IT Support Engineer

Swift Solar is an American solar technology and manufacturing company focused on developing and commercializing next-generation perovskite-silicon tandem solar cells. The company combines proven silicon heterojunction (HJT) cell technology with perovskite-silicon tandem technology, which can produce up to 1.5 times the power output of conventional silicon solar panels. Swift Solar holds foundational intellectual property in perovskite photovoltaics and is building toward gigawatt-scale domestic manufacturing in the United States. Swift Solar's mission is rooted in advancing clean energy by unlocking the full potential of solar power through superior cell efficiency, stability equivalent to a 30-year lifetime, and scalable manufacturing processes. The company targets a broad range of markets including data centers, space and defense applications, utility-scale solar, commercial and industrial facilities, and residential and community solar installations. By producing high-performance solar technology domestically, Swift Solar aims to strengthen the American clean energy supply chain and reduce land and cost requirements for solar deployment. Founded by scientific pioneers from MIT, Stanford, Oxford, and the National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL), Swift Solar's leadership team also includes manufacturing executives with experience at companies such as Meyer Burger, First Solar, and Bloom Energy. The company's co-founders have collectively contributed to more than 250 patents and 300 academic papers with over 200,000 citations, representing some of the deepest technical expertise in perovskite photovoltaics in the world. Swift Solar has received backing from a range of notable investors and is positioned as a leading contender in the next generation of American solar manufacturing.

About the company

At Swift Solar, our mission is to unlock the full potential of solar energy. We believe solar can provide affordable, reliable, resilient, clean energy to virtually anyone, anywhere. But while today’s solar technology is good, it’s not good enough.

Swift Solar’s breakthrough perovskite-silicon tandem technology will drive solar power to commanding new heights. Our tandem cells stack a perovskite layer on top of a heterojunction (HJT) silicon cell, delivering dramatically higher efficiency than traditional silicon alone. In 2026, we acquired Meyer Burger’s HJT intellectual property and manufacturing assets, giving us the world’s most extensive HJT patent portfolio and a clear path to gigawatt-scale domestic production.

This vertically integrated approach means we can design, manufacture, and scale next-generation solar solutions entirely in the United States—from silicon foundations to perovskite innovations. Our technology enables applications ranging from space solar to utility-scale power generation, creating American-made solutions for a world facing growing energy challenges.

Swift Solar is on a journey to bring revolutionary clean-energy technology to market. We’re in it for the long haul, with support from world-class investors. Join our extraordinary team building the cutting-edge solar technology that will power the future.

 

A day in the life

As Swift’s IT Support Engineer, you’ll own day-to-day IT operations end-to-end, taking Swift’s IT from “whoever’s free fixes it” to a real, owned function the whole team can rely on. You’ll be the person who keeps everyone’s computers, software, accounts, and connectivity working at multiple sites, and who keeps the office and lab network stable and well-covered. As an early and likely sole IT hire, you won’t just keep the lights on—you’ll build the systems, runbooks, and standards that let IT scale with the company.

On a typical day, you might troubleshoot a connectivity issue in the lab, set up a new hire’s laptop and accounts, enroll devices in MDM, enforce MFA across a core system, and close out a stubborn Wi-Fi dead zone. You might also rack and cable new gear, walk over to look at an instrument PC, write a runbook from a ticket you just resolved, run an access review, or negotiate with a vendor or ISP. You may also coordinate with our third-party consultants and operations team to qualify for government data security certifications. We expect you to use AI as a force multiplier—drafting knowledge-base articles, triaging common tickets, and scripting routine automation so you can reserve your hours for the hands-on, relational, and judgment-heavy work that matters most.

This role touches every part of the company, from R&D and engineering to operations. As an early hire, you’ll help define how IT works at Swift and build the foundation it grows on, which will naturally create opportunities to expand your own skills and responsibilities. We encourage you to take full advantage of these opportunities.

You might be a good fit if you... 

• Troubleshoot methodically across hardware, OS, software, and network—isolating root cause, resolving quickly, and preventing the same problem from coming back.
• Are confident with networking fundamentals—TCP/IP, DNS, DHCP, VLANs, Wi-Fi, VPN, and firewalls—and can read and fix a network problem, not just restart it.
• Can run endpoint and identity management—MDM, imaging, and identity/SSO administration—to keep the fleet consistent, current, and secure.
• Are calm, clear, and empathetic with non-technical colleagues, turning frustrating moments into trust.
• Treat access, patching, and least privilege as defaults, and spot risk in everyday requests.
• Can triage a noisy queue, make the right call on what’s urgent, and follow through without supervision.
• Write things down once so they don’t have to be solved twice, building a process that scales past one person.

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

• Experience as the first or sole IT hire, standing up tooling and process from scratch.
• Exposure to lab, manufacturing, or other operational-technology (OT) environments and instrument PCs.
• Familiarity with security baselines, endpoint security tooling, and frameworks like SOC 2 or CIS controls.
• Light scripting (Bash, PowerShell, or Python) to automate routine tasks.
• Relevant certifications (e.g., CompTIA A+/Network+/Security+, or vendor networking certs).
• Genuine enthusiasm for the breadth of building IT at a hardware startup—and an understanding of why solving climate change matters.

The logistics

• Compensation: Competitive package including salary, equity, and benefits
• Expected Pay Range: $80K - $110K per year
• The actual offer, reflecting total compensation and benefits, will be determined by factors such as relevant experience, skills, and other qualifications 
• Ideal start date: ASAP - target August 2026
• Job type: Full-time
• 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 [email protected] 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.