Full-Time
R&D Scientist
Swift Solar
51-200 employees
Manufactures lightweight perovskite solar panels
Compensation Overview
$110k - $160k/yr
San Carlos, CA, USA
In Person
 Process Engineering |
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- Hold a Ph.D. in chemistry, materials science, physics, or a related field with a focus on perovskite materials research
- Have a proven track record of independently identifying and solving complex scientific research questions aimed at improving semiconductor thin films and device performance
- Bring 2+ years of expert knowledge in thin-film deposition and characterization aiming at improved device understanding
- Are comfortable with ambiguity, and excited to independently drive open-ended R&D projects that might go beyond your immediate area of expertise
- Are proactive, hard-working, and motivated to make an impact on climate change
- Drive development of processes, metrology, and materials for key thin film layers in the solar cell stack
- Independently identify shortcomings within the existing device stack and its constituent layers, followed by the independent development of strategies to overcome these limitations
- Perform systematic and statistically backed experiments to develop and optimize scalable deposition materials and processes in collaboration with other engineers/scientists and technicians at Swift Solar
- Develop and use advanced metrology techniques to quantify the resulting materials properties
- Own continued maintenance, upkeep, and training of critical deposition and characterization processes
- Contribute to developing advanced solar cell stacks for efficiency, long-term stability, and scalability to gigawatt-level manufacturing, and develop unit process specifications for thin film materials and processes to reach high reproducibility
- Input crucial to translation to high-volume manufacturing
- Possibly work with chemical suppliers to source and qualify materials for manufacturing, and design new materials to achieve higher performance, stability, or scalability
- As an early hire, help craft Swift Solar’s culture and interact with every part of the company, providing opportunities to grow
- A demonstrated ability to improve perovskite thin films and devices to enhance performance and durability, grounded in strong scientific insight
- Hands-on experience in evaluation, characterizing, simulating, and improving opto-electronic device properties
- A deep understanding of the working principle of single-junction and multi-junction solar cells with a strong focus on device chemistry and/or physics
- 2+ years of experience in applied semiconductor research or an industrial R&D environment
- Experience in statistical process control, FMEA, and Lean Six Sigma methods
Swift Solar makes lightweight, high-efficiency solar panels using advanced perovskite materials. These panels convert sunlight into electricity and are designed to be integrated into various applications, including automotive, aerospace, and building projects. The products work by leveraging perovskite solar cells to achieve a better balance of weight and efficiency, enabling custom panels that fit specific customer needs. The company differentiates itself by offering tailored, industry-ready solar solutions that are lighter and potentially less costly than traditional panels, with a focus on seamless integration into complex systems. Its goal is to enable zero-emission products powered by solar energy, helping customers reduce carbon footprints and drive a cleaner, more sustainable future.
Company Size
51-200
Company Stage
Series A
Total Funding
$44.2M
Headquarters
San Carlos, California
Founded
2017
Simplify's Take
What believers are saying
- AI data center demand surge drives urgent need for high-density power in constrained spaces.
- Plenitude utility-scale pilot validates commercial viability with major developer backing from Eni.
- US domestic manufacturing addresses supply chain security concerns amid Asian market concentration.
What critics are saying
- Perovskite degradation under combined heat-light exposure remains unresolved despite 3,000-hour lab claims.
- Oxford PV and Chinese LONGi scale 28-30% tandems commercially, eroding Swift's first-mover advantage.
- Meyer Burger integration delays and $60M burn rate threaten runway before revenue generation.
What makes Swift Solar unique
- Perovskite-silicon tandem cells achieve 28-30% efficiency, 40% more power per footprint than silicon.
- Acquired Meyer Burger HJT IP portfolio provides Western Hemisphere freedom-to-operate and vertical integration.
- DOE-backed 2T singulated tandem structure mitigates reverse-bias degradation better than monolithic 4T designs.
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Growth & Insights and Company News
6 month growth
↓ -5%1 year growth
↓ -1%2 year growth
↓ -3%Swift Solar, a California-based company, has acquired production facilities and intellectual property from insolvent solar manufacturer Meyer Burger, raising hopes for a return of solar cell production to Saxony and Saxony-Anhalt. The acquisition brings together US-based research with European expertise in manufacturing high-efficiency silicon solar cells. Meyer Burger, considered the last major European solar manufacturer, ceased operations at its German sites in Hohenstein-Ernstthal and Bitterfeld last autumn, resulting in approximately 600 job losses in Germany and 300 in the US. Swift Solar stated it aims to build a Western production base for new solar technology, addressing what it calls a critical bottleneck in the global solar supply chain currently dominated by Asian manufacturers. The company has not yet disclosed specific plans for the former Meyer Burger sites.
