Material Development Engineer

Responsibilities

• Develop and evaluate polymer materials for solar modules, including encapsulant, backsheet, sealant, and related components.
• Fabricate pilot and test modules using new polymer material combinations and evaluate process compatibility during module production.
• Perform reliability testing and analysis, including damp heat, thermal cycling, humidity-freeze, UV exposure, mechanical load, and post-test visual / EL / power evaluation.
• Plan and execute material characterization using laboratory equipment such as FTIR, UV-Vis spectrometer, DSC, TGA, tensile tester, and microscopy tools.
• Analyze test results, summarize technical findings, and prepare reports to support material selection and qualification decisions.
• Collaborate with suppliers, internal engineering, manufacturing, quality, purchasing, and overseas teams in Korea and Germany.
• Support new material development projects for G12, TOPCon, G2G, and new encapsulant / backsheet / glass combinations.
• Respond to supplier issues, quality concerns, and production-related material topics in a timely manner.
• Participate in cross-functional discussions to reduce project delay risk and improve material development efficiency.
• Travel to Korea, Germany, and domestic U.S. sites as needed for supplier meetings, technical alignment, and project support.

Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree in Materials Engineering, Chemical Engineering, Polymer Science, Mechanical Engineering, Electrical Engineering, or a related technical field.
• Experience in material development, material evaluation, solar module engineering, manufacturing engineering, or a related field.
• Understanding of polymer materials, material characterization methods, and manufacturing-related material requirements.
• Ability to interpret laboratory test data and translate results into practical engineering decisions.
• Strong communication skills and ability to work with suppliers and cross-functional teams.
• Ability to manage multiple development projects and respond quickly to technical issues.
• Self-motivated, detail-oriented, and able to work independently in a fast-paced manufacturing environment.

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience in the solar module, semiconductor, electronics, chemical, or advanced materials industry.
• Hands-on experience with FTIR, UV-Vis, DSC, TGA, tensile testing, microscopy, or other material analysis tools.
• Experience with encapsulant, backsheet, glass, sealant, adhesive, or other module-related materials.
• Experience working with global suppliers and overseas engineering teams.
• Korean language capability or experience working with Korean counterparts is a plus.