Materials R&D Technician

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. MATERIALS R&D TECHNICIAN In this role as a Materials R&D Technician, you will focus on daily lab operations to support materials and process development, failure investigations, process control validation, and more—for Starlink user terminals, gateways, printed circuit boards, panel-level packaging, and solar products. Hands-on laboratory experience is required. A basic understanding of materials science fundamentals is preferred. The ideal candidate is highly skilled in setting up, operating, maintaining, and troubleshooting laboratory equipment. Success in this role requires being hands-on, flexible, a quick learner, organized, detail-oriented, and having a collaborative, results-oriented attitude. RESPONSIBILITIES: Maintain safe and efficient operations by enforcing proper workflow, safety, cleanliness, organization, and inventory control of lab consumables. Support maintenance and calibration needs of lab instrumentation. Ensure proper and consistent sample preparation and traceability for materials testing. Calibrate, maintain, troubleshoot, and operate thermoanalytical equipment (DSC, DMA, TGA, TMA); microscopy tools (FTIR, Raman, SEM/EDS); RF equipment (VNAs, dielectric testers); optical spectroscopy equipment (spectrophotometers, ellipsometers, photoluminescence) and mechanical test frames. Prepare reports on generated materials test data. Provide basic interpretations of results to requesters and flag off-nominal results for engineering review. Summarize data and document results in an organized and thorough manner. Develop, author, and implement standard operating procedures. Manage lab backlog and ensure requests are performed according to program priorities. Champion larger-scale lab improvement initiatives while completing day-to-day test requests. Promote 5S principles for organizing and sustaining a clean, tidy workspace. Properly use and maintain precision-calibrated tools, such as micrometers and calipers, to ensure accurate measurements. Familiarize yourself with relevant ASTM, ISO, and IPC standards. BASIC QUALIFICATIONS: High school diploma or equivalency certificate. 1+ years of materials testing experience in a laboratory environment. PREFERRED SKILLS AND EXPERIENCE: Associate degree in an applied science field or 2+ years of professional experience in a lab environment. Knowledge of safe work practices in environments involving furnaces, environmental chambers, saws, solvents, acids/bases, etc. Understanding of basic materials science fundamentals. Experience setting up and running tests and experiments. Positive attitude and experience working on cross-functional teams. Strong attention to detail when executing test instructions. Proficiency in Microsoft Office suite (Excel, Word, PowerPoint), Atlassian JIRA, and work order systems. Strong interpersonal and verbal communication skills to collaborate closely with engineering teams. Strong organizational skills to keep work areas tidy and manage workflow. Creative approach to problem-solving, with a willingness to learn and try new things. Experience using various hand tools and/or power tools. ADDITIONAL REQUIREMENTS: Able to work off-shifts and available for overtime and weekends if needed. Able to wear appropriate PPE for lab and machine shop environment. Able to lift a minimum of 50 lbs. unassisted. Lifting, standing, bending, grasping, sitting, pulling, pushing, stooping, stretching, and carrying are generally required to perform the functions of this position. 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,