About the 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, MATERIALS LABORATORY The Sr. Materials Engineer is a self-starter responsible for ensuring the quality, integrity, and usability of data generated across the Materials Lab while leading the development and qualification of new and improved test processes. You will establish engineering controls and quality systems, train lab personnel on first principles, investigate data anomalies, and drive capability expansion across Thermal, Characterization, Chemistry, Reliability, Mechanical Testing, and R&D segments. This role requires strong project management skills to simultaneously advance multiple initiatives while building a state-of-the-art laboratory that delivers high-quality data quickly to support SpaceX’s most critical hardware programs.
RESPONSIBILITIES: Own data quality and integrity across the Materials Lab, including Thermal Analysis (TGA, LFA, DSC, DMA, STA, etc.), Characterization (SEM, EDS, XRD, optical microscopy, FTIR, etc.), Chemistry (ICP, spark OES, PSD, pycnometer testing, etc.), Reliability (corrosion, coatings, etc.), Mechanical Testing (cryo, room temperature, and elevated temperature tensile/compression/fatigue, Charpy, fracture toughness, etc.), and R&D (torch testing, heat treatments, Gleeble, and process development, etc.) Develop and implement engineering controls, calibration procedures, and quality systems to ensure consistent, accurate, and traceable data output from all lab areas Serve as a technical trainer and mentor, teaching lab technicians and engineers the fundamental scientific principles behind test methods and best practices for execution Rapidly learn and master new or unfamiliar test equipment and systems using first-principles understanding, then identify opportunities for improvements and draw deeper technical inferences from test results Lead root cause investigations for anomalous or out-of-specification data, determine data validity, and provide clear recommendations to internal customers on how to interpret and apply results Perform failure analysis on materials and components using laboratory methods and equipment to determine failure modes and root causes, and draw accurate conclusions regarding material behavior, failure mechanisms, and recommendations for material selection and design improvements Drive process improvement and new capability development projects, including the introduction of currently unavailable methods (such as fatigue crack growth testing) and optimization of existing techniques (such as XRD) Develop, qualify, and document new or improved test processes, create work instructions and training materials, train technicians, and successfully transition processes from development into routine production lab operations Manage multiple concurrent projects with clear, visible schedules and deliverables while driving the lab toward state-of-the-art capabilities Collaborate with design, manufacturing, and quality teams to understand testing