Solar Research Jobs in California (NOW HIRING)

At Swift Solar, our mission is to unlock the full potential of solar energy. We believe solar can provide affordable, reliable, resilient, clean energy to virtually anyone, anywhere. But while today's solar technology is good, it's not good enough.
Swift Solar's breakthrough perovskite-silicon tandem technology will drive solar power to commanding new heights. Our tandem cells stack a perovskite layer on top of a heterojunction (HJT) silicon cell, delivering dramatically higher efficiency than traditional silicon alone. In 2026, we acquired Meyer Burger's HJT intellectual property and manufacturing assets, giving us the world's most extensive HJT patent portfolio and a clear path to gigawatt-scale domestic production.
This vertically integrated approach means we can design, manufacture, and scale next-generation solar solutions entirely in the United States-from silicon foundations to perovskite innovations. Our technology enables applications ranging from space solar to utility-scale power generation, creating American-made solutions for a world facing growing energy challenges.
Swift Solar is on a journey to bring revolutionary clean-energy technology to market. We're in it for the long haul, with support from world-class investors. Join our extraordinary team building the cutting-edge solar technology that will power the future.

As a Reliability Engineer at Swift, you'll drive cell-package interactions and module-level reliability, addressing the unique challenges of a first-generation technology moving from concept through certification and towards manufacturing.

On a typical day, you might schedule and execute reliability tests on tandem mini-modules and full modules-spanning environmental, thermomechanical, and accelerated life tests such as damp heat, thermal cycling, UV, and outdoor exposure-then evaluate the results. You might perform failure analysis on tandem modules, design a non-standard accelerated stress protocol to reproduce a field failure, or coordinate third-party testing with external labs.

You'll contribute a reliability perspective, collaborate with the Product Management team on lifetime modeling, and develop hypotheses you communicate clearly to the Materials R&D, Process Engineering, and Product Development teams. As an early hire, you'll help shape how the reliability function operates as the team grows and interacts with every part of the company along the way.

You might be a good fit if you... 

• Have 3-5 years of experience in PV module reliability, spanning from R&D to third-party validation and certification.
• Have a demonstrated ability to diagnose failure mechanisms and translate findings into data-driven insights for cross-functional teams.
• Have experience working with external testing labs to define and complete testing.
• Have a solid understanding of PV cell and module device physics.
• Have a proven ability to work well with cross-functional teams (R&D, Product Development, Engineering, Manufacturing), showing strong communication and empathy.
• Are proficient in statistical analysis software (e.g., JMP) and the application of statistics to reliability analysis.

• Experience with more than one PV cell type.
• Experience developing non-standard accelerated testing protocols for a first-generation technology.
• Familiarity with reliability engineering tools (e.g., FMEA, 8D, RCA, DFR).
• Experience sourcing reliability test equipment.
• An understanding of why solving climate change is an urgent and critical challenge.
• Genuine enthusiasm for the challenges that come with working at a startup.

• Compensation: Competitive package including salary, equity, and benefits
• Expected Pay Range: $110,000 - $150,000 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: July-August 2026
• Job type: Full-time
• Location: San Carlos, CA (Swift Solar HQ)

• 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.