Senior Equipment Engineer | Night Shift

About the company

At Swift Solar, our mission is to unlock the full potential of solar energy. We believe that solar energy has vast untapped potential to power our lives, fuel economies, and strengthen supply chains, while protecting planetary health in the face of global climate change. The reality is that today's solar technology is good, but not good enough. 

Swift Solar is making solar better with its breakthrough tandem technology that harnesses the power of perovskite materials to create solar solutions that are not only more efficient than traditional technology but also more versatile, enabling applications ranging from space solar to utility-scale power generation. 

Swift Solar is a mission-focused startup supported by the US government and backed by world-class investors. It’s a long journey to bring a new clean energy technology to market, and we’re in it for the long haul, together. Join our extraordinary team building the cutting-edge solar technology that will shape the future of the global solar industry. 

A night in the life

As Senior Equipment Engineer on the night shift, your mission is to keep Swift's laboratory operations running smoothly after hours — providing hands-on sustaining and service support for our deposition tools and process equipment, and making sure the morning team walks into a lab that's ready to go.

On a typical night, you might start by checking SPC dashboards and deposition parameters, flagging anything that looks off to the relevant process or hardware owners. When a tool drifts out of spec, you're the one making the call — continue running, pause, or shut down — and then leading the effort to diagnose and fix the issue, whether it's vacuum instability, plasma variation, or a deposition uniformity problem. You'll restart vacuum systems and tools, review thin-film metrology results and adjust process parameters, and dig into tool logs and PLC data alongside the controls engineer. Throughout the shift, you'll coach and guide process technicians through real-time troubleshooting, helping them build confidence under pressure.

Beyond the tools themselves, you'll maintain facility equipment like compressors, gloveboxes, and chilled water systems, support spare-part tracking and consumables forecasting, and recommend improvements to operations. You'll be one of the go-to people for any safety questions or concerns that arise during the night. This is a role where strong hardware instincts, calm judgment, and the ability to mentor others all come together — and as an early member of the night shift team, you'll have a real hand in shaping how Swift operates around the clock.

You might be a good fit if you... 

• Have 5+ years of sustaining engineering experience with vacuum deposition tools in semiconductor or related industries
• Are versatile enough to troubleshoot and repair both mechanical and electrical systems (high and low voltage)
• Have a fundamental understanding of vacuum chamber pumping — including mechanical, turbo, and cryogenic pumps — and are familiar with vacuum gauges, valves, and related components
• Are comfortable reviewing thin-film measurements used in process control, applying changes to bring deposition processes back in spec, and have familiarity with process controls and film analysis
• Have general EHS/safety knowledge and can identify and help resolve safety concerns related to equipment and materials
• Are an organized, strong communicator who can clearly hand off information between shifts
• Have experience working with facilities engineering firms and facilities maintenance

A very strong candidate might bring one or more of the following...

• Experience operating thin-film vacuum systems
• Hands-on troubleshooting of inline deposition equipment
• Working knowledge of sputtering, evaporation, and ALD thin-film processes
• Familiarity with analytical instruments used in the photovoltaic industry
• Experience in a startup environment
• Knowledge of EHS standards and codes
• Experience supervising or leading technicians
• Experience in high-mix or pilot manufacturing

The logistics

• Compensation: Competitive package including salary, equity, and benefits
• Expected Pay Range: $125,000 - $165,000 per year + 15% shift differential
• The actual offer, reflecting total compensation and benefits, will be determined by factors such as relevant experience, skills, and other qualifications 
• Ideal start date: April – May 2026
• Job type: Full-time, 10pm-6:30am
• Location: San Carlos, CA (Swift Solar HQ)

What you’ll love about Swift

• Work with purpose: Join our mission to unlock the full potential of solar energy and make a global impact. 
• Lead with innovation: Be part of an extraordinary team building cutting-edge solar technology - growth mindset; culture
• Thrive with benefits: Have 100% of your monthly premiums for HMO / PPO group healthcare plan options and 75% of your dental and vision insurance premiums covered by us. Employees also benefit from 401(k) matching, clean commuter benefits, and meaningful equity. 
• Invest in your career: You’ll grow your skills, your network, and your perspective at Swift. We’ll support you in attending conferences and taking online courses, as long as you share your new insights with the team.

We recognize that candidates from underrepresented backgrounds often hesitate to apply if they don’t meet all the criteria. If you’re excited about this role and believe you can contribute to our team, we encourage you to apply—even if you don’t meet every qualification listed. We're eager to meet people from all backgrounds, and your unique skills and experiences could be exactly what we need.

If you believe in our mission, but this isn’t the right job for you, please check out other career opportunities on our website and email us at careers@swiftsolar.com with any questions. And if you have a friend who would be a perfect fit, send them this link. Thanks!

Swift is an equal opportunity employer. We value an inclusive work environment and welcome team members of all backgrounds and perspectives.