Materials R&D Technician – Cryo Testing & Lab Fabrication

InvestedintheMission; Town of Texas (WI); On-site; USD 55,000 - 85,000; Full time

Job summary

SpaceX is seeking a Materials & R&D Technician (Starship) to advance materials development for launch vehicles and spacecraft. You will conduct cryogenic and standard mechanical tests, fabricate test articles, and work closely with engineering to drive material innovations in a high-performance lab environment.

You will operate and calibrate testing equipment, collect data, and contribute to test reports while maintaining safety and quality in a fast-paced aerospace setting.

Qualifications

• B aced on the BASIC QUALIFICATIONS: high school diploma or GED.
• 1+ years of materials testing experience.
• 1+ years of machining experience.
• Hands-on experience in a laboratory setting.

Responsibilities

• Perform standardized mechanical tests (tensile, compression, fatigue, fracture toughness) at cryogenic, room, and elevated temperatures.
• Use mechanical testing software, data collection, and reporting tools.
• Collaborate with engineering to execute non-standard tests for hardware design and production.
• Fabricate test articles (machining, welding, bonding, fixturing).
• Characterize materials and welds via sample prep and tests using microscopes, sectioning/polishing equipment, SEM/EDS/FTIR.
• Operate machining equipment (mills, routers, lathes, grinders; CNC programming preferred).
• Ensure calibration of test equipment/measurement tools.
• Analyze data and report results to engineering teams.
• Maintain a clean, organized workstation and manage ovens and loggers.

Skills

Materials Testing

Machining experience

Composites layup/bonding/assembly

Laboratory experience

Education

High school diploma or GED

Tools

Scanning Electron Microscope (SEM)

FTIR

Metallography tools

EDM

Waterjet

Job description

SpaceX is seeking a Materials & R&D Technician (Starship) to advance materials development for launch vehicles and spacecraft. You will conduct cryogenic and standard mechanical tests, fabricate test articles, and work closely with engineering to drive material innovations in a high-performance lab environment.

You will operate and calibrate testing equipment, collect data, and contribute to test reports while maintaining safety and quality in a fast-paced aerospace setting.