Sr. Materials Engineer, Blades and Vanes Foundry

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. SR. MATERIALS ENGINEER, BLADES AND VANES FOUNDRY SpaceX continues to revolutionize the launch industry by combining advanced technological developments with pragmatic and lean manufacturing.

This is especially important for the future of rapid and high-volume Starship flight, where power generation is crucial. As a member of the Materials Engineering team, you will own solving complex materials challenges in a rapidly innovating environment. You will interact closely with foundry engineering and operations teams, and have direct impact on producing Ni-superalloy castings for power generation, ultimately ushering in the next era of revolutionary spaceflight.   RESPONSIBILITIES:  Accelerate progress on development and production of SX (single crystal), DS (directionally solidified), and EQ (equiax) casted components for gas turbines  Develop, qualify and troubleshoot metal casting processes used in production  Execute failure analysis of casted components as a result of process fallout and/or in-service failures, working in tandem with design and process engineers to drive yield higher  Perform root cause investigations using fractography, metallography, and characterization techniques  Provide technical review and advising for design efforts as it relates to material alloy and form selection, tooling, and material and process specifications  Drive property development and qualification test plan design and execution and of castings and foundry processes  Responsible for coordinating with various engineering teams, supply chain, vendors, operations, technicians, and senior leadership on a consistent basis to stay aligned on product performance, reliability, manufacturability, and cost requirements  Drive improvements to design via feedback on manufacturability, performance, efficiency, and product life to optimize business needs  BASIC QUALIFICATIONS:   Bachelor’s degree in material science, materials engineering, weld engineering, metallurgical engineering, or other engineering discipline   5+ years of professional experience working in metal casting technologies  PREFERRED SKILLS AND EXPERIENCE:   Master's degree or Ph.

D. in material science, materials engineering, weld engineering, metallurgical engineering, or equivalent engineering discipline   5+ years of professional experience with SX or DS casting technologies using Ni-based superalloys    Experience working on casting blades and vanes for industrial gas turbines or aerospace enignes  3+ years of experience with metallographic characterization techniques and equipment, such as SEM-EDS, optical microscopy, hardness testers, mechanical property testing, and/or spectroscopy techniques for composition or phase  Strong interpersonal and collaborative skills with enthusiasm for the team’s spirit of innovation in cutting-edge technology   Experience with technical review of material processes and a first principles understanding of how process variables impact material performance   Demonstrated track record of success in a rapidly growing, fast-paced and highly competitive environment   Personality and drive to execute in a scrappy entrepreneurial environment that operates under tight timelines and aggressive schedules   Hands-on experience in a high-production manufacturing environment   Effective written and interpersonal communication skills   ADDITIONAL REQUIREMENTS:  Willingness to travel to other SpaceX sites and/or vendors (up to 15%)  Ability to lift up to 30 Ibs unassisted  Standing/walking for long periods of time  Willingness to work long hours and weekends as necessary to accommodate manufacturing and test campaigns  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, or (iv) Asylee under 8 U.S.C. § 1158, or be eligible to obtain the required authorizations from the U.S. Department of State.

Learn more about the ITAR here.   SpaceX is an Equal Opportunity Employer; employment with SpaceX is governed on the basis of merit, competence and qualifications and will not be influenced in any manner by race, color, religion, gender, national origin/ethnicity, veteran status, disability status, age, sexual orientation, gender identity, marital status, mental or physical disability or any other legally protected status.

Applicants wishing to view a copy of SpaceX’s Affirmative Action Plan for veterans and individuals with disabilities, or applicants requiring reasonable accommodation to the application/interview process should reach out to EEOCompliance@spacex.com. 

SpaceX designs, manufactures and launches the world’s most advanced rockets and spacecraft. The company was founded in 2002 by Elon Musk to revolutionize space transportation, with the ultimate goal of making life multiplanetary.

SpaceX has gained worldwide attention for a series of historic milestones. It is the only private company ever to return a spacecraft from low-Earth orbit, which it first accomplished in December 2010. The company made history again in May 2012 when its Dragon...