Join SpaceX as a Principal Materials Engineer to tackle polymer material challenges for the Starlink satellite constellation.
Posted by employer 4 days ago
First seen on Joblaze 2 days ago
Last verified on the company career page 20 hours ago
Skills & Technologies
What you'll build
- Develop and evaluate polymeric materials for Starlink products
- Collaborate with design engineers for polymer selection
- Solve material and processing challenges
- Lead scale-up from prototype to production
- Engage in root cause failure investigations
Must have
- Bachelor's degree in materials science or an engineering discipline
- 10+ years of experience with thermoplastics, elastomers, and/or adhesives
Nice to have
- Master's degree or PhD in materials science, materials engineering, or polymer engineering
- Diverse knowledge of polymeric and elastomeric materials
- Knowledge of polymer additives and their impact
- Strong background in polymer characterization techniques
- Expert understanding of failure modes in polymeric materials
- Experience with developing new processes
Practical constraints
- Must be available to work extended hours and weekends as needed
- Willingness and ability to travel up to 25% time
Requirements
- Experience
- 10+ years
- Education
- Bachelor's degree
Not disclosed in this posting: compensation, work arrangement, visa sponsorship.
Joblaze summary
The Principal Materials Engineer for Polymers at SpaceX focuses on developing and evaluating polymeric materials for the Starlink satellite products, ensuring they meet performance and reliability standards. This role requires extensive experience with thermoplastics and elastomers, along with proficiency in various polymer characterization techniques. Ideal candidates will have a strong background in materials science and a proven ability to innovate in fast-paced environments. The position involves collaboration with cross-functional teams to address complex material challenges and support the transition from prototype to production.
Joblaze insights
- Listed 2 days ago — first seen on Joblaze September 16, 2026. Last confirmed on SpaceX's careers page September 18, 2026.
Quick facts
- How much experience is required?
- At least 10 years of relevant experience for this Principal Materials Engineer, Polymers (Starlink) role.
- What's the tech stack?
- Joblaze extracted these technologies from the posting: Adhesives, DSC, FTIR, LFA, SEM-EDS, TGA.
- What seniority level is this role?
- SpaceX targets principal-level candidates for this position.
- Is this full-time or contract?
- Full-time for this Principal Materials Engineer, Polymers (Starlink) role at SpaceX.
From the original posting
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.
PRINCIPAL MATERIALS ENGINEER, POLYMERS (STARLINK)
Starlink, our revolutionary satellite constellation, will deliver low-latency broadband internet worldwide. We are committed to offering access to high-speed internet to customers, and are looking for a Polymers Engineer to utilize their knowledge, experience, and creativity to solve material selection and processing challenges as we ramp service.
RESPONSIBILITIES:
- Responsible for the development, test and performance evaluation of polymeric materials used across various Starlink products
- Support polymer selection and implementation by collaborating with design engineers to establish required design inputs for ensuring a cost-effective and reliable mass consumer electronic
- Collaborate with other engineers, subject matter experts, and technicians to solve complex material and processing challenges on our current and next generation products
- Lead successful scale-up from prototype to production of relevant injection molded parts
- Engage in root cause failure investigations as a subject matter expert for failure mechanisms
BASIC QUALIFICATIONS:
- Bachelor's degree in materials science or an engineering discipline
- 10+ years of experience with characterizing, testing, and evaluating the performance of thermoplastics, elastomers, and/or adhesives
PREFERRED SKILLS AND EXPERIENCE:
- Master's degree or PhD in materials science, materials engineering, or polymer engineering
- Diverse knowledge of polymeric and elastomeric materials and their processing
- Knowledge of polymer additives, fillers, and reinforcements, and their impact on polymer processing
- Strong background in polymer characterization techniques and equipment, including SEM-EDS, FTIR, DSC, TGA, LFA, rheometry, optical microscopy, hardness testers, and mechanical property testing
- Expert understanding of failure modes in polymeric materials
- Experience with developing new processes, improving efficiencies and successfully transferring to production
- Development of new testing techniques and custom test jigs
- Demonstrated track record of success in a rapidly growing, fast-paced and highly competitive environment
ADDITIONAL REQUIREMENTS:
- Must be available to work extended hours and weekends as needed
- Willingness and ability to travel up to 25% time
- Work performed in an environment requiring exposure to fumes, odors, and noise
- Comfort occasionally working in tight or confined spaces
ITAR REQUIREMENTS:
Standard company text repeated across SpaceX's postings is omitted here.