Application close date:
Applications will be accepted on an ongoing basis until the requisition is closed.
This role is part of Advanced Concepts and Enterprise Engineering (ACE), supporting Blue Origin's mission of millions of people living and working in space for the benefit of Earth. The team fosters innovation and drives engineering workflows of the future, shared solutions and standards, simplicity and lower costs, and manufacturable design.
MissionAt Blue Origin, we envision millions of people living and working in space for the benefit of Earth. We're working to develop reusable, safe, and low-cost space vehicles and systems within a culture of safety, collaboration, and inclusion. Join our team of problem solvers as we add new chapters to the history of spaceflight!
About the Role
As a Solution Processed Coating Research Engineer, you will execute and optimize solution-processed deposition to produce thin-film layers for advanced perovskite photovoltaic devices. Working alongside the lead engineer, you will prepare precursor inks, run coating experiments, characterize resulting films, and contribute to process optimization. This is a highly hands-on laboratory role with opportunities to develop deep expertise in coating science and thin-film materials.
Responsibilities- Prepare precursor solutions and functional inks following established formulations, including weighing, dissolving, filtering, and rheology verification
- Operate spin coaters, blade coaters, and slot die coating systems to deposit thin-film layers per DOE plans
- Execute annealing and post-treatment protocols (thermal, vacuum, gas-quench, anti-solvent)
- Perform film characterization: profilometry, optical microscopy, UV-Vis, photoluminescence, spectroscopy, contact angle, and surface roughness measurements
- Maintain detailed lab notebooks documenting ink preparation, coating parameters, environmental conditions, and results
- Support DOE campaigns by preparing substrate batches, executing parameter sweeps, and compiling statistical results
- Maintain coating equipment including cleaning, calibration, consumable replacement, and troubleshooting
- Analyze experimental data and present findings to the team with clear visualizations and trend identification
- Assist with ink shelf-life studies, accelerated aging experiments, and process capability assessments
- Perform routine laboratory and equipment maintenance: glovebox purification system regeneration, solvent trap replacement, coating head disassembly and cleaning, and pump servicing
- Manage chemical and consumables inventory (solvents, precursors, substrates, filters, blades) and coordinate reorders to prevent supply gaps
- Maintain lab cleanliness and organization including fume hoods, glovebox interiors, chemical hygiene, waste solvent collection, and hazardous waste disposal scheduling
Qualifications- B.S. in Chemical Engineering, Chemistry, Materials Science, or related field
- 0-5 years of experience in solution-processed thin-film deposition (academic or industry)
- Hands-on laboratory experience with wet chemistry techniques (solution preparation, spin coating, blade coating, slot-die coating)
- Basic understanding of solution thermodynamics, crystallization, and film formation from liquid precursors
- Familiarity with standard thin-film characterization (profilometry, optical microscopy, UV-Vis)
- Demonstrated safe handling practices for laboratory chemicals and solvents
- Strong organizational skills and attention to experimental documentation
Preferred Qualifications- Ph.D. in Chemical Engineering, Materials Science, Chemistry, or related field
- Experience with slot die, gravure, or other scalable coating techniques
- Familiarity with perovskite, organic photovoltaic, or nanoparticle ink systems
- Experience with rheology measurement and ink characterization
- Knowledge of DOE methodology and statistical analysis (JMP, Minitab, Python, or R)
- Experience working in a glovebox or controlled-atmosphere environment
- Coursework or research experience in colloid science, polymer science, or surface chemistry
Base Pay Range for:
WA applicants is $99,201.00 - $138,880.35
Other site ranges may differCulture StatementDon't meet all desired requirements? Studies have shown that some people are less likely to apply to jobs unless they meet every single desired qualification. At Blue Origin, we are dedicated to building an authentic workplace, so if you're excited about this role but your past experience doesn't align perfectly with every desired qualification in the job description, we encourage you to apply anyway. You may be just the right candidate for this or other roles.
Benefits- Benefits include: Medical, dental, vision, basic and supplemental life insurance, paid parental leave, short and long-term disability, 401(k) with a company match of up to 5%, and an Education Support Program.
- Stock Options for all regular employees (working at least 20 hours/week)
- Paid Time Off: Up to four (4) weeks per year based on weekly scheduled hours, and up to 14 company-paid holidays.
- Dependent on role type and job level, employees may be eligible for benefits and bonuses based on the company's intent to reward individual contributions and enable them to share in the company's results, or other factors at the company's sole discretion. Bonus amounts and eligibility are not guaranteed and subject to change and cancellation. Please check with your recruiter for more details.
