Title: Lead Encapsulation Process Development Engineer

Location: Greater Seattle Area

Position Type: Full time

Requisition ID: R71702

Description:

Application close date:

Applications will be accepted on an ongoing basis until the requisition is closed.

At 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! 

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.

At 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

You will own the encapsulation process development pipeline: from lamination and edge-sealing process recipes through inline quality verification to accelerated lifetime qualification. You will develop the process parameters, equipment configurations, and quality controls that turn packaging designs into repeatable manufacturing. You will be the bridge between packaging design intent and fabrication reality.

Responsibilities

• Develop lamination processes for solar module encapsulation: temperature profiles, pressure schedules, atmosphere control, and cure protocols compatible with thermally sensitive perovskite layers

• Qualify encapsulant materials (EVA, POE, ionomer, silicone, thermoplastic polyurethane, etc) for compatibility — ensuring no chemical interaction with the device stack in fabrication and throughout operation.

• Develop and validate thin-film encapsulation processes (PECVD, ALD-based barriers) in collaboration with other team members

• Design and execute accelerated aging studies for the environments in space and on the way to the launch pad: humidity, thermal cycling, UV exposure, particle radiation, and electrostatic buildup

• Optimize edge-sealing processes (desiccant-filled edge seals, laser-sealed glass, butyl rubber, UV-cure adhesives) for hermeticity and long-term reliability

• Establish inline process monitoring and acceptance criteria for encapsulation steps (optical inspection, leak testing, adhesion pull tests)

• Perform failure analysis on degraded or failed modules

• Develop process documentation, SPC charts, and process capability studies for each encapsulation step

• Scale encapsulation processes from coupon-level to full module format

• Interface with equipment vendors to specify and commission lamination, sealing, and barrier deposition tools

• Work with your customers on the broader solar array product team to provide a product that is compatible with integration at-scale, for small (several kW) to large (100kW+) array designs

Minimum Qualifications

• B.Sc. Chemical Engineering, Materials Science, Mechanical Engineering, or related field

• 5+ years of experience in encapsulation, lamination, or packaging process development for photovoltaic, OLED, or flexible electronics applications

• Demonstrated experience developing lamination or sealing processes

• Strong understanding of polymer processing: glass transition, crosslinking kinetics, adhesion science, and aging mechanisms

• Experience with accelerated aging test design and lifetime prediction methodologies

• Proficiency with process characterization tools: DSC, TGA, DMA, peel testing, optical microscopy, moisture sensors

• Track record of transferring encapsulation processes from development to production-representative scale

Preferred Qualifications

• Direct experience encapsulating silicon, CdTe, CIGS, perovskite, or organic photovoltaic devices (understanding of thermal and chemical sensitivity constraints)

• Experience with thin-film barrier encapsulation (ALD, PECVD, or hybrid organic-inorganic barriers)

• Direct experience with encapsulation designs for the space-environment and its unique degradation mechanisms (UV, proton/electron radiation, thermal cycling, atomic oxygen)

• Experience with glass-glass lamination, laser edge sealing, or hermetic packaging for electronics

• Familiarity with qualification test standards

• Experience with inline metrology and automated process control for lamination lines

• Understanding of water vapor and oxygen permeation modeling for lifetime prediction

Base Pay Range for:

WA applicants is $145,188.00 - $203,263.20

Other site ranges may differ

Culture Statement

Don’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.

Export Control Regulations

Applicants for employment at Blue Origin must be a U.S. citizen or national, U.S. permanent resident (i.e. current Green Card holder), or lawfully admitted into the U.S. as a refugee or granted asylum.

Background Check

• Required for all positions: Blue’s Standard Background Check
• Required for Certain Job Profiles: Defense Biometric Identification System (DBIDS) background check if at any time the role requires one to be on a military installation
• Required for Certain Job Profiles: Drivers who operate Commercial Motor Vehicles with a Gross Vehicle Weight (GVW), Gross Vehicle Weight Rating (GVWR) or combination of power unit and trailer that meets or exceeds 10,001 lbs. and/or transports placardable amounts of hazardous materials by ground in any vehicle on a public road while in commerce, may be subject to additional Federal Motor Carrier Safety Regulations including: Driver Qualification Files, Medical Certification (obtained before onboarding), Road Test, Hours of Service, Drug and Alcohol Testing, vehicle inspection requirements, CDL requirements (if applicable) and hazardous materials transportation/shipping training.
• Required for certain Job Profiles: Ability to obtain and maintain Merchant Mariner Credential, which includes pre-employment and random drug testing as well as DOT physical

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.

Equal Employment Opportunity

Blue Origin is proud to be an Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action Employer and is committed to attracting, retaining, and developing a highly qualified and dedicated work force. Blue Origin hires and promotes people on the basis of their qualifications, performance, and abilities. We support the establishment and maintenance of a workplace that fosters trust, equality, and teamwork. We provide all qualified applicants for employment and employees with equal opportunities for hire, promotion, and other terms and conditions of employment, regardless of their race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin/ethnicity, age, physical or mental disability, genetic factors, military/veteran status, or any other status or characteristic protected by federal, state, and/or local law. Blue Origin will consider for employment qualified applicants with criminal histories in a manner consistent with applicable federal, state, and local laws, including the Washington Fair Chance Act, the California Fair Chance Act, the Los Angeles Fair Chance in Hiring Ordinance, and other applicable laws. For more information on “Know Your Rights,” please see here.

Affirmative Action and Disability Accommodation

Applicants wishing to receive information on Blue Origin’s Affirmative Action Plans, or applicants requiring a reasonable accommodation in order to participate in the application and/or interview process, please contact us at EEOCompliance@blueorigin.com. Please note this is a publicly managed inbox. Please do not include any personal medical information in your request.