Lead Materials R&D Technician (Materials Lab - Characterization)

Latent AI; Hawthorne (CA); On-site; USD 54,000 - 67,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Medical, vision, and dental coverage

401(k) retirement plan

Paid parental leave

Paid vacation and holidays

Job summary

Latent AI in Hawthorne, California is seeking a Lead Materials R&D Technician to support lab operations for material and process development. The ideal candidate will have hands-on experience in an aerospace testing laboratory, with strong abilities in setting up and managing laboratory equipment and teams.

This role involves daily work assignment, team training, and ensuring safety standards in the lab while addressing complex testing requests. A high school diploma and 3+ years in related aerospace testing environments are required.

Qualifications

• 3+ years in aerospace testing with characterization testing focus.
• Experience in scheduling and coordination of team tasks.
• Experience in leadership or mentoring roles.

Responsibilities

• Conduct training to advance team member skillsets.
• Coordinate testing goals with area supervisor.
• Audit lab for safety hazards and propose improvements.

Skills

Hands-on lab experience in aerospace testing

Team management

Thermal instrumentation knowledge

Computer proficiency (MS Office, ERP)

Education

High school diploma or equivalency

Tools

DMA

TMA

DSC

TGA

LFA

Job description

LEAD MATERIALS R&D TECHNICIAN (MATERIALS LAB – CHARACTERIZATION)

This individual will be a key team member focusing on daily lab operations to support material & process developments, failure investigations, process control validation, and more. Hands‑on lab experience in an aerospace testing laboratory setting is required along with strong skills in setting up, operating, maintaining, and troubleshooting laboratory equipment. The ideal candidate is highly skilled in assigning daily work, conducting team training, enforcing safety standards, and completing complex testing as needed. Success in this role will require being hands‑on, flexible, a quick learner, organized, detail‑oriented, and having a collaborative, can‑do attitude.

RESPONSIBILITIES

• Daily assignment of work, ensuring proper balancing and bandwidth across the team
• Directly interface, coordinate, and align with area supervisor on weekly testing goals
• Conduct training to advance skillset of team members
• Enforce area safety and organization requirements and standards of work
• Be proactive in auditing the lab for hazards, create safety nets, and follow through in bringing solutions to completion
• Model correct behaviors for taking care of the physical lab space and equipment and enforce this across the team
• Coordinate calibration and maintenance to minimize tool/test downtime
• Work with supervisor on the team’s personnel training and development plans
• Identify and remove blockers that impact daily and weekly testing goals (i.e., stepping in to help, reverse shadowing, providing direct guidance, escalating, etc.)
• Propose and develop improvement projects (i.e., shop aids, potential process changes, tooling modifications, etc.) that improve testing efficiency, general safety, data quality, reliability, asset integrity and utilization, etc.
• Coordinate with internal customers to ensure that work is prioritized appropriately
• Complete personal queue of complex and advanced testing requests as necessary to support customers/team’s workload

BASIC QUALIFICATIONS

• High school diploma or equivalency certificate
• 3+ years of experience working in an aerospace testing laboratory performing characterization testing with a focus on thermal instrumentation (i.e., DMA, TMA, DSC, TGA, LFA, etc.)
• Experience scheduling work and coordinating competing priorities
• Experience managing a team, people, or projects

PREFERRED SKILLS AND EXPERIENCE

• Proficient with computers with the ability to use MS Office, shop floor management software (ERP) and related programs
• Familiarity with multiple departments within SpaceX
• Familiarity with ASTM standard testing
• Leadership or mentoring experience

ADDITIONAL REQUIREMENTS

• Willing to work overtime and weekends as needed
• Able to travel for short trips as needed
• Able to wear appropriate PPE for mechanical testing and machine shop environment
• Able to lift 30 lbs. unassisted
• Standing for long periods of time, bending, grasping, sitting, pulling, pushing, stooping, and stretching are generally required to perform the functions of this position

COMPENSATION AND BENEFITS

Pay Range: Level 1: $26.00 - $32.00 + $2.00/hour lead differential; Level 2: $30.00 - $38.00 + $2.00/hour lead differential; Level 3: $35.00 - $44.00 + $2.00/hour lead differential. 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. You may also be eligible for long‑term incentives, in the form of company stock 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.

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 [e-mail].