Principal Materials Engineer, Polymers (Starlink)

Bastrop, TXfull time

On Site

senior

H1B: no

SpaceX Principal Materials Engineer at SpaceX owns consumable materials for ingot, wafer, and solar cell manufacturing lines, driving material qualification and production hand-off. This role partners with supply chain and engineering teams to define material requirements and improve material performance.

Responsibilities

Own consumable materials used across ingot, wafer, and/or solar cell manufacturing lines—from initial sourcing and technical evaluation through qualification, production hand-off, and ongoing support.
Partner closely with supply chain to identify, evaluate, and qualify suppliers for critical process materials.
Define material requirements, specifications, and acceptance criteria in collaboration with process, quality, and production engineering teams.
Plan and execute material qualification campaigns, including characterization, process trials, and production-readiness assessments before hand-off to manufacturing.
Drive root cause to first principles and implement durable corrective actions.
Build deep technical understanding of material chemistry, microstructure, and process interactions for metals, polymers, crystals, and other consumables used in high-volume manufacturing.
Identify opportunities to improve material performance, cost, yield, and reliability through alternative materials, dual-sourcing strategies, or process changes.
Document qualification results, material specifications, and best practices.
Communicate status, risks, and recommendations clearly to cross-functional partners and leadership.
Champion a culture of safety and quality in all materials handling, testing, and production support activities.

Qualification

Bachelor's degree in materials scienceHands-on experience with metalsExperience with material qualificationPassion for building

Required

Bachelor's degree in materials science, chemical engineering, or a STEM field.
1+ years of experience in materials engineering, materials selection, process materials, or manufacturing materials support.

Preferred

Master’s degree or PhD in materials science, chemical engineering, or a related field.
Hands-on experience with metals, polymers, crystals, ceramics, coatings, or other process consumables in a manufacturing or R&D environment.
Experience with material qualification, supplier development, or transitioning materials from development into production.
Familiarity with materials characterization techniques (e.g., SEM-EDS, XRD, FTIR, optical microscopy, mechanical or chemical property testing).
Experience working in a high-volume manufacturing environment and partnering with production, quality, and supply chain teams.
Strong first-principles problem solving and a demonstrated ability to dig deep on ambiguous materials 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 technical concepts across all levels of the organization.