Sr Director, Space PV Systems R&D

Description

Hanwha Qcells is establishing its first U.S.

-based Space Photovoltaic Systems R&D organization, co-located with Georgia Tech Research Institute in Atlanta. The Senior Director of Space PV Systems R&D will be the founding leader and organizational authority for this team — owning both the technical roadmap and the people, budget, and partnerships needed to execute it. This person will also be an instrumental part of the Qcells Global Technology Group leadership team.

The team's mandate is to design next generation PV systems for space applications: taking Qcells' world-class perovskite-silicon tandem cells and solving key engineering challenges to enable effective space-based power solutions. The Director will hire and develop a team of experts and establish laboratory and cleanroom infrastructure; and serve as Qcells' primary technical and strategic voice in the United States with expected collaborators in the commercial arena as well as NASA, DOE and DOD program offices, and Georgia Tech.

The ideal candidate brings Director-level experience managing technical organizations in aerospace or high-reliability hardware environments, with hands-on R&D depth spanning both electrical and mechanical domains. Space hardware experience is strongly preferred; cross-disciplinary electrical and mechanical R&D leadership is required.

• Build and lead the U.S.
  
  - based Space PV Systems R&D organization — recruiting, developing, and retaining a team of Principal and Staff-level R&D engineers — and establish critical partnerships and necessary R&D facilities.
• Own the team's annual operating budget, capital equipment plan, and headcount plan; report directly to Qcells’ Chief Technology Officer.
• Represent the U.S. team within the global Qcells Space Solar Development organization; aligning U.S. R&D priorities with German and Korea-based cell development and Hanwha Systems engineering teams.

• Set and own the system-level architecture for Qcells PV modules — cell interconnection strategy, substrate selection, power hookup design, and spacecraft interface standards — with final technical approval authority across electrical and mechanical design decisions.
• Drive the technology development path from bench prototype to qualification-representative hardware, defining key milestones and go/no-go criteria; serve as executive technical lead for SSTEF-1 (lunar demonstration with GTRI/AEGIS Aerospace) and follow-on flight programs.
• Maintain technical awareness of competitive developments in space PV technology; provide technology leadership input to Qcells' global space solar product strategy
• Build the Georgia Tech and GTRI research collaboration; leverage university access to radiation test facilities, materials characterization resources, and graduate student talent
• Ensure radiation research findings are systematically translated into design and material selection guidance for the module engineering team

• Identify and pursue U.S. government R&D funding — NASA, DOD (AFRL, DARPA, MDA), DOE, and federal university partnerships — and lead all major competitive proposals from the U.S. team.
• Manage strategic relationships with NASA Glenn Research Center, NASA Marshall Space Flight Center, AFRL Space Vehicles Directorate, National Lab of the Rockies, and key industrial and university partners

• M.S. or Ph.D. in electrical engineering, materials science, mechanical engineering, aerospace engineering, or a closely related field
• Due to expected participation in programming sponsored by the U.S. government, this position is reserved for U.S. citizens or lawful permanent residents.
• 10+…