Solar Cell / PV Optical Modeling Consultant

Good Ground Innovation, Consultant Opportunity Posting Confidential | NDA Required Prior to Full Scope Disclosure Solar Cell / PV Optical Modeling Consultant Good Ground Innovation, LLC Location: Remote Engagement: Contract, project based, Phase II extension possible Start: Contingent on federal SBIR award. Not yet funded. About the Opportunity Good Ground Innovation is an independent invention company with three issued USPTO patents and a fourth allowed. We have submitted a NASA SBIR Phase I proposal built around a patented omnidirectional energy capture architecture, and are preparing a related NSF submission. The architecture uses a dimpled, conformal photovoltaic surface with an optional passive mirror array that redirects additional solar irradiance onto the cells without tracking or moving parts. We need a solar cell and optical modeling consultant to characterize energy capture performance of this geometry under Mars irradiance and dust optical depth conditions, and to model the photon redirection contribution of the mirror array. This is performance modeling and characterization, not photovoltaic cell design or fabrication. We need someone fluent in PV system performance modeling who can work from established irradiance and cell performance data to produce credible, federal proposal grade output. What This Is Not This is not a funded position yet. We are pre-award. If you require guaranteed paid work starting immediately, this is not the right fit right now. We are building a bench of qualified, vetted consultants ready to move the moment award funding clears, and want an honest conversation about availability and rate before that happens, not after. Scope (Phase I, Pending Award) Mars irradiance and solar capture modeling across seasonal and latitude dependent conditions, using triple junction GaInP/GaAs/Ge cell performance as the baseline. Dust optical depth modeling across the tau 0.5 to tau 2.0 range, characterizing output degradation relative to a flat panel baseline. Optical path modeling for the passive base mirror array, quantifying photon redirection gain versus an unmirrored configuration. Documentation suitable for a federal technical deliverable, with clear sourcing and defensible methodology. What We're Looking For Demonstrated experience in PV system performance modeling, ideally including space or extreme environment solar applications. Familiarity with PVLIB or comparable solar performance modeling tools. Comfort working from public domain irradiance and atmospheric data (NASA Mars Climate Database or equivalent) rather than running new physical tests, since Phase I is analytical, not lab based. Ability to produce federal proposal grade documentation. Willingness to sign an NDA before any technical scope, patent details, or proprietary geometry are shared. This is non negotiable, with no exceptions, regardless of reputation, reviews, or prior federal work. Process A signed NDA is required before any further technical detail, including the patent number, full geometry description, or proposal documents, is shared. If you are interested, please respond with relevant PV or optical modeling experience and your standard consulting rate. We will follow up with qualified respondents to begin the NDA process. We are not in a position to pay for proposal stage conversations. We are direct and transparent about funding status throughout this process and expect the same in return. Good Ground Innovation, LLC | Nevada incorporation, Washington State operations