Materials Engineer, Surface and Corrosion

Who you are

You have a strong background in materials engineering with a focus on surface and corrosion, ideally with 5+ years of practical experience in corrosion evaluations. Your deep understanding of corrosion mechanisms and surface chemistry fundamentals allows you to effectively address complex challenges in this field. You possess comprehensive knowledge of corrosion mitigation schemes, sealant and coating applications, and cleaning processes, which are essential for ensuring the reliability of launch vehicles. Your analytical skills enable you to investigate and analyze corrosive conditions, and you are driven by a commitment to enable rapid and reliable reusability of aerospace hardware.

Desirable

Experience with accelerated exposure test campaigns and the development of novel materials and repair methods would be advantageous. Familiarity with hardware contamination evaluations and a proactive approach to root cause analysis will set you apart. You thrive in a hands-on environment and are willing to travel up to 50% of the time to various launch and recovery sites, demonstrating your commitment to the mission of SpaceX.

What you'll do

In this role, you will own the definition, qualification, and implementation of corrosion mitigation schemes across flight hardware and ground support equipment. You will investigate and analyze corrosive conditions for the existing vehicle fleet, ensuring that all materials meet the highest standards of reliability. Your responsibilities will include designing and performing accelerated exposure test campaigns to evaluate the long-term reliability of corrosion preventative materials. You will also develop and qualify novel materials and repair methods that support SpaceX's rapid launch cadence.

Your role will require you to root cause corrosion-related findings down to primary contributors with urgency and curiosity, driving further actions to mitigate risks. You will collaborate closely with cross-functional teams to ensure that all materials used in the launch vehicles are optimized for performance and durability. Your contributions will directly impact the success of SpaceX's mission to enable human life on Mars, making your work both challenging and rewarding.

What we offer

At SpaceX, you will be part of a team that is dedicated to pushing the boundaries of technology and exploration. We offer a competitive salary and benefits package, along with opportunities for professional growth and development. You will work in a dynamic environment where innovation is encouraged, and your contributions will be recognized. Join us in our mission to make space travel accessible and sustainable, and be part of a team that is shaping the future of humanity in space.