Investigate and resolve material failures or unexpected results, turning issues into actionable learnings that accelerate project progress
Act as a technical expert and project owner for polymeric material development efforts
Guide and mentor project specialists and technicians in executing formulation, testing, and process development work
Collaborate closely with engineering and production teams to ensure new materials are successfully integrated into production work centers
Lead the iterative development cycle by designing efficient experiments, analyzing data, drawing conclusions, and defining the next set of actions
Drive materials development projects from initial concept through full qualification and production scale-up
Coordinate with materials laboratories to plan, prioritize, and interpret characterization and performance testing
Work with production and manufacturing teams to support process scale-up, improve manufacturability, and enable reliable high-volume production
Maintain thorough technical documentation of development decisions, test results, and qualification data
BASIC QUALIFICATIONS
Bachelor’s degree in Chemistry, Organic Chemistry, Polymer Science, Materials Science and Engineering
2+ years of professional experience in polymeric material formulation, chemical synthesis, polymer chemistry or a non-metallic materials engineering role
PREFERRED SKILLS AND EXPERIENCE
Master’s degree or PhD in Chemistry, Organic Chemistry, Polymer Science, Materials Science and Engineering or a related discipline
Deep understanding of organic and polymer chemistries
Demonstrated ability to manage multiple concurrent projects with clear schedules and deliverables
Strong engineering judgment and self-motivation with a track record of driving projects independently
Experience in R&D pertaining to non-metallic materials (adhesives, paints, coatings, seals, emulsions, etc)
Experience designing polymeric materials, manufacturing polymeric materials, and/or translating developed materials to production.
Demonstrated ability to perform root cause analysis on test data, equipment issues, or process deviations
Experience mentoring lab technicians or specialists
Hands-on experience with analytical equipment such as FTIR, TGA, DSC, DMA, TMA, TPS, NMR, UV-Vis, GPC, GC, MS or similar
COMPENSATION AND BENEFITS
Pay Range
- Level 1: $100,000.00 - $130,000.00
- Level 2: $115,000.00 - $160,000.00
Your actual level and base salary will be determined on a case-by-case basis and may vary based on the following considerations: job-related knowledge and skills, education, and experience.
Base salary is just one part of your total rewards package at SpaceX. You may also be eligible for long-term incentives, in the form of company stock or long-term cash awards, as well as potential discretionary bonuses and the ability to purchase additional stock at a discount through an Employee Stock Purchase Plan. You will also receive access to comprehensive medical, vision, and dental coverage, access to a 401(k) retirement plan, short and long-term disability insurance, life insurance, paid parental leave, and various other discounts and perks. You may also accrue 3 weeks of paid vacation and will be eligible for 10 or more paid holidays per year. Employees accrue paid sick leave pursuant to Company policy which satisfies or exceeds the accrual, carryover, and use requirements of the law.
ITAR REQUIREMENTS
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.
Applicants wishing to view a copy of SpaceX’s Affirmative Action Plan for veterans and individuals with disabilities, or applicants requiring reasonable accommodation to the application/interview process should reach out to EEOCompliance@spacex.com.
