Solar Panel Engineer, Electrical and Power Systems

AST SpaceMobile • Midland, Texas • 7m ago

AST SpaceMobile is building the first and only global cellular broadband network in space to operate directly with standard, unmodified mobile devices based on our extensive IP and patent portfolio and designed for both commercial and government applications. Our engineers and space scientists are on a mission to eliminate the connectivity gaps faced by today’s five billion mobile subscribers and finally bring broadband to the billions who remain unconnected.

Position Overview

We are seeking a highly skilled and motivated Solar Panel Engineer specializing in Electrical and Power Systems. The ideal candidate will be responsible for the end-to-end design, analysis, and qualification of photovoltaic solar arrays. This role involves working within a multi-disciplinary team to develop and optimize solar array technology, ensuring that all components and systems meet stringent technical, cost, and schedule requirements for space applications. This position is located in Midland, TX. This is not a remote role.

Key Responsibilities:

Layout and design of photovoltaic solar arrays.
Perform sizing and power analysis, charging analysis, grounding, and ESD for deployable solar arrays.
Execute non-recurring engineering in support of new solar cell device definition and existing technology optimization to meet interface and performance requirements.
Design and model electrical schematics, power harnessing, and circuit boards.
Develop and execute qualification campaigns for photovoltaic and electrical components, including mechanical, thermal, and radiation testing.
Work closely with manufacturing engineering to develop and validate electrical interconnect processes such as welding and bonding.
In coordination with the test engineer, promptly develop test content, test equipment, procedures, and tools.
Collaborate with systems engineering on electrical de-rating and EEE parts lists.
Proactively interface with multi-disciplinary team members to optimize component and system designs.
Apply engineering principles to ensure that designed components and systems meet all requirements.
Utilize hardware-based techniques to perform research and development, iterate on design concepts, correlate engineering models, and develop manufacturing processes.
Generate technical documentation, reporting, and presentations of design, test, and analysis results.

Qualifications

Education:

Bachelor of Science degree from an accredited course of study in engineering, engineering technology, chemistry, physics, mathematics, data science, or computer science.

Experience:

5+ years of relevant experience in Physics, Electronics, Electrical Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, Material Science, Industrial/Manufacturing Engineering, or a similar field.
5+ years of experience analyzing technical data and providing clear written and verbal presentations of the results.
5+ years of experience providing engineering support in a fast-paced manufacturing environment.
A minimum of 2 years of work experience with Solar Modules, Solar Cells, or Solar Arrays.
Familiarity with solar cell design, device physics, semiconductor processing, and material characterization techniques.

Preferred Qualifications:

Master’s degree in Mechanical, Aerospace, Electrical, Materials Science, or equivalent.
Design experience with Solar Arrays for Space Applications.
Familiarity with satellite power systems and the effects of the Low Earth Orbit (LEO) environment.
Experience with alternative space solar technologies (e.g., multi-junction, thin-film).
Background in cost modeling, manufacturing process optimization, and lean principles.
Knowledge of statistical analysis and statistical process control (SPC).
Understanding of fundamental circuit design and analysis.
Hands-on experience assembling and testing electronic components, including environmental testing.
Familiarity with aerospace industry standards (AIAA-S-111/112, NASA-STD-6016, ECSS).
Experience leading or participating in Root Cause/Corrective Action (RCCA) investigations.
Experience writing code in Python or other languages; specific experience with Siemens NX (CAD) and TeamCenter (PLM).

Soft Skills:

Excellent problem-solving skills for complex technical issues.
Strong verbal and written communication skills for presenting technical data.
Ability to work effectively both independently and collaboratively as part of a team.
Proactive and skilled in interfacing with interdisciplinary team members.
Experience with the project management of technical projects.

Technology Stack:

MS Office Suite (Word, Excel, PowerPoint)
CAD (Computer Aided Design) systems
PLM (Product Lifecycle Management) systems.

AST SpaceMobile is an Equal Opportunity, at will Employer; employment 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.