About this role
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.
SR. MATERIALS ENGINEER, CORROSION CONTROL AND FLUID COMPATIBILITY (STARMIND)
SpaceX is leveraging its experience deploying and operating the world’s largest satellite constellation to develop Starmind, a new constellation of satellites capturing solar energy in space to power low-cost, high-performance AI compute for Earth. Realizing this vision demands highly reliable, high performance electrical compute hardware, solar power systems, thermal radiators, and more. These systems must operate in the extreme environment of space while delivering the connectivity, control, power distribution, and processing needed for orbital AI inference.
The Starmind team designs, builds, and operates the orbital compute fabric of the future, developing key in-house technologies from satellites’ flight computers and power systems to custom compute electronics, memory, and networking for on-orbit data centers. As a Senior Materials Engineer, you will serve as the technical owner for corrosion control, chemical resistance, liquid coolants and long-term material compatibility - defining and maintaining specifications for base fluids, additives, and wetted materials (including contaminant limits and compatibility criteria), while building and driving a comprehensive testing program evaluating coolant quality, contamination, and materials reliability.
RESPONSIBILITIES:
Own design criteria, selection, and reliability evaluations of materials used in liquid cooling systems Define and perform laboratory testing evaluating relevant corrosion mechanisms and long-duration chemical compatibility Define material and fluid performance requirements, specifications, validation approaches, and approval criteria Evaluate and down-select supplier technologies and formulations against performance, quality, cost, timing, and compliance objectives Drive material characterization and root cause analysis for failure resolution Define and execute experimental design and reliability campaigns for materials used in thermal management systems
BASIC QUALIFICATIONS:
Bachelor’s degree in materials science, chemical engineering, corrosion engineering, or a STEM field 5+ years of experience in chemical and fluids processing or thermal management systems Hands-on experience with materials selection, testing, manufacturing processes, fluid compatibility and corrosion evaluations
PREFERRED SKILLS AND EXPERIENCE:
Master’s degree or PhD in materials science, chemical engineering, corrosion engineering, or a STEM field Strong understanding of chemical compatibility, corrosion mechanisms, coolant formulation, contaminant analysis, and the effects of vacuum, radiation, thermal cycling, and microgravity on fluids and materials Broad knowledge of thermal control systems, coolants (e.g., dielectric, ammonia, or specialized formulations), radiators, and/or two-phase systems Experience with spacecraft thermal control systems, satellite/ ISS/ CubeSat fluids, space-qualified coolants (e.g., dielectric, ammonia, or specialized formulations), radiators, or two-phase systems in vacuum/microgravity Experience coordinating material trials with process engineering, equipment suppliers, and material vendors Demonstrated ability to lead structured root cause analysis (e.g., DOE, 5-why, fishbone, fault-tree) and convert findings into durable material or process recommendations Experience working in a high-volume manufacturing or assembly environment and partnering with process, quality, production, and supply-chain teams Track record of owning complex, ambiguous materials problems end-to-end, setting priorities with limited supervision, and delivering results on tight timelines Experience mentoring engineers, technicians, interns, or new hires to a high-performing level Comfortable with data analysis (Python, JMP, MATLAB, or equivalent) to correlate process, metrology, and reliability results Strong first-principles problem solving and a demonstrated ability to dig deep on ambiguous materials and reliability challenges Passion for building, learning quickly, and owning outcomes end-to-end; thrives in a fast-paced, scrappy environment with tight timelines Effective written and interpersonal communication skills; able to convey complex technical ideas, influence decisions, and drive alignment across teams Self-motivated with strong organizational skills and a bias toward action
ADDITIONAL REQUIREMENTS:
Willingness to travel to other SpaceX sites and/or vendors for significant or extended periods (up to 25%) Ability to lift up to 30 lbs unassisted Ability to stand/walk for long periods of time Willingness to work long hours and weekends as needed to support manufacturing and test campaigns 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 [email protected].