Job Information
Space Exploration Technologies Corp. Principal Materials Engineer (Starlink) in Redmond, Washington
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. PRINCIPAL MATERIALS ENGINEER (STARLINK) At SpaceX we're leveraging our experience in building rockets and spacecraft to deploy Starlink, the world's most advanced broadband internet system. Starlink is the world's largest satellite constellation and is providing fast, reliable internet to 3M+ users worldwide. We design, build, test, and operate all parts of the system - thousands of satellites, consumer antennae that allow users to connect within minutes of unboxing, and the software that brings it all together. We've only begun to scratch the surface of Starlink's potential global impact and are looking for best-in-class engineers to help maximize Starlink's utility for communities and businesses around the globe. RESPONSIBILITIES: Champion new material technologies for Starlink satellites from conceptualization through development, qualification, implementation, and production stabilization; work closely with partner teams on defining design criteria, evaluating material properties and rolling out optimized solutions; support transition of products to volume production Perform rigorous reliability testing of new material technologies and iterate as needed to ensure robustness and survivability in harsh environments and use cases Solve difficult technical problems of the highest scope and ambiguity; take action on these challenges by removing unnecessary complexity and identifying innovative solutions through rapidly iterating, learning, and adjusting Conduct root cause investigations of material-related failures with hands-on laboratory testing of flight hardware and raw material; drive down root cause to first principles mechanisms of material performance that may have influenced system-level results Participate in hardware design reviews to provide input on materials/processes in new designs; offer foresight on potential challenges and opportunities for simplification; and provide recommendations for innovative and cost-effective solutions Regularly perform satellite production process walk-downs and proactively identify opportunities for new material and/or process developments for improving reliability, rate, and yield; develop ROI analyses for new project proposals Mentor peers and team members on technical problem solving, decision-making, exercising good engineering judgment; be a point of escalation for blockers and encourage cross-team collaboration when solving technical challenges Partner closely with supply chain and production teams on root cause investigating materials-related issues of current products Develop and publish material design allowables as part of material technology ownership; ensure property development accurately captures loads and environments of use cases BASIC QUALIFICATIONS: Bachelor's degree in Material Science, Materials Engineering, Chemical Engineering, or engineering discipline with an emphasis in materials 10+ years of professional experience in electronic materials, polymers, space survivable coatings, EEE packaging, RF-transparent materials, and/or joining technologies (bonding, welding, brazing, soldering) PREFERRED SKILLS AND EXPERIENCE: MS or PhD in Material Science, Materials Engineering, Chemical Engineering, Chemistry, Physics or other related technical discipline Strong expertise in various manufacturing processes and how to design for high volume manufacturability and assembly Strong experience in characterization techniques and equipment, including SEM-EDS, FTIR, DSC, TGA, LFA, rheometry, optical microscopy, hardness testers, and mechanical property testing Experience with technical review of mate