Materials R&D Technician (Starship)

The role

This person will perform standardized mechanical tests and characterize materials to support the development of launch vehicles and spacecraft. They will operate machining equipment and maintain a mechanical and materials test lab.

What you will do

• Perform standardized mechanical tests including tensile, compression, fatigue, and fracture toughness at cryogenic, room, and elevated temperatures
• Use mechanical testing software, data collection, and data report generation
• Work with engineering to execute non-standard testing
• Test Article fabrication including machining, welding bonding, polishing, and fixturing
• Characterization of materials and welds through sample preparation and executing testing procedures
• Operate machining equipment, mills, routers, lathes, and grinders
• Ensure all test equipment and measurement tool calibration is scheduled and performed
• Analysis of data and reporting results to engineering teams
• Maintain a clean and organized work station
• Run and maintain cure ovens and temperature loggers

Required qualifications

• High school diploma or GED
• 1+ years of materials testing experience
• 1+ years of machining experience
• 1+ years of layup, bonding, or assembly of composites
• 1+ years of hands-on experience in a laboratory setting
• Able to work off-shifts and available for overtime and weekends if needed with minimal notice
• Able to wear appropriate PPE for mechanical testing and machine shop environment
• Able to lift a minimum of 30 lbs. unassisted
• Lifting, standing, climbing, bending, grasping, sitting, pulling, pushing, stooping, stretching, and carrying are generally required

Nice to have

• Experience with manufacturing mechanical test coupons with methods such as milling, electrical discharge machining (EDM), and waterjet
• Experience using material characterization equipment such as a Scanning Electron Microscope (SEM), Fourier transform infrared (FTIR), or metallography tools
• Understanding of ASTM test methods tensile, fatigue, and fracture toughness testing fundamentals
• Experience in post test data processing and understanding good vs bad data in results
• Experience with welding and metal fabrication
• Experience with Non Destructive Testing/Inspection
• Experience reading and interpreting engineering drawings
• Knowledge/experience of strain gage installation
• Understanding of safe work practices in a lab environment with furnaces, saws, solvents, acids/bases and other chemicals
• Highly organized, collaborative, and able to pivot quickly in a dynamic / fast-paced /cross-functional environment

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 required authorizations from the

About the company

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. The company is actively developing technologies to enable human life on Mars.