About this role
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.
SR. MATERIALS ENGINEER, VEHICLE REFURBISHMENT
This materials engineer role is highly multidisciplinary. You will assess problems and provide materials engineering solutions for vehicle reusability, from production through flight, maintenance, and refurbishment. The work spans polymeric processes, structural epoxy adhesives, organic and inorganic paint systems, corrosion prevention on metallic structures, composite processing, and special processing of metals, including plate, bar, and sheet processing, casting, forging, coatings, and heat treating.
Our materials engineering team serves as experts in various materials disciplines across the company and works to make the best rockets and spacecraft in the world. You will improve the materials and processes that make SpaceX vehicles possible, developing and qualifying them for reliability in extreme environments on both new vehicles and those returning from flight. If your goal is to make an impact at the cutting edge of materials and manufacturing technologies, this is the role for you.
RESPONSIBILITIES:
• Design, develop, and deploy materials and process direction for vehicle design, manufacturing, maintenance, and refurbishment
• Increase reliability of manufacturing, maintenance, and reuse processes through material and process selection, analysis, development, and test
• Develop physical, mechanical, and thermal properties for materials
• Improve our special processes and materials through characterization and development
• Work directly with component design build and test engineering, design reliability, and production teams daily
• Perform root cause investigations using fractography, metallography, and testing
• Provide technical reviews and advising for design efforts specifically related to drawings, specifications, and material requirements
• Collaborate with other engineers, subject matter experts, and technicians to solve complex material and processing challenges on our current and next generation vehicles
BASIC QUALIFICATIONS:
• Bachelor's degree in materials engineering or other engineering discipline with emphasis on materials
• 5+ years of professional work experience in a materials engineering related role
• Experience and expertise with multiple of the following manufacturing methods: tribological coatings (conversion, inorganic, dry-film lubricants), sheet/plate metal processing, casting, forging, brazing, welding, and heat treating
PREFERRED SKILLS AND EXPERIENCE:
• Master's degree or PhD in materials engineering or related field
• Tribological processes including, but not limited to evalua