Swift Solar acquires Meyer Burger assets to scale U.S. HJT and perovskite production. Solar manufacturer Swift Solar has acquired the heterojunction technology (HJT) intellectual property and manufacturing assets of Meyer Burger to establish domestic cell production. Image: Meyer Burger California-based Swift Solar announced the acquisition of core manufacturing assets and the heterojunction (HJT) patent portfolio from Swiss firm Meyer Burger. The deal includes the transfer of Meyer Burger's specialized engineering team and executive leadership to Swift Solar as the company transitions toward gigawatt-scale production in the United States. The acquisition provides Swift Solar with a vertically integrated path for silicon-perovskite tandem cells. HJT is a high-efficiency silicon cell architecture that serves as the base layer for tandem modules. By stacking perovskite onto an HJT bottom cell, Swift Solar aims to surpass the theoretical efficiency limits of conventional silicon, which currently plateau near 30%. As part of the transaction, key members of Meyer Burger's leadership will join Swift Solar. Gunter Erfurt, former CEO of Meyer Burger, and Marcel Koenig, former global head of R&D, will lead the integration of the HJT technology. The move secures the most extensive HJT intellectual property portfolio in the Western Hemisphere for Swift Solar. This "freedom to operate" is a critical requirement for scaling manufacturing without the litigation risks that have historically impacted investment in the thin-film and high-efficiency solar sectors. The demand for high-density power is increasing, driven largely by the expansion of AI data centers and broader grid electrification. Swift Solar noted that the acquisition addresses the current bottleneck in the U.S. supply chain: domestic cell manufacturing. While the U.S. has seen an influx of module assembly plants, solar cell production remains concentrated in Asia. HJT is unique among silicon platforms because its primary manufacturing equipment can be sourced and built outside of China, aligning with current U.S. policy goals regarding domestic content and supply chain security. Roadmap to commercialization Swift Solar, which has raised over $60 million from investors and government agencies including the DOE and DOD, plans a phased approach to deployment: * HJT scale-up: Establish a gigawatt-scale HJT cell and module factory in the U.S. to meet immediate demand for domestic silicon cells. * Tandem integration: Incorporate Swift's proprietary perovskite technology into the established HJT lines to produce two-terminal tandem cells. * Efficiency gains: Leverage the tandem structure to provide up to 40% more power from the same physical footprint compared to standard 20% to 24% efficient modules. "We are combining German silicon manufacturing expertise with American perovskite technology leadership," said Joel Jean, chief executive officer of Swift Solar. The company stated that its tandem products have demonstrated durability over 3,000 hours of high-temperature operation, addressing long-standing industry concerns regarding the field-life of perovskite materials. This content is protected by copyright and may not be reused. If you want to cooperate with us and would like to reuse some of our content, please contact: [email protected]. Ryan kennedy. Ryan joined pv magazine in 2021, bringing experience from a top residential solar installer and a U. S. Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked * By submitting this form you agree to pv magazine using your data for the purposes of publishing your comment. Your personal data will only be disclosed or otherwise transmitted to third parties for the purposes of spam filtering or if this is necessary for technical maintenance of the website. Any other transfer to third parties will not take place unless this is justified on the basis of applicable data protection regulations or if pv magazine is legally obliged to do so. You may revoke this consent at any time with effect for the future, in which case your personal data will be deleted immediately. Otherwise, your data will be deleted if pv magazine has processed your request or the purpose of data storage is fulfilled. Further information on data privacy can be found in our Data Protection Policy.
Plenitude tests perovskite-silicon tandem solar modules in utility-scale installation pilot. The Italian renewable energy company said it will validate Swift Solar's 28% efficiency perovskite-silicon tandem technology in a utility-scale project. Swift Solar announced a partnership with solar developer Plenitude for utility-scale pilot testing and evaluation of long-term supply arrangements. Plenitude is a company controlled by Italian energy giant Eni, which targets 15 GW of renewable capacity by 2030. Eni Next, the corporate venture capital arm of Eni, is a strategic investor in Swift Solar. The partnership represents a milestone in the commercialization of perovskite technology for utility-scale solar. The work includes pilot testing of Swift Solar's technology at a Plenitude U.S. solar facility. This provides early-stage validation of performance and durability under utility-scale operating conditions. "Major developers don't run pilots unless they see real commercial potential, and this reflects Plenitude's interest in exploring next-generation solar," said Joel Jean, CEO and co-founder of Swift Solar. "We're seeing the same urgency from customers across industries. Everyone wants higher performance and more secure domestic supply chains." Swift Solar's perovskite-silicon tandem technology is expected to achieve module efficiencies of 28% or higher, while conventional solar panels operate at 20% to 24%. This provides up to 40% more power from the same footprint, said the company. The efficiency advantage becomes valuable as electricity demand surges from AI data centers, said Swift Solar. The technology enables power generation from limited land while reducing installation costs and improving project economics. Swift Solar's proprietary perovskite tandem technology is backed by exclusive IP from MIT, Stanford, and NREL. The company has over 40 patents and over $60 million in funding from VCs, investors, and government agencies, including the U.S. Department of Energy and U.S. Department of Defense. This content is protected by copyright and may not be reused. If you want to cooperate with us and would like to reuse some of our content, please contact: [email protected]. Ryan kennedy. Ryan joined pv magazine in 2021, bringing experience from a top residential solar installer and a U. S.
In fact, The U.S. Department of Energy selected Swift Solar for a $7 million USD award to accelerate development of their perovskite-silicon tandem technology.
Swift Solar was recently named one of TIME's Top GreenTech Companies in America.