Programme Associate – Technology Futures (solar)

Council on Energy, Environment and Water (CEEW), New Delhi

Programme Associate – Technology Futures

Terms of reference

At CEEW, we are deliberate about what we stand for as an employer. So, if the below description strikes a chord, we would love to hear from you!

At CEEW, we build careers in public policy

•      We offer strong visionary leadership – with emphasis on research and impact at scale

•      We actively promote leadership by initiative

•      We celebrate talent and ambition

•      You will be surrounded by smart people who will challenge you and help you grow

•      You will learn faster than your peers in other organisations

•      Curiosity and irreverence, as well as responsibility, come together at CEEW

•      You will get above-market remuneration

•      We provide a safe space for all

•      At CEEW, your life is your example for others

Designation offered: Programme Associate

Team/ Focus area: Technology Futures

Location: New Delhi, India

Reporting to: Senior Programme Lead

Purpose

CEEW's Technology Futures team works towards mainstreaming appropriate global and indigenous technologies that can deliver energy security and sustainable economic growth at scale. The team's work spans clean energy technology manufacturing, critical minerals, and the evolving geopolitics and governance of clean energy technology collaboration, and has previously informed India's G20 presidency-led work on global renewable energy supply chains.

CEEW seeks to hire a suitable candidate to lead the Technology Futures team's technical research on solar manufacturing, covering the end-to-end value chain — from polysilicon and ingot/wafer production to cell and module manufacturing, and associated bill-of-materials (BOM) components. The candidate in this role will lead technological assessments of manufacturing processes, equipment and materials used across the value chain, while also tracking the policies, regulations, industrial strategies, technology partnerships, and geopolitics that shape solar manufacturing competitiveness across major global markets, including the US, EU, China, Southeast Asia, and India.

The candidate will also evaluate emerging cell and module technologies (such as HJT, BC, and perovskite/tandem cells) and their manufacturing readiness, and guide the technical rigour of the team's research outputs. The role also involves tracking technology partnerships, licensing arrangements, and analysing how manufacturing incentives, trade measures, and geopolitical developments — such as export controls and trade disputes — shape the global solar manufacturing landscape.

The candidate must have a strong technical/engineering background in solar PV manufacturing, along with the ability to engage with the policy, trade, and geopolitical dimensions of the sector. In addition to the duties and responsibilities outlined below, the candidate should be prepared, as and when necessary, to take on additional responsibilities and respond to ongoing events and developments in the sector.

CEEW offers an intellectually challenging and conducive work environment, with a focus on research rigour, innovative thinking, and strategic outreach. We are looking for an enthusiastic and detail-oriented individual who would be excited to take research to action. We recommend that applicants visit the Technology Futures page for more details about our projects.

Job duties and accountabilities

Research and programme assistance

●        Lead technical assessments of manufacturing processes, equipment and materials across the entire solar PV value chain — from polysilicon and ingot/wafer to cell and module manufacturing.

●        Track industry technology roadmaps, such as the International Technology Roadmap for Photovoltaic (ITRPV), to anticipate shifts in dominant cell architectures and manufacturing processes. Based on this — evaluate emerging and next-generation solar cell and module technologies, such as HJT, BC, and perovskite/tandem cells, and assess their manufacturing readiness levels (MRLs), which includes timelines to commercial-scale manufacturing.

●        Assess the timelines, capital costs, and production downtime associated with transitioning an existing manufacturing line from one cell technology to another (for instance, PERC to TOPCon), including equipment retrofit versus greenfield trade-offs and yield ramp-up curves, and track changes in bill-of-materials (BOM) and their cost implications.

●        Map domestic and global supply chains for solar manufacturing inputs and equipment, including dependencies on critical minerals, and assess technology licensing and intellectual property considerations that shape manufacturers' adoption of new technologies.

●        Track and analyse policy, regulatory, and geopolitical developments — including manufacturing incentive schemes, customs duties and trade measures, export controls, and technology partnerships between countries — across major solar manufacturing geographies, and assess their impact on manufacturing competitiveness.

●        Use AI tools to accelerate literature review, data synthesis, and analysis of quantitative data, such as production capacities, investments, trade flows, and costs, enabling quick-turnaround of research outputs for the team and stakeholders.

●        Lead the drafting of high-value technical research briefs and reports.

Stakeholder engagement

●        Engage extensively with equipment manufacturers, module, cell, and ingot/wafer producers, industry associations, government agencies, and international bodies to collect data, understand technical and policy priorities and challenges, and validate research findings.

●        Track and build relationships around technology partnerships, joint ventures, and industry collaborations relevant to global solar manufacturing.

●        Lead stakeholder consultations and workshops, and represent CEEW in relevant industry, technical, and policy forums.

Selection Criteria

Qualification

●        A bachelor's or master's degree in engineering — mechanical, materials science, chemical, or renewable energy — or a related technical discipline, with strong exposure to photovoltaic or semiconductor manufacturing.

●        A minimum of 5 years of relevant technical experience in solar PV manufacturing, technology assessment, or related industry/research roles.

●        Hands-on or professional experience with solar PV manufacturing processes, equipment, or engineering — for instance, with a manufacturing company, equipment provider, or technical research institution — is highly desirable.

●        Familiarity with techno-economic modelling, cost analysis, or manufacturing process simulation tools is preferred.

●        Exposure to industrial or trade policy, geopolitics, or manufacturing/supply chain management relevant to clean energy — through coursework, prior roles, or otherwise — is highly desirable.

●        Past experience working with secondary trade and investment datasets, such as UN Comtrade or WITS (World Integrated Trade Solution), is an advantage. 

Skills

●        Strong technical and engineering understanding of solar PV manufacturing processes, machinery and materials, and an ability to analyse policy, regulatory, and geopolitical developments and assess their implications for manufacturing competitiveness.

●        Proficiency in tools such as techno-economic analysis, multi-criteria decision analysis, sensitivity analysis, decision trees, or Monte Carlo simulations is preferred.

●        Familiarity with bottom-up manufacturing cost models published by institutions such as NREL (National Renewable Energy Laboratory) and Fraunhofer ISE.

●        Familiarity using AI tools, such as large language models and AI-assisted research and analysis platforms, to speed up research workflows and produce quick, high-quality outputs.

●        Ability to translate complex technical concepts for non-technical audiences, and present findings in a clear and accurate manner, both verbally and in writing.

●        Ability to work in an interdisciplinary and multicultural environment.

CEEW operates in a dynamic environment, and the candidate will be required to show flexibility in undertaking a variety of tasks.

Application Process

CEEW is an equal-opportunity employer, and the selection process does not discriminate based on age, gender, sexuality, ethnicity, religion, or caste. Female candidates and those from marginalised backgrounds are encouraged to apply.

Applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis. Interested applicants are advised to apply at the earliest by submitting their CV and a relevant writing sample/portfolio via CEEW's careers portal.

We will only notify shortlisted candidates. Selected candidates will go through written/edit tests and a round of interviews. We appreciate your interest.