Materials Engineer, Surface and Corrosion

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. This role is for a Surface and Corrosion Engineer within the Materials Engineering Department, requiring practical experience in corrosion evaluations and a deep understanding of corrosion mechanisms and surface chemistry fundamentals. 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 Skills Bachelor's degree in materials engineering, materials science, chemical engineering, or chemistry 1+ years of experience with corrosion, coatings, paints or/and electrochemistry Ability to travel up to 50% of the time to launch sites, recovery sites, etc Practical experience in corrosion evaluations Deep understanding of corrosion mechanism and surface chemistry fundamentals Comprehensive knowledge of corrosion mitigation schemes, sealant/coating use, cleaning processes and hardware contamination evaluations Ability to own definition, qualification, and implementation of corrosion mitigation schemes across flight hardware and ground support equipment Ability to investigate and analyze corrosive conditions for existing vehicle fleet Ability to design and perform accelerated exposure test campaigns to evaluate reliability of corrosion preventative materials over time Ability to develop and qualify novel materials and repair methods that further enable rapid and reliable launch cadence Ability to 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 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 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 Benefits Long-term incentives, in the form of company stock, stock options, or long-term cash awards Potential discretionary bonuses Ability to purchase additional stock at a discount through an Employee Stock Purchase Plan Comprehensive medical, vision, and dental coverage 401(k) retirement plan Short and long-term disability insurance Life insurance Paid parental leave 3 weeks of paid vacation 10 or more paid holidays per year Paid sick leave pursuant to Company policy Company Overview SpaceX is an aviation and aerospace company that designs, manufactures, and launches rockets and spacecraft. It was founded in 2002, and is headquartered in Hawthorne, California, USA, with a workforce of 1001-5000 employees. Its website is