HTL Materials Synthetic Chemist

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 bring our product to market at scale.

Position Summary

The HTL Materials Synthetic Chemist will report to the Vice President of Quality and drive technical advancement and continuous improvement of our HTL and its successful integration into devices. This role combines hands-on work in the R&D laboratory with cross-functional collaboration (R&D, manufacturing, and external collaborators) to ensure that HTL advances rapidly develop into viable, scalable materials for pilot production and manufacturing. As a chemistry and materials SME, the successful candidate will be expected to rationally design, synthesize, purify and characterize modern HTL materials from milligram to multi gram scale, and for successful materials, lead and collaborate in developing materials specifications, qualification testing of materials, and excursion management.

The ideal candidate has an experience set that includes:

• Retrosynthetic analysis and planning safe multistep synthesis,

• Isolation and purification of small and large molecules (HPLC, LC, TLC, recrystallization, distillation, etc.)

• Chemical analysis including but not limited to HPLC, NMR, CV, UV/Vis/IR spectroscopy, MS

• Negotiating agreements, developing technology with and/or transferring technology to (or from) collaborators including start-ups, medium and large size firms as well as academic groups.

• The synthesis, purification, and analysis of hybrid perovskite thin film photovoltaics-related materials and the integration of those materials into photovoltaic devices.

• Developing patent applications and strategy

• Developing quality systems

• Educational requirements include a PhD in chemistry, materials science or closely related field and 2 years of practical, interdisciplinary experience. Note that an MS with solid experience and a competitive track record will be considered

Key Responsibilities

• End-to-end synthesis and characterization of HTL materials from milligram to multigram scale including purification.

• Create, perform and document materials qualification SOPs.

• Advance the development and tracking of key quality metrics (e.g., yield, reliability indicators, defect rates) for advanced materials and drive corrective and preventive actions related to them.

• Help Identify, evaluate, and select suppliers, vendors and other external partners including due diligence, joint development planning, and quality-related risk assessments for selection and scale-up.

• Support the negotiation of technical statements of work, quality specifications, and acceptance criteria for materials and equipment.

• Collaborate with partner organizations to create, develop, and qualify materials and equipment, resolve quality issues, and improve performance and reliability of them

• Analyze process, characterization, and reliability data to drive root-cause investigations and implement robust corrective actions.

• Establish control strategies and monitoring plans to drive continuous improvement cycles

• Work closely with R&D, process engineering, reliability, and operations teams to embed quality principles into technology roadmaps and development milestones.

Minimum Qualifications

• PhD in Chemistry, Materials Science, or a closely related field. An MS with solid experience and competitive track record will be considered

• Minimum of 2 years of practical, interdisciplinary experience which may include postdoctoral appointments and fellowships

• Strong written and verbal communication skills, with the ability to document methods and present technical results clearly.

• Proven ability to work effectively in cross-functional teams in a fast-paced, innovation-driven environment.

Preferred Qualifications and Experience

• Selecting, negotiating agreements with, and/or developing technology in collaboration with external firms (e.g., start-ups, medium, and large companies)

• Applying structured process-improvement methodologies to advanced or emerging technologies

• Synthesis, processing, and characterization of hybrid perovskite thin-film photovoltaic materials, the integration of those materials into photovoltaic devices and the characterization and testing of such devices

Founded in 2016 by Stanford PhD graduates Colin Bailie and Chris Eberspacher, TandemPV is pioneering the next generation of solar technology through high-efficiency, mechanically stacked perovskite-silicon tandem panels. As an early leader in this technology, we're focused on delivering significantly greater power output than conventional solar panels while reducing costs and advancing American solar manufacturing.

Headquartered in Fremont, California, TandemPV has grown to approximately 65 employees and operates a 65,000-square-foot R&D and manufacturing facility. With more than $100 million in funding raised, we're accelerating the transition from breakthrough research to commercial-scale manufacturing. Our experienced leadership team has successfully executed 10 federal and state-funded projects and continues to advance strategic partnerships, product development, and manufacturing innovation.

Recognized as the 2025 Best Pre-Commercial Venture by the Industry Growth Forum and named among America's Top GreenTech Companies by TIME for three consecutive years, TandemPV is helping shape the future of clean energy.

We're building a team of talented, driven individuals who thrive on solving complex challenges, developing innovative technologies, and turning ambitious ideas into real-world products. At TandemPV, you'll have the opportunity to make a meaningful impact as we scale our technology, expand U.S. manufacturing, and bring next-generation solar solutions to market.

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