Materials Engineer, Surface and Corrosion

 

MATERIALS ENGINEER, SURFACE AND CORROSION

This role is for a Surface and Corrosion Engineer within the Materials Engineering Department based in Hawthorne, CA. The ability to travel up to 50% of the time to launch sites, recovery sites, etc. is required. This is a highly technical, hands-on position that requires practical experience in corrosion evaluations and a deep understanding of corrosion mechanism and surface chemistry fundamentals. We are actively looking for candidates who possess comprehensive knowledge of corrosion mitigation schemes, sealant/coating use, cleaning processes and hardware contamination evaluations, with an unrelenting drive to enable rapid and reliable reusability of our launch vehicles.

RESPONSIBILITIES:

• Own definition, qualification, and implementation of corrosion mitigation schemes across flight hardware and ground support equipment
• Investigate and analyze corrosive conditions for existing vehicle fleet
• Design and perform accelerated exposure test campaigns to evaluate reliability of corrosion preventative materials over time
• Develop and qualify novel materials and repair methods that further enable our rapid and reliable launch cadence
• Root cause corrosion-related findings down to primary contributors with high urgency and curiosity; drive further actions for continuous improvement
• Maintain working knowledge of regulatory requirements, perform associated required tasks, and complete required documentation per SpaceX specifications and other external specifications such as NASA, OSHA, ASTM, NACE, ASME etc.
• Train inspector and technician teams on corrosion inspections and etching methods

BASIC QUALIFICATIONS:

• Bachelor’s degree in materials engineering, materials science, chemical engineering, or chemistry
• 1+ years of experience with corrosion, coatings, paints or/and electrochemistry

PREFERRED SKILLS AND EXPERIENCE:

• Master’s degree in corrosion engineering, materials science, chemical engineering, chemistry, or similar
• Familiarity with polyurethane paints, anodize coatings, sealants, corrosion protection compounds and corrosion inhibitors
• Ability to communicate and document technical information to a mixed engineering audience
• Experience with FTIR spectrometer, scanning electron microscope, optical microscope, and other laboratory instruments
• Ability to train and confirm knowledge, skills and abilities of others as an evaluator for related personnel qualification programs

ADDITIONAL REQUIREMENTS:

• Must be available to work extended hours and weekends as needed.
• Willingness and ability to travel up to 50% time
• Work performed in an environment requiring exposure to fumes, odors, and noise
• Comfort occasionally working in tight or confined spaces

COMPENSATION AND BENEFITS:

Pay range:
Materials Engineer/Level I: $95,000.00 - $115,000.00/per year
Materials Engineer/Level II: $110,000.00 - $130,000.00/per year

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, stock options, 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 acc