Materials & Process (M&P) Engineer

Space Kinetic•El Segundo, CA

4d•Onsite

About The Position

Space Kinetic is a dual use space technology startup building a completely new architecture for space operations – one that brings the advantages of proliferated drone technology (low-cost, operationally flexible, attainable, distributed) to space missions while reducing the ecosystem's reliance on consumable fuel. In a world where many companies are focused on incrementally improving the status quo, we are focused on creating something entirely different – an architecture underpinned by new first principles to meet the opportunities and challenges of the third space age head-on. Our goal is to move away from one-to-one space architectures – where each satellite in a constellation has one (or a small # of) primary payloads attached to the bus -- and unlock a ‘one-to-many’ system, where each satellite has a large number of payloads which can be deployed from their host spacecraft at high velocities without firing a thruster. This is not a role for someone looking for a traditional 40-hour work week. Space Kinetic is building ambitious, first-of-its-kind technology, and that requires urgency, ownership, and a high level of commitment to changing the foundational assumptions for everything we do in space.

Requirements

Bachelor’s degree in Materials Science and Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, Aerospace Engineering, Chemical Engineering, or a related technical discipline.
3 to 7 years of materials and processes engineering experience supporting spaceflight or similarly high-reliability aerospace hardware.
Experience with aerospace metallics, including aluminum, titanium, stainless steel, and high-strength alloys.
Experience with structural composites, carbon-fiber layups, core materials, and associated manufacturing processes.
Experience with thermal-control hardware and materials, including heat pipes, heaters, thermal-interface materials, coatings, primers, adhesives, potting compounds, sealants, and space-qualified lubricants.
Hands-on experience investigating manufacturing anomalies, resolving non-conformances, and supporting hardware through qualification or production.

Nice To Haves

Experience applying NASA materials and processes standards, including NASA-STD-6016.
Familiarity with cleanroom operations, contamination control, or planetary protection requirements.
Experience supporting spacecraft mechanisms or other spaceflight hardware.
Experience supporting government, national security, NASA, or commercial spaceflight programs.
Ability to operate with urgency, ownership, and autonomy in a demanding startup environment.
Passion for advancing the commercial and National Security space industry.

Responsibilities

Guide mechanical designers on material selection, surface treatments, joint design, and space-environment risks, including atomic oxygen, vacuum outgassing, galvanic corrosion, and thermal cycling.
Author, review, and approve engineering drawings, material specifications, and process procedures for compliance with aerospace standards.
Plan and execute qualification programs for metallics, composites, coatings, paints, adhesives, lubricants, and other critical materials and processes.
Coordinate with internal laboratories and external vendors to characterize materials, analyze test data, and document qualification results.
Support PDR, CDR, MRR, and other technical reviews by providing M&P risk assessments and actionable recommendations.
Manage M&P verification activities and ensure materials and processes are approved before flight-hardware assembly.
Support the Material Review Board by developing technical dispositions for non-conformances identified during manufacturing, assembly, and testing.
Lead destructive and non-destructive failure investigations, identify root causes, and implement corrective actions.