Materials R&D Technician: Lab Innovator & Tester

SpaceX_Global; Hawthorne (CA); On-site; USD 36,000 - 61,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Stock options

401(k) plan

Medical, vision and dental coverage

Paid vacation and holidays

Job summary

SpaceX is seeking a Materials R&D Technician to support daily lab operations, material and process development, and failure investigations. The role emphasizes hands-on testing, calibration, and data reporting in a fast-paced, collaborative environment.

The ideal candidate has basic materials science knowledge, strong problem-solving skills, and a can-do attitude. The position involves shift work and potential overtime, with comprehensive benefits and growth opportunities within SpaceX.

Qualifications

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

Responsibilities

• Operate mechanical test frames (static or hydraulic) and report core material test data.
• Perform mechanical testing (tensile, fatigue, compression) on metals/polymers/composites.
• Support maintenance and calibration of lab instrumentation.
• Summarize data and provide basic interpretation for engineering review.
• Maintain safe and organized lab operations.
• Champion lab improvement initiatives and 5S practices.
• Use calibrated tools to measure specimen geometry.
• Familiarize with relevant ASTM standards.

Skills

Materials testing

Laboratory operations

Data analysis

Safety compliance

Team collaboration

Education

High school diploma or equivalent

Tools

Instron

MTS

TGA

DSC

FTIR

SEM

Excel

JIRA

Job description

SpaceX is seeking a Materials R&D Technician to support daily lab operations, material and process development, and failure investigations. The role emphasizes hands-on testing, calibration, and data reporting in a fast-paced, collaborative environment.

The ideal candidate has basic materials science knowledge, strong problem-solving skills, and a can-do attitude. The position involves shift work and potential overtime, with comprehensive benefits and growth opportunities within SpaceX.