Sr. Materials Engineer (Materials Laboratory)

SpaceX

Quick summary

Work type
On-site
Location
Hawthorne, CA
Salary
$180,000–$260,000 / yr
Posted
today

Market check

Salary context

Above market

How this pay compares to similar roles

Similar $161k
This role $220k
$113k most similar roles pay here $276k

This role pays more than 86% of similar roles. Most pay $129,000–$192,500 — the shaded band above. At the midpoint, this role pays about $220k versus about $161k for comparable roles.

Based on 240 similar postings.

Employer

About SpaceX

SpaceX designs, manufactures, and launches advanced rockets and spacecraft with the mission of enabling humans to become a multi-planetary species. It operates the Falcon 9, Falcon Heavy, and Starship launch vehicles, as well as the Starlink satellite internet constellation.

SpaceX currently has 604 open roles on FindRole.

Listed pay typically runs $130,000–$155,000 across 440 roles with salary data.

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View all roles at SpaceX

At a glance

TL;DR · Sr. Materials Engineer (Materials Laboratory)

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The Senior Materials Engineer role at SpaceX's Materials Laboratory in Hawthorne, CA, involves ensuring data quality and integrity across various lab segments including Thermal Analysis, Characterization, Chemistry, Reliability, Mechanical Testing, and R&D. This self-starter will develop engineering controls, train personnel on test methods, investigate anomalies, and drive process improvements using tools like SEM, EDS, XRD, FTIR, and more. The ideal candidate has a background in Materials Science or related fields with hands-on experience in mechanical testing, thermal analysis, or materials characterization, along with proficiency in data analysis tools such as Python or MATLAB. This role demands strong project management skills to handle multiple initiatives simultaneously while building a state-of-the-art lab that supports SpaceX’s critical hardware programs.

Skills

Python MATLAB SEM EDS XRD FTIR spark OES pycnometer tensile/compression/fatigue testers TGA DSC DMA Gleeble ASTM ISO CI/CD

What you'll do

  • Own data quality and integrity across multiple lab segments.
  • Develop and implement engineering controls and calibration procedures for accurate data output.
  • Lead root cause investigations for anomalous or out-of-specification data, providing clear recommendations.
  • Drive process improvement projects, introducing new methods and optimizing existing techniques.
  • Train lab personnel on fundamental scientific principles and best practices for test execution.

What we're looking for

  • Bachelor’s degree in Materials Science or related field with 5+ years of professional experience.
  • Master’s degree or PhD and deep understanding of materials science across various domains.
  • Demonstrated ability to manage multiple concurrent projects with clear schedules and deliverables.
  • Experience developing, qualifying, and documenting new laboratory test methods or processes.
  • Strong proficiency in materials testing standards and statistical data analysis methods.

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