Senior Equipment Maintenance Technician

At Tandem PV, we are a team of people who are passionate about building a more sustainable world by bringing cost effective solar panels onto the market. We’re scaling metal-halide perovskite solar technology to make best-in-class mechanically stacked tandem modules.   We have built efficient, durable cells, monolithic multi-cell submodules, and packaged modules with our scalable, low-cost process. Our next focus is expanding our team to work in our new pilot manufacturing facility.

The Senior Equipment Maintenance Engineer will be responsible for PVD and CVD equipment troubleshooting, maintenance and installation, tool modifications and continuous improvement for various types of equipment. The Senior Equipment Technician must have broad-based industrial maintenance experience, encompassing electrical, mechanical, high vacuum, and gas delivery systems. Prior industrial controls experience (i.e., Siemens, Beckhoff, Rockwell) including structured text programming is a major plus. On an as needed basis the Equipment Technician will also be required to help maintain facility-related equipment including air compressors and process chill water systems.

Skills:

The ideal candidate must have in-depth knowledge of mechanical, vacuum, electrical/controls, and measurement systems typical of a thin film production environment (semiconductor process fab, glass coating, thin film solar, magnetic media). Typical systems include physical vapor deposition (sputtering and evaporation), material handling systems (conveyors and robots), laser processing, and a variety of large format testing systems (solar performance testing). The individual must be able to operate independently, using sound judgment based on experience to determine appropriate courses of action in the event of anomalous system operation. Detailed documentation and excellent communication skills are required.

The candidate must be a self-starter who requires minimal supervision and has a “can do, get it fixed” attitude. The candidate must be able to work independently but also within a team of engineers and/or scientists to accomplish aggressive development goals. This position is an extremely hands-on role and requires communication of recommended equipment issues and improvements base on observations.

Experience:

• Over 5 years in thin film equipment service, maintenance, build.

• Experience with PVD/CVD or other film deposition equipment.

• Basic understanding of vacuum science technology.

Education:

• There is no educational minimum.

Required Skills:

• Expert level in troubleshooting vacuum systems inclusive of helium leak checking and residual gas analysis.

• Working knowledge of mechanical, turbo, diffusion, and cryogenic vacuum pumps and systems.

• Proven competency and track record with vacuum equipment mechanical assembly and maintenance.

• Ability to troubleshoot, wire, and layout low voltage (24, 48 VDC) electrical controls and high voltage electrical power distribution (208 3ph,N,G or 480 3ph, G).

• Understanding of motion system including motors and position sensors.

• High level trouble-shooting and problem-solving skills are a must.

Physical Requirements:

• Will sit or stand for long periods of time throughout the day

• Required to lift up to 50 lbs

• Will walk and climb stairs and on equipment

• Will reach over shoulder heights and below waist

• Required to use hands to lift, handle, carry or feel

• May be required to kneel, bend, talk and hear

Successful candidates may be required to wear a respirator at any given time and thus, the ability to wear a respirator is a condition of employment and continued employment (requires little or no facial hair)

Tandem PV uses perovskite & silicon mechanically-stacked tandems to upgrade silicon solar panels, sharply decreasing installed systems costs, significantly increasing module manufacturing profit margins, and opening up vast new solar markets in the US and worldwide. TPV was co-founded by Stanford PhDs Colin Bailie and Chris Eberspacher; is advised by industry experts from Corning, First Solar, Vivint Solar, and Kateeva; has raised more than $50M in Series A funding. We were recently recognized as the Best Pre-Commercial Venture of 2025 by the Industry Growth Forum (IGF)

We are a team of people who are passionate about building a more sustainable world by delivering a new generation of solar panels to the market. We are constantly growing and are always looking for dedicated, hardworking, and empathetic teammates.

Tandem PV is an equal opportunity employer. All qualified applicants are encouraged to apply.