Chief Cell Technologist, PV Systems

About the role

The PV Product Engineering team at Fluidstack is responsible for building a captive photovoltaic supply chain to power gigawatt-scale AI infrastructure, starting at the cell level. This role involves owning the selection of Fluidstack's cell architecture (TOPCon, HJT, or back-contact), the technology roadmap behind it, and the efficiency and cost trajectory you can defend to a CEO and a fab partner alike. You will also build and defend a full loss budget across recombination, optical, and resistive losses, and set the technical priorities for the process, device physics, and characterization teams. Additionally, you will lead process transfers from pilot to production and ensure the cells we buy meet the same bar as the cells we intend to build.

Responsibilities

• Own the selection of Fluidstack's cell architecture (TOPCon, HJT, or back-contact) and the technology roadmap behind it, with an efficiency and cost trajectory you can defend to a CEO and a fab partner alike.
• Build the loss-analysis framework and efficiency entitlement model, decomposed across recombination, optical, and resistive losses, rigorous enough that every process and device engineer knows exactly where their next basis point comes from.
• Direct the technical agenda of the process, device physics, and characterization teams in partnership with the PV Cell Engineering Lead, setting priorities that close real gaps to entitlement.
• Scope and manage pilot line partnerships, and own the technology transfer strategy from pilot to production, including the make-vs-partner call.
• Set cell procurement specs and drive supplier co-engineering while our own line comes up, so the cells we buy meet the same bar as the cells we intend to build.

Requirements

• 15+ years in silicon PV cell technology, with at least one cell architecture (TOPCon, HJT, or back-contact) taken from concept to production efficiency targets, and the roadmap behind it owned by you.
• Built and defended a full loss budget across recombination, optical, and resistive losses, and closed real gaps to entitlement on a shipping cell.
• Led process transfers from pilot to production and know firsthand what breaks, from tool matching to yield collapse.
• Hold published or patented depth in passivation, contacts, or device design.
• Directed multi-disciplinary cell R&D teams spanning process, device physics, and characterization, and set their technical priorities.
• Can commit to an efficiency and cost trajectory and defend it under pressure, to a CEO and a fab partner alike.
• Bonus: SunPower/Maxeon, Fraunhofer ISE, ISC Konstanz, or UNSW lineage, FEOC-clean supply chain exposure, back-contact architecture depth, or pilot line buildout experience.

Qualifications

• Exceptional leadership skills and ability to work effectively with cross-functional teams.
• Strong technical background in PV cell engineering, with a deep understanding of cell architectures and manufacturing processes.
• Experience in managing and leading large-scale projects from concept to production.
• Proven track record of delivering high-performance results in a high-pressure environment.
• Excellent communication and interpersonal skills to collaborate with stakeholders at all levels.

Skills

• Expertise in PV cell technology, including cell architectures like TOPCon, HJT, and back-contact.
• Strong analytical and problem-solving skills to develop and defend cell efficiency and cost trajectories.
• Experience in managing and transferring technologies from pilot to production.
• Ability to prioritize tasks and manage multiple projects simultaneously.
• Strong written and verbal communication skills to present technical concepts to non-technical stakeholders.

Benefits

• Competitive compensation range of $208K - $263K.
• Flexible work schedule to accommodate the demands of the role.
• Health insurance and retirement benefits.
• Professional development opportunities and access to cutting-edge technology.

Pay

Compensation Range: $208K - $263K

Schedule

Flexible work schedule to accommodate the demands of the role.