earn between $14.28 and $19.04 per hour, depending on experience, location, and employer.

What is a solar internship?

An Internship Solar job is a temporary position designed for students or recent graduates to gain hands-on experience in the solar energy industry. Interns typically work with engineers, technicians, or project managers on tasks such as solar panel installation, system design, performance analysis, or market research. This role provides valuable industry exposure, practical skills, and networking opportunities. It can serve as a stepping stone to a full-time career in renewable energy.

What types of projects or tasks will I typically work on during a solar internship?

As a Solar Intern, you can expect to engage in tasks such as assisting with the design and layout of solar panel systems, conducting site assessments, supporting data collection for performance analysis, and helping prepare project proposals or reports. You may work closely with engineers, project managers, and technicians, gaining hands-on experience with both field and office-based assignments. Interns often have the opportunity to attend team meetings, learn about compliance and safety regulations, and participate in troubleshooting technical issues. These experiences provide valuable exposure to the solar industry’s workflows and can help you build skills for long-term career growth.

What are the key skills and qualifications needed to thrive in a solar internship, and why are they important?

To thrive in a Solar Internship, you should have a solid academic background in engineering, environmental science, or a related field, along with a genuine interest in renewable energy. Familiarity with solar energy design software (such as PVsyst or AutoCAD), data analysis tools, and knowledge of basic safety standards is highly beneficial. Strong problem-solving skills, initiative, and effective communication will set you apart when collaborating with engineers and project managers. These competencies are important because they enable you to contribute meaningfully to real solar projects and gain industry-relevant experience for future roles.

What are the most commonly searched types of Solar jobs in Austin, TX?

The most popular types of Solar jobs in Austin, TX are:

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For Internship Solar jobs in Austin, TX, the most frequently searched job titles are:

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Infographic showing various Internship Solar job openings in Austin, TX as of August 2026, with employment types broken down into 50% Full Time, and 50% Contract. Highlights an 100% In-person job distribution, with an average salary of $35,678 per year, or $17.2 per hour.

Solar Cell Reliability Engineer (Starlink)

SpaceX

Bastrop, TX • On-site

$101K - $128K/yr

Full-time

Re-posted 3 days ago

SpaceX rating

8.7

Company rating: 8.7 out of 10

Based on 150 frontline employees who took The Breakroom Quiz

16th of 72 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.
SOLAR CELL RELIABILITY ENGINEER (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 we vertically integrate critical hardware, we are building and scaling heterojunction (HJT) solar cell production to power spacecraft and constellation assets with higher efficiency, lower mass, and proven reliability in the space environment.
We are looking for a Solar Cell Reliability Engineer who will own the reliability lab and the end-to-end reliability story for our solar cells in space-from wafer and cell process through module integration, environmental qualification, on-orbit performance, and continuous improvement back into manufacturing. Your work will ensure our solar cells deliver unmatched power density and durability for Starship, Starlink, AI Sat, and deep-space missions. 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:
  • Own and operate the solar cell reliability lab: equipment strategy, capability roadmap, calibration, maintenance, safety, throughput, and data integrity for HJT cell and coupon reliability testing
  • Define, execute, and continuously improve the space reliability test matrix for HJT solar cells (e.g., thermal cycling, thermal vacuum, humidity/damp heat as applicable, UV/photo-stability, reverse bias / hotspot, mechanical shock/vibration at cell/coupon level, radiation exposure coordination, and accelerated life tests)
  • Build and own the reliability narrative for flight and program reviews: failure modes, physics of failure, acceleration models, life predictions, margins, and acceptance/qualification logic that ties lab data to on-orbit performance
  • Partner with HJT process and equipment engineering (texturing, PECVD/a-Si stacks, TCO, metallization, module integration) to link process parameters, metrology, and in-line defects to reliability outcomes; drive corrective actions and design-for-reliability changes
  • Establish reliability gates for process changes, tool qualifications, material substitutions, and supplier changes; own risk assessment (FMEA/PFMEA interfaces), sampling plans, and release criteria
  • Develop and maintain test methods, SOPs, fixturing, and automation for high-throughput, statistically defensible reliability characterization; ensure methods are transferable and auditable
  • Lead root cause analysis on reliability failures (electrical, optical, interfacial, mechanical, environmental) using SEM/FIB, EDS, FTIR, PL/EL, IV, quantum efficiency, adhesion, and other failure-analysis techniques; close the loop with manufacturing and design
  • Define and track reliability KPIs (e.g., degradation rates, wear-out distributions, infant mortality, lot-to-lot variation, correlation of accelerated tests to flight-like stress) and report status to leadership with clear recommendations
  • Interface with power systems, structures, thermal, radiation effects, quality, and flight reliability teams so cell-level reliability is coherent with array/module and spacecraft environments
  • Support flight anomaly investigation and on-orbit performance trending; update models and test strategies as flight data matures.
  • Mentor technicians and junior engineers; set lab culture for rigor, speed, and honest interpretation of data
  • Author and present technical content for design reviews, production readiness reviews, and customer/internal reliability packages as required

BASIC QUALIFICATIONS:
  • Bachelor's degree in an engineering discipline
  • 1+ years of experience in chemical engineering, materials science, electrical engineering, physics, or mechanical engineering in 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 related technical discipline (especially in PV, thin-film devices, reliability physics, or space power systems)
  • 2+ years of hands-on experience in solar cell, PV module, semiconductor device, or aerospace hardware reliability (internship/co-op experience may count toward this if highly relevant and hands-on)
  • Experience designing, running, or analyzing accelerated environmental or reliability tests and interpreting degradation / failure data
  • Proficiency with data analysis (e.g., Python, MATLAB, JMP, R, or equivalent) and comfort with statistics (distributions, confidence bounds, DOE basics)
  • Ability to work full-time on-site in a production and lab environment
  • Strong understanding of vacuum systems, plasma physics, sputtering dynamics, and thin-film characterization techniques (e.g., XRD, SEM, Hall effect)
  • Hands-on experience with PV metrology tools (eg. Sinton lifetime, EL/PL) and reliability testing
  • Experience with SPC, DoE, and lean manufacturing principles
  • 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

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
  • Willing to work extended hours and weekends as needed

ITAR REQUIREMENTS:
  • To conform to U.S. Government export regulations, applicant 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. 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 EEOCompliance@spacex.com.

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About SpaceX

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Industry

Aerospace product and parts manufacturing, data services, guided missile and space vehicle manufacturing and satellite telecommunications

Company size

1,001 - 5,000 Employees

Headquarters location

Hawthorne, CA, US

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