Materials Engineer, Applications Engineering at SpaceX

SpaceX was founded under the belief that a future where humanity is out exploring the stars is fundamentally more exciting than one where we are not. Today SpaceX is actively developing the technologies to make this possible, with the ultimate goal of enabling human life on Mars.

MATERIALS ENGINEER, APPLICATIONS ENGINEERING

SpaceX continues to revolutionize the launch industry by combining advanced technological developments with pragmatic and lean manufacturing. This is especially important within Materials Engineering. Materials used on SpaceX vehicles are designed to withstand the extreme environments of launch, on-orbit operations, and reentry. This position will be responsible for developing, qualifying, and implementing some of the most vital materials to vehicle performance and reliability, while allowing for rapid reuse and economical re-flight.

Responsibilities

• Collaborate with subject-matter experts on developing new materials for all SpaceX vehicles
• Responsible for driving the scaling and implementation of new materials to SpaceX hardware
• Support material property development by collaborating with design engineers to establish required design inputs and develop allowables
• Responsible for the design, test, and qualification campaigns for all new materials, including driving all applicable Bill of Design (BOD) & Engineering Change processes
• Responsible for coordinating with internal (i.e. – RE’s, ME’s, program leaders, production leaders, technicians, supply chain, etc.) and external customers (i.e. – mission management, NASA, Space Force, etc.) on a consistent basis to stay aligned on product performance, reliability, manufacturability, and cost requirements
• Form a closed feedback loop with supply chain and/or build engineers on product scale-up, factory, and process development
• Collaborate with engineering, leadership, and supply chain to identify and implement cost-saving solutions to complex material issues that relate to sourcing, manufacturability, and performance without sacrificing product reliability
• Drive technical project schedules that relate to product development, scale-up, qualification, design updates, and implementation campaigns
  
  

Basic Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in science or engineering
• 1+ years of experience in a materials related engineering field or with RE ownership of hardware
  
  

Preferred Skills And Experience

• Demonstrated proficiency with managing complex technical projects with extreme ownership
• 2+ years of experience with characterizing, testing, and evaluating the performance of metallics or polymers
• Experience with alloy design and development
• Experience with metallic manufacturing methods and processes
• Experience with weld processes and development
• Experience in materials characterization techniques and equipment, including SEM-EDS, ICP, optical microscopy, hardness testers, cross-section sample preparation and mechanical property testing
• Strong interpersonal and collaborative skills
• Strong sense of organization and documentation
  
  

Additional Requirements

• Must be available to work extended hours and weekends as needed
• Willingness and ability to travel up to 50% of the time to visit suppliers and to launch and recovery sites for on vehicle work
  
  

Pay Range

COMPENSATION AND BENEFITS:

Level I: $95,000.00 - $115,000.00/per year

Level II: $110,000.00 - $130,000.00/per year

Your actual level and base salary will be determined on a case-by-case basis and may vary based on the following considerations: job-related knowledge and skills, education, and experience.

Base salary is just one part of your total rewards package at SpaceX. You may also be eligible for long-term incentives, in the form of company stock, stock options, or long-term cash awards, as well as potential discretionary bonuses and the ability to purchase additional stock at a discount through an Employee Stock Purchase Plan. You will also receive access to comprehensive medical, vision, and dental coverage, access to a 401(k) retirement plan, short and long-term disability insurance, life insurance, paid parental leave, and various other discounts and perks. You may also accrue 3 weeks of paid vacation and will be eligible for 10 or more paid holidays per year. Employees accrue paid sick leave pursuant to Company policy which satisfies or exceeds the accrual, carryover, and use requirements of the law.

Itar Requirements

• To conform to U.S. Government export regulations, applicant must be a (i) U.S. citizen or national, (ii) U.S. lawful, permanent resident (aka green card holder), (iii) Refugee under 8 U.S.C.
• 1157, or (iv) Asylee under 8 U.S.C.
• 1158, or be eligible to obtain the required authorizations from the U.S. Department of State. Learn more about the ITAR here.
  
  

SpaceX is an Equal Opportunity Employer; employment with SpaceX is governed on the basis of merit, competence and qualifications and will not be influenced in any manner by race, color, religion, gender, national origin/ethnicity, veteran status, disability status, age, sexual orientation, gender identity, marital status, mental or physical disability or any other legally protected status.

Applicants wishing to view a copy of SpaceX’s Affirmative Action Plan for veterans and individuals with disabilities, or applicants requiring reasonable accommodation to the application/interview process should reach out to [email protected].