Materials Lab Engineer: Data Integrity & Test Innovation

InvestedintheMission; Hawthorne (CA); On-site; USD 100,000 - 140,000; Full time

Job summary

SpaceX is seeking a Materials Engineer for the Materials Laboratory to ensure data quality and the integrity of analyses across Thermal, Characterization, Chemistry, Reliability, Mechanical Testing, and R&D. You will establish controls, train staff, and lead capability expansion to support critical hardware programs.

You will manage multiple projects, develop new test methods, and collaborate with design and manufacturing to deliver high-value materials data for vehicle programs.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in materials science and engineering or related field.
• 1+ years of professional experience in a materials testing/characterization lab.
• Hands-on experience with mechanical testing, thermal analysis, or materials characterization techniques.

Responsibilities

• Own data quality and integrity across the Materials Lab for various analysis areas.
• Develop and implement engineering controls, calibration procedures, and quality systems.
• Serve as a technical trainer and mentor for lab personnel.
• Learn and master new test equipment and identify improvement opportunities.
• Lead root cause investigations and provide actionable recommendations.
• Perform failure analysis to determine failure modes and material behavior.
• Drive process improvement and develop new lab capabilities.
• Develop and document new test processes and transition them to production labs.
• Manage multiple projects with schedules and deliverables.
• Collaborate with design, manufacturing, and quality teams to deliver data for vehicle programs.

Skills

Materials science

Engineering controls

Quality systems

Project management

Root cause analysis

Data analysis

Python

MATLAB

Training / mentoring

Test method development

Education

Bachelor's degree in materials science or related field

Master’s degree or PhD preferred

Tools

SEM

EDS

XRD

FTIR

TGA

DSC

DMA

Gleeble

pycnometer

spark OES

tensile tester

Job description

SpaceX is seeking a Materials Engineer for the Materials Laboratory to ensure data quality and the integrity of analyses across Thermal, Characterization, Chemistry, Reliability, Mechanical Testing, and R&D. You will establish controls, train staff, and lead capability expansion to support critical hardware programs.

You will manage multiple projects, develop new test methods, and collaborate with design and manufacturing to deliver high-value materials data for vehicle programs.