Principal Materials Engineer, Polymers (Starlink)

Spacex; Bastrop, Northern (TX, KY); Hybrid; USD 140,000 - 190,000; Full time

Job summary

SpaceX seeks a Principal Materials Engineer, Polymers (Starlink) in Bastrop, TX to develop and evaluate polymeric materials for Starlink products. You will support polymer selection with design engineers to ensure cost-effective, reliable parts, and collaborate with cross-functional teams to solve complex material challenges across generations of products.

The role requires advanced materials knowledge, extensive polymer testing, and experience scaling from prototype to production, including

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in materials science or an engineering discipline
• 10+ years of experience with characterizing, testing, and evaluating the performance of thermoplastics, elastomers, and/or adhesives
• Master's degree or PhD in materials science, materials engineering, or polymer engineering

Responsibilities

• Develop, test and evaluate polymeric materials used across Starlink products
• Collaborate with design engineers to establish inputs for cost-effective production
• Work with engineers and technicians to solve material and processing challenges
• Lead scale-up from prototype to production of injection molded parts
• Conduct root cause failure investigations as SME for failure mechanisms

Skills

Polymer characterization

Materials testing

Failure analysis

Thermoplastics & elastomers

Education

Bachelor's in materials science or engineering

Advanced degree in materials/ polymer engineering

Tools

SEM-EDS

FTIR

DSC

TGA

Rheometry

Optical microscopy

Mechanical testing

Job description

Principal Materials Engineer, Polymers (Starlink)

Bastrop, TX

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.

Starlink, our revolutionary satellite constellation, will deliver low-latency broadband internet worldwide. We are committed to offering access to high-speed internet to customers, and are looking for a Polymers Engineer to utilize their knowledge, experience, and creativity to solve material selection and processing challenges as we ramp service.

RESPONSIBILITIES:

• Responsible for the development, test and performance evaluation of polymeric materials used across various Starlink products
• Support polymer selection and implementation by collaborating with design engineers to establish required design inputs for ensuring a cost-effective and reliable mass consumer electronic
• Collaborate with other engineers, subject matter experts, and technicians to solve complex material and processing challenges on our current and next generation products
• Lead successful scale-up from prototype to production of relevant injection molded parts
• Engage in root cause failure investigations as a subject matter expert for failure mechanisms

BASIC QUALIFICATIONS:

• Bachelor's degree in materials science or an engineering discipline
• 10+ years of experience with characterizing, testing, and evaluating the performance of thermoplastics, elastomers, and/or adhesives

PREFERRED SKILLS AND EXPERIENCE:

• Master's degree or PhD in materials science, materials engineering, or polymer engineering
• Diverse knowledge of polymeric and elastomeric materials and their processing
• Knowledge of polymer additives, fillers, and reinforcements, and their impact on polymer processing
• Strong background in polymer characterization techniques and equipment, including SEM-EDS, FTIR, DSC, TGA, LFA, rheometry, optical microscopy, hardness testers, and mechanical property testing
• Expert understanding of failure modes in polymeric materials
• Experience with developing new processes, improving efficiencies and successfully transferring to production
• Development of new testing techniques and custom test jigs
• Demonstrated track record of success in a rapidly growing, fast-paced and highly competitive environment

ADDITIONAL REQUIREMENTS:

• Must be available to work extended hours and weekends as needed
• Willingness and ability to travel up to 25% time
• Work performed in an environment requiring exposure to fumes, odors, and noise
• Comfort occasionally working in tight or confined spaces
• 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.

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