Materials R&D Technician

SPACE EXPLORATION TECHNOLOGIES CORP; Hawthorne (CA); On-site; USD 35,817 - 44,083; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Comprehensive medical, vision, and dental coverage

401(k) retirement plan

Paid parental leave

Paid vacation and holidays

Employee Stock Purchase Plan

Job summary

A leading aerospace company is seeking a Materials R&D Technician to be involved in lab operations supporting material development and testing. The candidate should possess at least one year of hands-on lab experience and a high school diploma. Responsibilities include operating mechanical test frames, performing mechanical testing, and maintaining laboratory safety. The role offers competitive pay and comprehensive benefits, making it an ideal stepping stone for career development in materials science.

Qualifications

• 1+ years of hands-on materials testing experience in a laboratory setting.
• Knowledge of safe work practices in a lab environment.

Responsibilities

• Operate mechanical test frames and report material data.
• Perform mechanical testing with metals, polymers, or composites.
• Maintain safe and efficient lab operations.
• Document results in an organized manner.

Skills

Hands-on materials testing

Laboratory equipment troubleshooting

Positive attitude

Strong communication skills

Attention to detail

Education

High school diploma or equivalency

Tools

Thermal instruments (TGA, DMA)

Mechanical test frames (Instron, MTS)

Microsoft Office Suite

Job description

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 R&D TECHNICIAN

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. A basic understanding of material science fundamentals is preferred, though not required. Hands‑on lab experience is required. The ideal candidate is highly skilled in setting up, operating, maintaining, and troubleshooting laboratory equipment. Success in this role will require being hands‑on, flexible, a quick learner, organized, detail‑oriented, and having a collaborative, can‑do attitude.

RESPONSIBILITIES

• Operate mechanical test frames (static or hydraulic) and familiar with reporting on the core material testing data generated (UTS, YS, Modulus, etc.) OR operate characterization instruments (SDT, TGA, TMA, DMA, DSC, FTIR, SEM, etc.) and report associated material data produced
• Perform mechanical testing (tensile, fatigue, compression, etc.) with metals, polymers, or composites OR characterization work scope (thermal testing, imaging, etc.)
• Support maintenance and calibration needs of the lab instrumentation
• Summarize data and document results in an organized and thorough manner; be prepared to provide a basic interpretation of results to requestors and flag off‑nominal results for engineering review
• Maintain safe and efficient operations through proper lab safety, cleanliness, and organization
• Champion larger‑scale lab improvement initiatives while continuing to complete day‑to‑day test requests
• Promote 5S principles of organizing and sustaining a clean, tidy workspace
• Work creatively and innovate to support team goals; always be prepared to challenge the status quo and develop unique solutions
• Use calibrated tools to measure specimen geometry
• Familiarize with relevant ASTM standards

BASIC QUALIFICATIONS

• High school diploma or equivalency certificate
• 1+ years of hands‑on materials testing experience in a laboratory setting

PREFERRED SKILLS AND EXPERIENCE

• Knowledge of safe work practices in a lab environment with solvents, acids/bases, thermal protection systems, polymers, etc.
• Experience with thermal instruments (TGA, DMA, DSC, etc.)
• Experience with mechanical test frames (Instron, MTS, etc.)
• Understanding of basic materials science fundamentals
• Positive attitude and experience working on a cross‑functional team
• Experience setting up and running tests and experiments
• Maintaining rigorous attention to detail when executing test instructions
• Strong computer skills including experience with Microsoft Office suite (Excel, Word, PowerPoint, Outlook), Atlassian JIRA, and work order systems
• Strong interpersonal and verbal communication skills to work closely with engineering group
• Ability to read and understand test specifications
• Strong organizational skills to keep work area tidy and organize workflow
• Creative approach to problem solving, with willingness to learn and try new things
• Experience using various types of hand tools and/or power tools

ADDITIONAL REQUIREMENTS

• Able to work off‑shifts and available for overtime and weekends if needed
• Able to wear appropriate PPE for lab and machine shop environment
• Able to lift a minimum of 50 lbs. unassisted. Lifting, standing, bending, grasping, sitting, pulling, pushing, stooping, stretching, and carrying are generally required to perform the functions of this position

COMPENSATION AND BENEFITS

Pay range:

• Materials R&D Tech/Level 1: $26.00 – $32.00/hour
• Materials R&D Tech/Level 2: $30.00 – $38.00/hour
• Materials R&D Tech/Level 3: $35.00 – $44.00/hour

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, 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.

ITAR REQUIREMENT

• 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 or applicants requiring reasonable accommodation should reach out to [e-mail].