Sr. Materials Engineer, Vehicle Refurbishment

SR. MATERIALS ENGINEER, VEHICLE REFURBISHMENT

This Materials Engineer role is highly multidisciplinary, focusing on assessing and providing materials engineering solutions for SpaceX's vehicle reusability efforts. The ideal candidate is familiar with polymeric processes, structural epoxy adhesives, organic and inorganic paint systems, corrosion assessment and prevention on metallic structures, and composite system processing.

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

BASIC QUALIFICATIONS:

• 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

PREFERRED SKILLS AND EXPERIENCE:

• 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.)

ADDITIONAL REQUIREMENTS:

• 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