Role Description
Enkara is seeking a hands-on, execution-driven Chief Technology Officer (CTO) to lead the company’s technical direction and drive the development of innovative solar and optical materials. The CTO will translate advanced semiconductor and optical concepts into commercially viable, manufacturable technologies, guiding research and development from concept through scale-up. Partnering closely with the Chief Scientist, who provides world-class scientific insight, and working alongside the VP of Technology, the CTO will ensure that Enkara’s research and development efforts deliver stable, high‑performance materials ready for commercialization.
Key Responsibilities
- Lead Enkara’s technical direction incorporating guidance from Enkara’s Chief Scientist and aligning it with the company’s commercial needs.
- Execute and manage Enkara’s research and development priorities, including laboratory operations, including experimental planning, testing, characterization, and validation.
- Coordinate closely with the VP of Technology to ensure research and development output aligns with product engineering and commercialization requirements.
- Define and execute the technical development roadmap tied to Enkara’s transparent solar material strategy and BIPV market demands.
- Drive reduction‑to‑practice of scientific concepts into stable, reproducible materials and device architectures.
- Collaborate with The Conti Group, TandemLaunch, and national lab partners to leverage research infrastructure and accelerate development.
- Maintain rigorous documentation, data quality, and experimental reproducibility across all research and development teams.
- Support IP creation by identifying inventions emerging from ongoing research and collaborating with legal teams on patent filings.
- Provide technical insights for investor updates, partnerships, and cross‑functional strategy discussions.
- Build and mentor a high‑performance research and development organization focused on practical innovation, disciplined execution, and scientific excellence.
Qualifications and Experience
- An advanced degree (PhD or MS) in Materials Science, Physics, Optics, Electrical Engineering, or Nanotechnology.
- 10+ years of experience in semiconductor materials, thin‑film photovoltaics, anti‑reflective or advanced optical coatings, or transparent conductive oxides.
- 5+ years managing research and development teams, with a proven ability to lead high‑performance organizations and deliver technical milestones.
- Experience with Group II–IV semiconductors and fabrication techniques such as photolithography, sputter deposition, thermal evaporation, CSS, VTD, plasma processing, and ultra‑high‑vacuum systems.
Position Detail
- This position is a full-time, in-person position located in Golden, CO, USA.
- This position may include intermittent travel to other laboratories, vendors, factories, partners, and customers.
- This position includes work at the National Lab of the Rockies, which will require passing a U.S. Government background check.
- This position includes paid time off, health benefits, and a 401(k).
- Candidates must be legally authorized to work in the United States and meet all requirements related to national laboratory site access.
- Candidates must be capable of working in a laboratory environment, handling hazardous materials, and be comfortable wearing a respirator.
Company Description
Enkara is a solar technology company developing next‑generation materials and nano‑engineered anti‑reflective coatings that turn windows into solar panels. Enkara combines proven cadmium telluride photovoltaic science with advanced transparent conductors to deliver long‑term stability and wide‑angle performance. Backed by The Conti Group, TandemLaunch, and leading U.S. national labs, Enkara’s patented thin‑film processes overcome decades of stagnation in solar innovation, enabling seamless integration into curtain walls and facades and redefining how buildings generate power.