Physical Vapor Deposition Researcher — Associate Engineer II

About this role

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.

 Working with PVD lead you will execute and refine physical vapor deposition processes (thermal evaporation, co-evaporation, sputtering) to produce high-quality thin films for advanced photovoltaic devices. You will run experiments, collect and analyze data, maintain equipment, and contribute to process improvement. This is a hands-on role with significant time in the lab operating vacuum systems, performing film characterization, and iterating on process recipes.

Responsibilities include but are not limited to: • Operate thermal evaporation, co-evaporation, and sputtering systems to deposit thin-film layers per established recipes and DOE plans • Perform routine film characterization (thickness measurement, profilometry, 4-point probe, optical transmission, XRD sample prep) • Maintain vacuum deposition equipment including source changes, chamber cleaning, pump maintenance, and substrate fixture preparation • Record detailed experimental data and maintain lab notebooks to research-grade documentation standards • Analyze process data and present results to the team, identifying trends and proposing recipe modifications • Support DOE campaigns by preparing substrates, executing run matrices, and compiling results • Assist with equipment commissioning, qualification runs, and process capability studies • Contribute to process documentation, standard operating procedures, and safety protocols • Collaborate with device integration team to provide films meeting target specifications on schedule • Perform routine laboratory maintenance: chamber cleaning, pump oil changes, source replacements, substrate fixture reconditioning, and general lab upkeep • Manage consumables inventory (targets, crucibles, substrates, gases) and coordinate reorders to prevent supply interruptions • Maintain lab cleanliness, organization, and chemical inventory records; support hazardous waste collection and disposal • Troubleshoot equipment issues (leak detection, pressure anomalies, source failures) and coordinate vendor service when needed

Required Qualifications • B.S. or M.S. in Materials Science, Chemical Engineering, Physics, Chemistry, or related field • 2+ years of experience in vacuum thin-film deposition (academic or industry) • Hands-on experience operating vacuum systems (thermal evaporators, sputter coaters, or similar) • Basic understanding of thin-film growth physics (nucleation, crystal orientation, stress) • Familiarity with standard thin-film characterization techniques (profilometry, XRD, SEM, optical spectroscopy) • Demonstrated ability to work safely with vacuum equipment, compressed gases, and laboratory chemicals • Strong documentation habits and attention to experimental detail  

Preferred Qualifications • M.S. with thesis work involving vacuum deposition of photovoltaic or optoelectronic materials • Experience with multi-source co-evaporation or reactive sputtering • Familiarity with perovskite, CIGS, CdTe, or organic semiconductor materials • Experience with QCM-based deposition rate monitoring • Knowledge of DOE methodology and statistical analysis tools (JMP, Minitab, or Python/R) • Experience in a cleanroom or controlled-environment laboratory setting • Coursework or research in photovoltaic device physics

  Base Pay Range for: WA applicants is $99,201.00 - $138,880.35 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

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