Materials Engineer - Solar Array Assembly

Aerospacelab; Mont-Saint-Guibert; On-site; EUR 60,000 - 90,000; Full time

Job summary

Aerospacelab in Belgium is seeking a motivated junior or medior Materials Engineer to join the Solar Array Assembly (SAA) development and production. You will select and qualify SAA materials and processes, write test plans, and follow samples through manufacturing and testing.

You will maintain materials lists, defend results at design reviews (PDR, CDR, QR) and collaborate with the SAA mechanical, electrical and AIT teams, suppliers, and labs to ensure robust material solutions for space solar

Qualifications

• Master’s degree or equivalent in Materials Science, Chemistry, Mechanical Engineering, or Aerospace Engineering.
• 5+ years of experience in a materials engineering role, preferably in the space or aerospace industry.
• Experience with polymer materials (adhesives, encapsulants, composites, coatings) and their testing.
• Knowledge of space solar array technology: multijunction cells, coverglass, interconnect welding, flexible or rigid substrates.
• Hands‑on attitude: comfortable in the lab and on the shop floor, preparing samples and running tests yourself when needed.
• Able to build a clear technical argument and defend it in front of a customer.
• Good communication skills and a team‑oriented mindset.

Responsibilities

• Select and qualify SAA materials and processes such as adhesives, encapsulants, substrates, coverglass bonding and cell interconnect welding.
• Write test plans, prepare and follow up samples through manufacturing and testing (thermal cycling, mechanical, ageing), analyse results and write reports.
• Maintain materials and processes lists (DML/DPL) of the SAA and their justification.
• Present and defend results in front of the customer at design reviews (PDR, CDR, QR) and address RIDs.
• Follow up suppliers and test laboratories: specifications, test campaigns, incoming inspection, non-conformances.
• Support SAA mechanical, electrical and AIT teams on materials questions, failure investigations and root‑cause analysis.

Skills

Materials engineering

Laboratory testing

Hands-on attitude

Technical communication

Team collaboration

Education

Master’s degree or PhD in Materials Science, Chemistry, Mechanical Engineering, or Aerospace Engineering

Tools

FTIR

SEM

Peel/Shear testing

Job description

About Aerospacelab

Our mission is supported by an ambitious vertically integrated approach: design & manufacture of small satellites combined with development of earth observation services.

Since its creation in 2018, the company has already grown substantially. Our team gathers more than 25 engineering expertise, from hardware design to software development & data science.

In 2026, Aerospacelab counts offices in Louvain-la-Neuve (Belgium), Toulouse (France), Lausanne (Switzerland) and US West Coast with more than 450 full-time employees, with the ambition to position itself as the European leader in small satellites.

Your mission

We are looking for a motivated and hands‑on junior or medior Materials Engineer to join the Solar Array Assembly (SAA) development and production.

Key responsibilities

• Select and qualify the SAA materials and processes such as adhesives, encapsulants, substrates, coverglassbonding and cell interconnect welding.
• Write test plans, prepare and follow up samples through manufacturing and testing (thermal cycling, mechanical, ageing), analyse the results and write the reports.
• Maintain the materials and processes lists (DML/DPL) of the SAA and their justification.
• Present and defend your results in front of the customer at design reviews (PDR, CDR, QR) and answer their questions and RIDs.
• Follow up suppliers and test laboratories: specifications, test campaigns, incoming inspection, non-conformances.
• Support the SAA mechanical, electrical and AIT teams on materials questions, failure investigations and root‑cause analysis.

Must have

• Master’s degree, PhD, or equivalent in Materials Science, Chemistry, Mechanical Engineering, or Aerospace Engineering.
• 5+ years of experience in a materials engineering role, preferably in the space or aerospace industry.
• Experience with polymer materials (adhesives, encapsulants, composites, coatings) and their testing.
• Knowledge of space solar array technology: multijunction cells, coverglass, interconnect welding, flexible or rigid substrates.
• Hands‑on attitude: comfortable in the lab and on the shop floor, preparing samples and running tests yourself when needed.
• Able to build a clear technical argument and defend it in front of a customer.
• Good communication skills and a team‑oriented mindset.

Nice to have

• Familiarity with ECSS standards (ECSS-Q-ST-70 series) and ESA milestone reviews.
• Experience with materials characterisation (FTIR, SEM, peel/shear testing) and outgassing testing.
• Competence in process quality domains (SPC, DOE, FMEA).
• Fluency in French is a plus.