Sr. Chemical Engineer, PCB (Starlink/Starmind)

SpaceX • Bastrop, TX

1d

About The Position

SpaceX is developing technologies to enable human life on Mars. Starlink designs, builds, and launches a satellite constellation to provide high-speed internet, including to remote locations. The Chemical Engineer will lead production processes for printed circuit boards (PCBs), develop environmentally friendly chemical recycling strategies, and create processes suited to mass production. The position involves owning PCB production processes from initial machine design through hands-on process design of experiments (DOEs), and regularly interacting with senior leadership during critical design phases. The work supports consumer-facing Starlink devices manufactured at the Bastrop factory.

Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree in an engineering discipline.
• At least 3 years of experience in chemical engineering design, analysis, and/or system implementation; internship and extracurricular experience is applicable.
• Ability to travel frequently for work, potentially for extended periods during machine buyoffs and startup.
• Ability to lift 25 pounds unassisted.
• Ability to perform job functions involving lifting, standing, climbing, bending, grasping, sitting, pulling, pushing, stooping, stretching, and carrying.
• Must be a U.S. citizen or national, lawful permanent resident, refugee, or asylee, or be eligible to obtain the required U.S. Department of State authorizations, to comply with ITAR export regulations.

Nice To Haves

• Master’s degree in an engineering discipline.
• At least 5 years of experience in chemical engineering design, analysis, and/or system implementation; internship and extracurricular experience is applicable.
• Hands-on experience with complex fluid- or mechanical-based production systems in a professional setting.
• Experience transitioning products from design to manufacturing and scaling them to high volume as part of a cross-functional team.
• Strong self-motivation and organizational, written, and oral communication skills.
• Experience with PCB manufacturing processes such as metal plating, copper etching, direct or electroless metallization, water and chemical waste treatment, or plasma etching.

Responsibilities

• Develop, implement, and maintain new or improved manufacturing processes, equipment, technologies, and facilities, potentially including metal plating, copper etching, direct or electroless metallization, water and chemical waste treatment, and plasma etching systems.
• Analyze production processes and machinery using first-principles, physics-based methods.
• Develop experiments to diagnose and correct manufacturing problems using robust DOE and statistical methodologies.
• Characterize and analyze defects to identify root causes and develop action plans to improve yields.
• Develop project plans, budgets, and cost-benefit analyses for implementing new processes or machines.
• Own and perform machine activation and testing with a small team of engineers and technicians.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Senior