Materials Engineer, Surface and Corrosion

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.

MATERIALS ENGINEER, SURFACE AND CORROSION

This role is for a Surface and Corrosion Engineer within the Materials Engineering Department based in Hawthorne, CA. The ability to travel up to 50% of the time to launch sites, recovery sites, etc. is required. This is a highly technical, hands-on position that requires practical experience in corrosion evaluations and a deep understanding of corrosion mechanism and surface chemistry fundamentals. We are actively looking for candidates who possess comprehensive knowledge of corrosion mitigation schemes, sealant/coating use, cleaning processes and hardware contamination evaluations, with an unrelenting drive to enable rapid and reliable reusability of our launch vehicles.

RESPONSIBILITIES:

• Own definition, qualification, and implementation of corrosion mitigation schemes across flight hardware and ground support equipment


• Investigate and analyze corrosive conditions for existing vehicle fleet


• Design and perform accelerated exposure test campaigns to evaluate reliability of corrosion preventative materials over time


• Develop and qualify novel materials and repair methods that further enable our rapid and reliable launch cadence


• Root cause corrosion-related findings down to primary contributors with high urgency and curiosity; drive further actions for continuous improvement


• Maintain working knowledge of regulatory requirements, perform associated required tasks, and complete required documentation per SpaceX specifications and other external specifications such as NASA, OSHA, ASTM, NACE, ASME etc.


• Train inspector and technician teams on corrosion inspections and etching methods

BASIC QUALIFICATIONS:

• Bachelor’s degree in materials engineering, materials science, chemical engineering, or chemistry


• 1+ years of experience with corrosion, coatings, paints or/and electrochemistry

PREFERRED SKILLS AND EXPERIENCE:

• Master’s degree in corrosion engineering, materials science, chemical engineering, chemistry, or similar


• Familiarity with polyurethane paints, anodize coatings, sealants, corrosion protection compounds and corrosion inhibitors


• Ability to communicate and document technical information to a mixed engineering audience


• Experience with FTIR spectrometer, scanning electron microscope, optical microscope, and other laboratory instruments


• Ability to train and confirm knowledge, skills and abilities of others as an evaluator for related personnel qualification programs

ADDITIONAL REQUIREMENTS:

• Must be available to work extended hours and weekends as needed.


• Willingness and ability to travel up to 50% time


• Work performed in an environment requiring exposure to fumes, odors, and noise


• Comfort occasionally working in tight or confined spaces

COMPENSATION AND BENEFITS:

Pay range:
Materials Engineer/Level I: $95,000.00 - $115,000.00/per year
Materials Engineer/Level II: $110,000.00 - $130,000.00/per year

Your actual level and base salary will be determined on a case-by-case basis and may vary based on the following considerations: job-related knowledge and skills, education, and experience.

Base salary is just one part of your total rewards package at SpaceX. You may also be eligible for long-term incentives, in the form of company stock, stock options, or long-term cash awards, as well as potential discretionary bonuses and the ability to purchase additional stock at a discount through an Employee Stock Purchase Plan. You will also receive access to comprehensive medical, vision, and dental coverage, access to a 401(k) retirement plan, short and long-term disability insurance, life insurance, paid parental leave, and various other discounts and perks. You may also accrue 3 weeks of paid vacation and will be eligible for 10 or more paid holidays per year. Employees accrue paid sick leave pursuant to Company policy which satisfies or exceeds the accrual, carryover, and use requirements of the law.

ITAR REQUIREMENTS:

• 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. Learn more about the ITAR here.  

SpaceX is an Equal Opportunity Employer; employment with SpaceX is governed on the basis of merit, competence and qualifications and will not be influenced in any manner by race, color, religion, gender, national origin/ethnicity, veteran status, disability status, age, sexual orientation, gender identity, marital status, mental or physical disability or any other legally protected status.

Applicants wishing to view a copy of SpaceX’s Affirmative Action Plan for veterans and individuals with disabilities, or applicants requiring reasonable accommodation to the application/interview process should reach out to [email protected].