Materials R&D Technician - Level 4/5

The role

You will partner with engineering to bring silicon wafer fab R&D lines online. You will perform equipment commissioning, process development, and wafer characterization to support Starlink and Starship missions.

What you will do

• Partner with engineering to bring online silicon wafer fab development lines.
• Drive equipment commissioning, calibration, troubleshooting, and maintenance.
• Perform hands-on wafer processing tasks like ingot cropping, slicing, cleaning, degumming, and surface conditioning.
• Execute DOEs to optimize silicon recycling and minimize contamination.
• Test and evaluate supplier materials through contamination analysis and performance checks.
• Perform silicon wafer characterization and maintain lab equipment.
• Safely handle chemicals and adhere to EHS protocols.
• Ensure 5S standards and cleanroom protocols are upheld.
• Participate in training exercises for production silicon wafer fabrication technicians.

Required qualifications

• High school diploma or equivalent certification.
• 5+ years of hands-on experience in semiconductor wafer manufacturing, cleanroom operations, or high-tech production (photovoltaics or silicon processing).
• 1+ years of experience handling flammable, toxic, corrosive, and/or hazardous chemicals safely.
• Must be comfortable working in a production environment using hazardous chemicals such as acids, alkalis, and solvents.
• Must be able to wear appropriate PPE for lab and electro-chemical manufacturing environment.
• Must be able to walk and stand for long periods of time.
• Must be able to lift 25 lbs. unassisted.
• Must be comfortable with climbing up and down ladders, grasping, standing, lifting, bending, pulling, pushing, stooping, stretching, carrying, crawling, and maneuvering in tight spaces.

Nice to have

• Bachelor's or associate's degree in a STEM field.
• 7+ years of hands-on experience in silicon wafer manufacturing, with focus on slicing, cleaning, defect mechanisms, contamination control (metallic, organic, particulate), and surface chemistry.
• Experience using and maintaining silicon wafer characterization techniques and equipment, including ICP-MS, GDMS, XRT, SEM/TEM, FTIR, resistivity mapping, and minority carrier lifetime testing (PL).
• Proven ability to understand and accurately follow complex manufacturing procedures and adhere to safety requirements; strong attention to detail.
• Strong interpersonal, verbal, and written communication skills to work closely with engineering, other technicians, and cross-functional teams.
• Ability to identify and maintain priorities for work scope.
• Ability to rapidly change roles/responsibilities while working independently in a high-paced, challenging work environment with minimal oversight.

Before you apply

• Applicant must be a U.S. citizen or national, U.S. lawful, permanent resident, Refugee under 8 U.S.C. § 1157, or Asylee under 8 U.S.C. § 1158, or be eligible to obtain the required authorizations from

About the company

SpaceX is developing technologies to enable human life on Mars. The company was founded on the belief that a future where humanity explores the stars is more exciting than one where we are not.