Company Introduction:
GAF Energyis transforming the solar and roofing industries to generate energy from every roof. A Standard Industriescompany, GAF Energy works with North America’s largest roofing and waterproofing manufacturer, GAF, to offer homeowners elegant, roof-integrated solar options through a national network of roofing partners. The company’s leading product, Timberline Solar™, incorporates the world’s first nailable solar shingle to create an attractive, durable, and reliable solar roof. GAF Energy’s products have received numerous awards and honors, including the Fast Company2022 World Changing Ideas Award, the CES Best of Innovation Award, named The Best Solar Shingleby CNET, and an NAHB Best of IBS Award. GAF Energy develops and assembles its products in the United States at its facilities in California and Texas.
Job Summary:
This Summer 2025 Solar Cell & Interconnection Internship is a paidintern experience that will be based in our San Jose lab. This is a unique opportunity to work closely with the GAF Energy R&D team who lead the research, development and innovation of next generation solar roofing. Come learn from and work with a great team of passionate engineers. We are looking for an intern who is highly motivated, naturally curious, and has a passion for solar energy, to join us for a 10-14 week internship opportunity where they will have the chance to learn about how the design, process, material choice all affect reliability of products through their lifetime through testing.
What part will you play?
As a Solar Cell & Interconnection Intern at GAF Energy, you will play a critical role in the testing and implementation of next-generation solar cells into building-integrated solar products. You will be involved in various aspects of research, development and manufacturing through design qualification, reliability testing, and failure analysis. This position offers a unique opportunity to contribute to the growth of solar energy and innovative solar energy products while working in a collaborative and innovative environment.
What will you be doing?
Design Qualification & Verification:
Qualify solar cell & solar cell interconnection properties for reliability and performance.
Design and execute experiments, drive detailed characterization, analyze data, summarize and report key findings to cross-functional teams.
Recommend and validate solar cell & interconnection design decisions for next-generation module products.
Recommend and validate process control specs in high-volume manufacturing to ensure reliability and performance.
Reliability Testing:
Design and execute reliability test plans.
Analyze test results, identify system & process weaknesses, and implement improvements to enhance overall product reliability.
Collaborate with cross-functional RnD teams to include the effects of other key system components.
Failure Analysis:
Conduct in-depth failure analysis on solar cells under accelerated degradation testing to identify root causes and implement corrective actions.
Develop strategies to improve product reliability and performance based on failure analysis findings.
What do we require from you?
Enrollment in a graduate program or bachelor’s program (junior or beyond) in electrical, materials, mechanical engineering, physics, or a similar technical field.
Strong preference for experience with solar cell/module characterization (I-V, PL, EL, EQE).
Understanding of experimental design, data collection, and statistical data analysis.
Candidate must be able to work both as an individual contributor through hands-on work in the lab, as well as a collaborative team member with other engineers and technicians.
Excellent problem-solving skills and careful experimental execution. Research experience preferred.
Strong technical communications skills in written, spoken, and visualization forms.
Familiarity with metrology tools and techniques.
Strong interpersonal communication. Ability and willingness to work in a cross-cultural, inclusive, and diverse environment.
High motivation to contribute to solar energy innovation and solar product development.
Benefits:
1. We offer a wide range of health insurance options that include medical, dental, and vision for you and your family. 2. Our Family-Building benefits support the many different journeys to fertility and parenthood. 3. Our robust 401K plan includes an employer match contribution with your pre-tax and/or Roth contributions. 4. Other exciting programs and perks are available to help employees achieve work-life balance, including (but not limited to) a wellness program, free financial coaching, a referral program, and product rebates when purchased for an employee’s primary residence. 5. Professional growth and development are very important to us! We offer internal training programs and courses, as well as a generous tuition reimbursement program. 6. We put diversity and inclusion into action with our Employee Resource Groups, which unite employees based on common perspectives, identities, demographic factors, or out of a desire to be an ally.We believe our employees are our greatest resource. We offer competitive salary, benefits, 401k, and vacation packages for all full time permanent positions. We are proud to be an equal opportunity workplace and GAF, Standard Logistics, SGI, and Siplast are proud to be affirmative action employers. We are committed to equal employment opportunity regardless of race, color, ancestry, religion, sex, national origin, sexual orientation, age, citizenship, marital status, disability, gender identity, or Veteran status. If you have a disability or special need that requires accommodation, please let us know.
