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Department ofMechanical Engineering

Advisory Board Profiles

Mike Nichols

Mr. Nichols has 10 years of mechanical engineering experience, he spent the past 8 years in the Solar Capital Equipment Industry. He is the Controls and Electrical Engineering Manager for the PECVD group at Maxeon Solar Technologies, a global leader in the solar technology space. Mr. Nichols is responsible for the robotic, electrical, and motion control systems of the AURORA line of tools which deposit films on solar cells through plasma enhanced chemical vapor deposition. Previously, Mr. Nichols was responsible for design, integration, and qualification of multiple mechanical systems for handling and aligning silicon wafers. Mr. Nichols believes in renewable energy and developing technology to make it more efficient and accessible.

Mr. Nichols earned his Bachelor of Science degree in Mechanical Engineering from Santa Clara University in 2014 and became a member of the Mechanical Engineering Industrial Advisory Board at SCU in 2022.