Solar Engineer, In-Orbit WPT Demo Mission (m/f/d)

Focus: You know that every ambitious space mission eventually comes down to "how much power do we really have?" and you're the person who enjoys making sure the answer is both accurate and impressive. As Solar Engineer, you'll own the solar cell and array side of TerraSpark's first space-to-Earth wireless power beaming demo. You'll be the in-house solar expert, responsible for the lightweight power generation system, how it bolts into the WPT payload and host spacecraft, and how it scales into future SBSP concepts.

What you'll do:

• Own the solar power generation concept for the in-orbit demo payload: pick the cells, size the array, and keep the power budget honest when everyone else is getting optimistic.
• Design and analyse lightweight, high-specific-power panels or array modules, and define how they mount, conduct heat, and plug into an integrated WPT payload and its slightly alarmed host spacecraft.
• Prototype and iterate solar modules and panel concepts for integration with the WPT payload, working hands-on with hardware to see which ideas survive contact with reality.
• Run technology development on advanced solar cells and module concepts with external partners, and help decide which shiny PV ideas deserve budget and which belong in slides.
• Plan and support environmental and performance tests for panels/modules, then use the results and degradation models to refine designs and gently remind people that radiation is not a suggestion.
• Provide clear solar/array inputs to system-level documents and reviews, including specs and interfaces, and act as the go-to person for "anything solar" with internal teams and suppliers.
• Support analysis of in-orbit array performance for the demo mission and channel the lessons into the next generation of SBSP designs, so each set of panels is slightly less surprised than the last.

What you bring:

• MSc or BSc in a relevant engineering or physics discipline, with several years of experience in space solar cell and array design and development.
• A proven track record on advanced lightweight solar arrays or high-specific-power panel concepts, ideally including at least one project that actually flew rather than just looked heroic in CAD.
• Strong understanding of space solar cell and array technologies, with experience in silicon and/or perovskite as a clear asset, plus familiarity with radiation and degradation effects and how they ruin optimistic plots.
• Experience on solar array projects where low-cost and low-mass were the main design drivers, and at least a passing respect for manufacturability and supply-chain reality.
• Extensive hands-on experience with panel/module hardware, and a genuine enjoyment of build-test-iterate workflows and rapid prototyping in a hardware-rich environment.
• Experience with the mechanical and thermal realities of solar panels and the ability to work constructively with structures and thermal engineers rather than just sending them harder requirements.
• Comfort with the electrical side of arrays (stringing, limits, interfaces to power conditioning), plus a basic grasp of SBSP concepts and how your array choices affect the grand plan, and the ability to work smoothly with systems, WPT, RF electronics, thermal, and structures colleagues.