Solar Film Jobs (NOW HIRING)

R&D Scientist

San Carlos, California, United States

About the Company

At Swift Solar, our mission is to unlock the full potential of solar energy. We believe that solar energy has vast untapped potential to power our lives, fuel economies, and strengthen supply chains, while protecting planetary health in the face of global climate change. The reality is that today's solar technology is good, but not good enough.

Swift Solar is making solar better with its breakthrough tandem technology that harnesses the power of perovskite materials to create solar solutions that are not only more efficient than traditional technology but also more versatile, enabling applications ranging from space solar to utility-scale power generation.

Swift Solar is a mission-focused startup supported by the US government and backed by world-class investors. It's a long journey to bring a new clean energy technology to market, and we're in it for the long haul, together. Join our extraordinary team building the cutting-edge solar technology that will shape the future of the global solar industry.

A Day in the Life

Swift Solar's R&D team is at the forefront of development of efficient, stable, and manufacturing-ready perovskite tandem solar cells. As an R&D Scientist at Swift Solar, you will drive the development of processes, metrology, and materials for key thin film layers in the solar cell stack. The work will emphasize independently identifying shortcomings within the existing device stack and its constituent layers, followed by the independent development of strategies to overcome these limitations. You will perform systematic and statistically backed experiments to develop and optimize scalable deposition materials and processes in collaboration with other engineers/scientists and technicians at Swift Solar. You will develop and use advanced metrology techniques to quantify the resulting materials properties. Success in this role will require ownership of continued maintenance, upkeep, and training of critical deposition and characterization processes. This work will feed into developing advanced solar cell stacks for efficiency, long-term stability, and scalability to gigawatt-level manufacturing, and will involve developing unit process specifications for thin film materials and processes to reach high reproducibility. Your input will be crucial to its translation to high-volume manufacturing. You might also work with chemical suppliers to source and qualify materials for manufacturing, and design new materials to achieve higher performance, stability, or scalability.

As an early hire, you'll help craft Swift Solar's culture. In this role you'll be interacting with every part of the company, which will naturally lead to many opportunities to grow your own skills and responsibilities. We encourage you to take full advantage of these opportunities.

You Might Be a Good Fit If You...

• Hold a Ph.D. in chemistry, materials science, physics, or a related field with a focus on perovskite materials research
• Have a proven track record of independently identifying and solving complex scientific research questions aimed at improving semiconductor thin films and device performance
• Bring 2+ years of expert knowledge in thin-film deposition and characterization aiming at improved device understanding
• Are comfortable with ambiguity, and excited to independently drive open-ended R&D projects that might go beyond your immediate area of expertise
• Are proactive, hard-working, and motivated to make an impact on climate change

A Very Strong Candidate Might Bring One or More of the Following...

• A demonstrated ability to improve perovskite thin films and devices to enhance performance and durability, grounded in strong scientific insight
• Hands-on experience in evaluation, characterizing, simulating, and improving opto-electronic device properties
• A deep understanding of the working principle of single-junction and multi-junction solar cells with a strong focus on device chemistry and/or physics
• 2+ years of experience in applied semiconductor research or an industrial R&D environment
• Experience in statistical process control, FMEA, and Lean Six Sigma methods

The Logistics

• Compensation: Competitive package including salary, equity, and benefits
• Expected Pay Range: $110k- $160k per year
• The actual offer, reflecting total compensation and benefits, will be determined by factors such as relevant experience, skills, and other qualifications
• Ideal start date: March 2026 - May 2026
• Job type: Full-time
• Location: San Carlos, CA (Swift Solar HQ)

What You'll Love About Swift Solar

• Work with Purpose: Join our mission to unlock the full potential of solar energy and make a global impact.
• Lead with Innovation: Be part of an extraordinary team building cutting-edge solar technology - growth mindset; culture
• Thrive with Benefits: Have 100% of your monthly premiums for HMO / PPO group healthcare plan options and 75% of your dental and vision insurance premiums covered by us. Employees also benefit from 401(k) matching, clean commuter benefits, and meaningful equity.
• Invest in Your Career: You'll grow your skills, your network, and your perspective at Swift. We'll support you in attending conferences and taking online courses, as long as you share your new insights with the team.

We recognize that candidates from underrepresented backgrounds often hesitate to apply if they don't meet all the criteria. If you're excited about this role and believe you can contribute to our team, we encourage you to apply—even if you don't meet every qualification listed. We're eager to meet people from all backgrounds, and your unique skills and experiences could be exactly what we need.

If you believe in our mission, but this isn't the right job for you, please check out other career opportunities on our website and email us at careers@swiftsolar.com with any questions. And if you have a friend who would be a perfect fit, send them this link. Thanks!

Swift is an equal opportunity employer. We value an inclusive work environment and welcome team members of all backgrounds and perspectives.