Materials Engineer, Polymers (Dragon)

SpaceX•Hawthorne, CA

18h

About The Position

As an engineer in SpaceX’s Materials Engineering department, the Materials Engineer, Polymers (Dragon) applies materials expertise, experience, and creativity to solve material and process challenges. The work supports highly reliable, low-cost, continuous access to space and the safe spaceflight of crew and critical cargo. The engineer owns multi-flight qualification and certification of polymeric and elastomeric materials used on Dragon, including plastics, adhesives, coatings, elastomeric seals, thermal protection systems, textiles, and composites. The role provides materials guidance to engineering and production teams, leads investigations and failure analysis, develops material solutions, and guides design changes and certification deliverables. It also involves communicating with external customers, coordinating with multidisciplinary teams, and working with suppliers on technical issues. The position requires a bachelor’s degree in a relevant STEM field and at least one year of hands-on experience in materials characterization, manufacturing, or materials development. Longer hours and weekend work may be needed to support critical needs, and travel may be required. Applicants must meet applicable U.S. Government export-control requirements or be eligible to obtain the necessary authorizations.

Requirements

Bachelor’s degree in materials science and engineering, polymer science, chemical engineering, chemistry, physics, or another STEM field.
At least one year of hands-on experience in materials characterization, manufacturing, and/or materials development; internship or project experience is accepted.
Able to work longer hours and weekends to support critical needs.
Willingness to travel as needed.
Must be a U.S. citizen or national, U.S. lawful permanent resident, refugee, or asylee, or eligible to obtain required U.S. Department of State authorizations to meet export-control requirements.

Nice To Haves

Master’s degree or PhD in materials science and engineering, polymer science, chemical engineering, chemistry, physics, or another STEM field.
Hands-on experience developing, processing, testing, and qualifying aerospace polymeric and elastomeric materials, including silicones, structural adhesives, sealants, plastics, textiles, composites, and thermal protection materials.
Experience with polymer characterization methods and laboratory techniques, including SEM-EDS, FTIR, DSC, TGA, LFA, DMA, TMA, rheometry, optical microscopy, and mechanical property testing.
Experience in failure analysis and broad knowledge of polymeric material degradation mechanisms and failure modes.
Effective written and verbal communication skills.
Attention to detail and a record of producing accurate technical deliverables.
Strong interpersonal and collaborative skills, with a desire to learn from and mentor others.
Experience preparing clear technical deliverables for engineering teams and external customers.
Ability to work autonomously in a fast-paced, demanding work environment.
Ability to create creative and scrappy solutions to evaluate material problems.

Responsibilities

Own multi-flight qualification and certification of polymeric and elastomeric materials used on Dragon, including plastics, adhesives, coatings, seals, thermal protection systems, textiles, and composites.
Guide engineering and production teams on non-metallic materials selection, testing, and analysis.
Lead root-cause investigations and failure analysis as a subject-matter expert in nonmetallic materials.
Develop material solutions that increase performance life, improve reliability, and reduce refurbishment processing.
Guide design changes by owning material specifications, requirements, property allowable generation, drawing reviews, and manufacturability assessments.
Own external customer communication and deliverables related to certification and launch readiness, and coordinate technical discussions with multidisciplinary teams.
Interface with suppliers on technical issues, including material non-conformances and root-cause investigations.

Benefits

May be eligible for long-term incentives in the form of company stock or long-term cash awards.
Potential discretionary bonuses.
Ability to purchase additional stock at a discount through an Employee Stock Purchase Plan.
Comprehensive medical coverage.
Vision coverage.
Dental coverage.
401(k) retirement plan.
Short- and long-term disability insurance.
Life insurance.
Paid parental leave.
Various other discounts and perks.
May accrue three weeks of paid vacation.
Eligible for 10 or more paid holidays per year.
Paid sick leave pursuant to company policy.