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Glass Scientist

Mesa, Arizona, United States

Do you want to be on the cutting edge of the clean energy and climate tech industry? Are you excited about the intersection of renewable energy and the circular economy? We are too. And that’s why we launched SOLARCYCLE, an advanced technology-based recycling company.  

The solar industry needs a global end-of-life partner to restore, renew, and ultimately recycle yesterday’s solar panels for tomorrow’s clean energy projects. SOLARCYCLE aims to be the partner of choice for solar asset owners looking for a responsible solution to their end-of-life system needs. And we need you to direct our field operations to help us become a leader in this new burgeoning sector in the renewable energy industry. 

About the Role: 

SOLARCYCLE specializes in recycling crystalline silicon solar panels, and we are committed to maximizing the efficiency and sustainability of our processes. We are seeking a highly skilled and experienced Glass Scientist to join our dynamic team. The Glass Scientist will play a pivotal role in developing and refining glass formulations, leading experimental design, and driving innovation in glass-making materials. This role is critical to ensuring that our glass products meet customer specifications and support our mission of advancing solar energy and the circular economy.  

Key Responsibilities: 

  • Lead Glass Formulation Development: 
    • Spearhead the formulation and refinement of glass products that meet and exceed customer specifications. 
    • Ensure consistent quality and performance through rigorous testing and optimization of glass compositions. 
  • Experimental Design and Analysis: 
    • Design and execute experiments to study glass properties, processing techniques, and material interactions. 
    • Develop empirical models to predict glass behavior under various conditions, leveraging statistical tools such as Python and R. 
  • Material Innovation and Procurement Support: 
    • Identify and evaluate novel glass-making materials, including both virgin and recycled options. 
    • Collaborate with procurement teams to secure high-quality materials that meet both technical and economic requirements. 
  • Process Control and Product Performance: 
    • Develop property vs. chemistry relationships that enhance process control and product performance. 
    • Implement these relationships into manufacturing processes to ensure product reliability and efficiency. 
  • Collaborative Project Management: 
    • Work closely with cross-functional teams, including R&D, procurement, and operations, to ideate, initiate, and execute glass-related projects. 
    • Ensure projects align with SOLARCYCLE’s strategic goals and deliver measurable business impact. 
  • Data Analysis and Business Insight: 
    • Utilize advanced statistical tools to analyze experimental data and draw meaningful conclusions. 
    • Clearly articulate the business implications of findings to stakeholders across the organization. 
  • Operational Support and Cost Reduction: 
    • Provide technical expertise in glass processing to support plant operations and troubleshoot issues. 
    • Lead initiatives focused on reducing production costs while maintaining or enhancing product quality. 
  • Intellectual Property Management: 
    • Proactively protect SOLARCYCLE’s intellectual property by identifying potential IP risks and opportunities. 
    • Collaborate with legal teams to ensure innovations are properly documented and patented. 
  • Industry Education and Trend Analysis: 
    • Stay current with the latest trends in glass science, particularly those relevant to solar energy and the circular economy. 
    • Educate the organization on new developments and their potential impact on SOLARCYCLE’s strategy and products. 

Qualifications: 

  • Ph.D. or Master’s degree in Materials Science, Glass Science, Chemistry, or a related field. 
  • Minimum of 3 years of experience in glass formulation, materials science, or a related role within the industry. 
  • Strong background in experimental design, statistical analysis, and data modeling, with proficiency in Python and R. 
  • Demonstrated ability to lead cross-functional teams and manage complex projects. 
  • Excellent communication skills, with the ability to translate complex technical information into actionable business insights. 
  • Experience with intellectual property management and protection is highly desirable. 
  • Knowledge of the solar energy industry and principles of the circular economy is a plus. 

#LI-Onsite

You don’t meet every single requirement? Studies have shown that people are less likely to apply to jobs unless they meet every single qualification. If you think this role is for you but your past experience doesn’t align perfectly with every qualification in the job description, we encourage you to apply anyways. You may be just the right person for this role.

You will be working alongside a highly successful team who deliver amazing innovative work in the solar PV industry! The solar industry needs a global end-of-life partner to restore, renew and ultimately recycle yesterday’s solar panels for tomorrow’s clean energy projects. SOLARCYCLE aims to be the partner of choice for solar asset owners looking for a responsible solution to their end-of-life system needs.

Solar power is one of the most powerful tools humanity has in our fight against climate change. But for solar to truly scale to its full potential, we need to create renewable supply chains and a vibrant secondary market for upcycled panels and recycled materials. Since its launch in 2022, SOLARCYCLE has assembled a world-class management team with experience scaling companies and organizations such as Amazon, Nextracker, Sierra Club, Solaria, and SunPower. The company has secured high-volume contracts with industry leaders such as AES, EDF Renewables North America, EDP Renewables North America, Greenbacker, Ørsted, Qcells, Silfab, Silicon Ranch, and Sunrun. This is the next frontier - ensuring a cleaner, more sustainable and domestic supply of the critical minerals needed for the next wave of solar. We exist to make clean energy massively scalable and even more sustainable by radically advancing recycling technology and infrastructure for the solar industry. If this resonates with you, we really want to meet you.

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