SpaceX · 10 hours ago
Sr. Materials Engineer, Vehicle Refurbishment
Cape Canaveral, FL
Full-time
Onsite
Senior Level
5+ years expSpaceX is actively developing technologies to enable human life on Mars. The Sr. Materials Engineer role focuses on providing materials engineering solutions for vehicle reusability efforts, collaborating with engineers to solve complex material challenges and ensuring compliance with regulatory requirements.
AerospaceManufacturingSpace Travel
No H1B
U.S. Citizen Only
Responsibilities
Drive collaboration with engineers, subject matter experts, and technicians to proactively identify and solve complex material and processing challenges on our current and next-generation vehicles on-site
Maintain working knowledge of regulatory requirements, ensure team compliance, perform associated tasks, and complete required documentation per SpaceX and external specifications such as NASA, OSHA, ASTM, NACE, ASME, etc
Proactively investigate and analyze integrated vehicle parts, including flown polymeric and inorganic coatings, to scope potential issues and recommend solutions
Lead failure investigations, develop preventive strategies, and drive reliability improvements
Apply corrosion knowledge and skills to develop inspection programs, assess, repair, install, troubleshoot, analyze, and perform predictive and preventive maintenance on assigned vehicle components
Investigate and analyze corrosive conditions for the existing vehicle fleet, question current maintenance processes/data and drive necessary changes
Perform and oversee basic characterization (SEM/EDS/FTIR) as the first line of defense for material identification at the launch site
Own aspects of lab maintenance and capability growth, including expansion into advanced tools and processes
Participate in and/or drive design reviews to influence material selections and advocate for reusability enhancements
Qualification
Required
Bachelor's degree in materials, mechanical, or chemical engineering
5+ years of professional experience in materials engineering, corrosion analysis, failure investigation, polymer/composite processing, or aerospace/vehicle refurbishment and maintenance
Ability to pass Air Force background check for Cape Canaveral
Willingness to travel
Work performed in an environment requiring exposure to fumes, odors, and noise
Comfort occasionally working in tight or confined spaces
Must be available to work long hours and weekends as necessary
To conform to U.S. Government export regulations, applicant must be a (i) U.S. citizen or national, (ii) U.S. lawful, permanent resident (aka green card holder), (iii) Refugee under 8 U.S.C. 1157, or (iv) Asylee under 8 U.S.C. 1158, or be eligible to obtain the required authorizations from the U.S. Department of State
Preferred
Master's degree in materials science or engineering
Familiarity with silicone elastomers, polyurethane, silicone paints, structural adhesives, composites
Experience querying database (SQL) systems
Willingness to travel (up to 25%)
Ability to communicate clearly and accurately with a wide range of people
Ability to work in a fast-paced, autonomously driven, and demanding start-up atmosphere
Ability to learn, lead others, and help others learn while maintaining productivity
Familiarity with working in a safe lab environment
Experience with FTIR spectrometer, DSC, scanning electron microscope, optical microscope, and other laboratory instruments
Ability to train others in discipline job tasks and to confirm knowledge, skills and abilities of others as an evaluator for partnership skill qualification program dependent upon position level
Proficient in or hands-on experience with one or more of the following: launch vehicle or spacecraft integration; composite structure design or testing; test operations with gases/fluids; data acquisition setup and field measurements
Professional experience testing and operating with or around hazardous systems (high pressure, high energy, hazardous gases/fluids, etc.)
Company
SpaceX
SpaceX is an aviation and aerospace company that designs, manufactures, and launches rockets and spacecraft.
1001-5000 employees
Funding
Current Stage
Late StageTotal Funding
$11.78BKey Investors
Korea Investment PartnersIntesa SanpaoloAndreessen Horowitz
2025-12-12Secondary Market
2025-09-10Secondary Market
2025-08-13Secondary Market· $10M
Leadership Team
Elon Musk
Founder, CEO & CTO
Bret Johnsen
CFO
Recent News
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