Full-Time

Materials & Process Engineer

Updated on 9/3/2026

Stoke Space

Stoke Space

201-500 employees

Launches reusable rockets; analyzes satellite data

Compensation Overview

$129.2k - $252.1k/yr

+ Equity stock options

No H1B Sponsorship

Kent, WA, USA

In Person

On-site work is indicated by the on-site gym benefit and no remote arrangement is stated.

US Citizenship Required

Bachelor's, Master's, PhD

Category
Aerospace Engineering (1)
Required Skills
Welding
Materials Engineering

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Requirements
  • A bachelor's degree in materials science, chemical engineering, mechanical engineering, physics, aerospace engineering, or a related technical discipline is required.
  • At least 3 years of professional experience in materials engineering is required, with expertise in material selection, characterization, qualification, testing, and failure analysis.
  • Experience working across multiple material systems and processes, including metals, soft goods, coatings, powder metallurgy, welding, and heat treatment, is required.
  • Proficiency with material characterization techniques and tools, including metallography, microscopy, and mechanical testing, is required.
  • A demonstrated track record of material and process decisions validated through flight or equivalent high-reliability hardware programs is required.
  • Candidates must be U.S. citizens, lawful permanent residents of the United States, protected individuals as defined by 8 U.S.C. 1324b(a)(3), or eligible to obtain the required U.S. Department of State authorizations for ITAR compliance.
  • Candidates must be able to prove their identity and authorization to work in the United States and complete employment eligibility verification requirements.
Responsibilities
  • Serve as the responsible materials and process engineer for engines, structures, mechanisms, coatings, and adhesives.
  • Trade, evaluate, and select materials for hardware systems based on performance requirements, cost, and sustainability factors.
  • Design and execute material characterization programs covering mechanical testing, environmental exposure, fatigue, and failure analysis, and generate original properties data.
  • Author, implement, and maintain materials and process requirements, material specifications, testing protocols, and engineering work standards for Stoke material systems.
  • Lead failure analysis and root-cause investigations for material-related anomalies and establish corrective-action processes that inform design iteration.
  • Evaluate, qualify, and manage material suppliers, including receiving inspection criteria, lot acceptance requirements, and supply-chain risk mitigation.
  • Define the materials strategy and qualification philosophy.
  • Collaborate with engines, structures, analysis, avionics, valves, welding, additive, and manufacturing teams to create a system-level material property database.
  • Own and build out the materials characterization laboratory, testing protocols, and development workflows.
Desired Qualifications
  • A master's degree or PhD in materials science, chemical engineering, or a related field.
  • Experience architecting materials and process programs for rocket systems across the full development lifecycle, including requirements definition, trade studies, development testing, and qualification.
  • Familiarity with ASTM, NASA, and American Welding Society industry standards.
  • Expertise in fracture mechanics, corrosion control, statistics, and failure analysis.

Stoke Space Technologies builds 100% reusable rockets to provide daily access to Earth's orbit and offers satellite data services for environmental monitoring. Rockets launch, land, and are reused, while data from missions like SWOT and MAIA are delivered to clients to study freshwater, oceans, aerosols, health, and climate issues. The company distinguishes itself by pairing frequent launch capability with analytics-ready satellite data to reduce costs and expand access for regular, data-driven environmental monitoring. Its goal is to make space access routine and to use space-based data to promote sustainable growth and environmental preservation on Earth.

Company Size

201-500

Company Stage

Series E

Total Funding

$2.4B

Headquarters

Seattle, Washington

Founded

2019

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Simplify Jobs

Simplify's Take

What believers are saying

  • Stoke closed an $860 million Series D in February 2026, totaling $1.34 billion.
  • Bloomberg reported an August 2026 $1 billion raise at a $9 billion valuation.
  • First Nova liftoff from Cape Canaveral is expected in 2026, compressing commercialization.

What critics are saying

  • Nova still lacks an orbital flight; one failure can freeze fundraising and contracts in 2026.
  • SpaceX, Blue Origin, and ULA already control launch demand before Stoke proves daily cadence.
  • A $9 billion valuation before revenue makes a missed 2026 launch existential.

What makes Stoke Space unique

  • Nova targets fully reusable first and second stages, a rare architecture beyond SpaceX.
  • NASA's June 2026 partnership validates Stoke's reentry technology and deepens test access.
  • Launch Complex 14 and Space Force backing give Stoke a government-grade launch foothold.

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Benefits

Health Insurance

Dental Insurance

Vision Insurance

Life Insurance

401(k) Company Match

Paid Vacation

Flexible Work Hours

Company Equity

Growth & Insights and Company News

Headcount

6 month growth

1%

1 year growth

0%

2 year growth

0%
Bloomberg
Aug 13th, 2026
Stoke Space Is Raising $1 Billion to Fund Flagship Nova Rocket

Stoke Space Technologies Inc. is raising $1 billion to accelerate development and production of a fully reusable rocket to challenge Elon Musk’s SpaceX, people familiar with the matter said.

Associated Press
Jul 8th, 2026
Former OpenAI executive Kevin Weil joins Stoke Space board as reusable rocket firm eyes commercial operations

Stoke Space has appointed Kevin Weil to its board of directors. Weil brings over 20 years of technology leadership experience from roles at OpenAI, Planet Labs, Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter. Most recently, he served as vice president of science at OpenAI, focusing on applying AI to scientific discovery. Stoke Space is developing Nova, a fully reusable medium-lift launch vehicle. The company aims to provide low-cost, on-demand space transport with aircraft-like frequency. Weil was part of management teams that took Twitter and Planet public and helped scale Instagram and ChatGPT into global platforms. Stoke's technology development has been funded by the US Space Force, DIU, NASA, and the National Science Foundation. Weil holds degrees in physics and mathematics from Harvard and Stanford.

Business Wire
Feb 11th, 2026
Stoke Space Technologies Extends Previously Announced Series D Financing to $860 Million

Stoke Space Technologies extends previously announced Series D Financing to $860 million.

Benzinga
Feb 10th, 2026
Stoke Space raises $860M in extended Series D to accelerate Nova rocket development

Stoke Space Technologies has extended its Series D funding round to $860 million, up from the $510 million initially announced in October 2025. The rocket company is developing fully and rapidly reusable medium-lift launch vehicles. The original funding was earmarked for completing Launch Complex 14 at Cape Canaveral Space Force Station and expanding production capacity for its Nova launch vehicle. The additional capital will accelerate future elements of the company's product roadmap. Founded by CEO Andy Lapsa, Stoke has now raised $1.34 billion in total funding. The company is backed by the US Space Force, Defence Innovation Unit, NASA and the National Science Foundation, amongst other government and private partners. Terms of the funding extension were not disclosed.

Stoke Space
Oct 8th, 2025
Stoke Raises $510 Million to Scale Manufacturing of Fully reusable Nova Launch vehicle | Stoke Space / 100% reusable rockets / USA

October 8, 2025 — We’re pleased to announce that as of September 23, we have raised $510 million in Series D funding led by Thomas Tull’s US Innovative Technology Fund (USIT) in conjunction with a $100...