SpaceX

Builds rockets and runs Starlink satellite internet

Materials R&D Specialist

Process EngineeringConfirmed live in the last 24 hours

Full-timeBastrop, TX, USANo salary listedIn-person

About the Job

Requirements

A bachelor's degree in materials science, chemistry, chemical engineering, or another STEM discipline, or at least four years of hands-on laboratory experience; internships, co-ops, and relevant academic laboratory coursework count toward the experience alternative.
Hands-on experience in semiconductor or photovoltaic manufacturing, silicon crystal growth, wafer manufacturing, materials characterization, or a similar laboratory or manufacturing environment is preferred.
Experience using and maintaining materials-characterization or process equipment, such as microscopy, spectroscopy, electrical or optical metrology, and wet benches, is preferred.
Ability to independently run processing and experimental methods, analyze data, and determine the cause of irregular results is preferred.
Experience writing SOPs, training documents, or work instructions and training others to follow them is preferred.
Experience safely handling flammable, toxic, corrosive, or hazardous chemicals, including academic laboratory experience, is preferred.
Experience installing, calibrating, and maintaining process or characterization equipment and diagnosing issues that affect results is preferred.
Experience recommending and executing processing or experimental plans and transferring stable methods to production is preferred.
Ability to understand and accurately follow complex laboratory and manufacturing procedures and safety requirements is preferred.
Ability to collect and document data and perform basic statistical analysis in a clear, organized manner is preferred.
Ability to set priorities and determine next steps to move a project forward is preferred.
Ability to shift roles and responsibilities, work independently with limited oversight, and operate in a fast-paced environment is preferred.
Must be available to work all shifts, overtime, and/or weekends as needed.
Must be comfortable working in production and laboratory environments with hazardous chemicals such as acids, alkalis, and solvents.
Must be able to wear appropriate personal protective equipment for laboratory and electro-chemical manufacturing environments.
Must be able to walk and stand for long periods and lift 25 pounds unassisted.
Must be able to climb ladders and perform physical tasks including grasping, lifting, bending, pulling, pushing, stooping, stretching, carrying, crawling, and maneuvering in tight spaces.
Must meet U.S. export-control eligibility requirements: be a U.S. citizen or national, lawful permanent resident, refugee, or asylee, or be eligible to obtain required U.S. Department of State authorizations.

Responsibilities

Partner with engineering to bring processes and equipment online and drive process development, equipment qualification, and test-method development from silicon ingot growth through wafering and cell metrology.
Independently perform routine and non-routine processing and experimental methods for crystal growth, wafer fabrication, and/or cell metrology; identify next steps and recommend complete process plans to engineers.
Identify and implement new processing methods, standards, and equipment, including required documentation, and make practical improvements to laboratory and production-line operations.
Commission, install, calibrate, maintain, and troubleshoot process and metrology equipment, including crystal pullers, wafer process tools, and characterization instruments; diagnose issues affecting process or test results and work with engineering and original equipment manufacturers to correct them.
Prepare seeds and hot-zone components for crystal growth; perform wafer processing such as cropping, slicing, cleaning, and surface conditioning; and prepare samples for characterization and production trials.
Execute design of experiments and process trials covering recipe development, thermal management, impurity and defect control, contamination control, and supplier material evaluation.
Characterize silicon ingots, wafers, and cells using methods such as lifetime measurement, resistivity measurement, Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy, and microscopy; maintain and calibrate laboratory equipment.
Document procedures and data for repeatable, traceable work; write standard operating procedures, training documents, and work instructions; and train production technicians and other team members as methods move to manufacturing.
Work with engineering on design, testing, and process development; present results clearly and make data-based recommendations.
Handle chemicals safely, follow environmental health and safety protocols, and keep the laboratory and cleanroom organized to meet 5S standards.

Desired Qualifications

Strong interpersonal, verbal, and written communication skills and the ability to work with engineers, technicians, and cross-functional teams and summarize technical results are preferred.

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.

MATERIALS R&D SPECIALIST

Starlink is building the world's largest satellite constellation to deliver fast, reliable internet to people who need it most—and powering that constellation starts on the factory floor. We are insourcing solar cell manufacturing end-to-end, from crystal growth and ingot production through wafering and cell fabrication, to drive performance, cost, and scale at every step. High-efficiency, high-reliability cells made in-house are the backbone of the Starlink network: more photons in means more data out to customers around the world.

As a Materials R&D Specialist, you will partner with engineering to stand up and operate processes and to drive process development for insourced solar cell manufacturing, from silicon ingot growth through cell metrology. You will independently execute processing, characterization, and equipment work, recommend experimental plans, and help transfer stable methods to production. The materials you process will feed the solar cells that power next-generation Starlink satellites and Starship missions to the Moon and Mars.

RESPONSIBILITIES:

Partner with engineering to bring processes and equipment online and to drive process development, equipment qualification, and test method development from silicon ingot growth through wafering and cell metrology
Independently perform routine and non-routine processing and experimental methods for crystal growth, wafer fabrication, and/or cell metrology; identify next steps and recommend complete process plans to engineers
Identify and put in place new processing methods, standards, and equipment, including the required documentation; make practical improvements to lab and line operations
Commission, install, calibrate, maintain, and troubleshoot process and metrology equipment (e.g., crystal pullers, wafer process tools, and characterization instruments); diagnose issues that affect process or test results and work with engineering and OEMs to correct them
Perform hands-on materials work such as preparing seeds and hot-zone components for crystal growth, wafer processing (cropping, slicing, cleaning, surface conditioning), and preparing samples for characterization and production trials
Execute DOEs and process trials covering recipe development, thermal management, impurity and defect control, contamination control, and supplier material evaluation
Perform silicon ingot, wafer, and cell characterization (e.g., lifetime, resistivity, FTIR, microscopy, and related methods) and keep lab equipment maintained and calibrated
Document procedures and data so work is repeatable and traceable; write SOPs, training documents, and work instructions; train production technicians and other team members as methods move to manufacturing
Work with engineering on design, testing, and process development; present results clearly and provide recommendations based on the data
Handle chemicals safely and follow all EHS protocols; keep the lab and cleanroom organized to meet 5S standards

BASIC QUALIFICATIONS:

Bachelor's degree in materials science, chemistry, chemical engineering, or another STEM discipline; or a minimum of 4 years of hands-on laboratory experience (internship, co-op, and relevant academic laboratory coursework are applicable)

PREFERRED SKILLS AND EXPERIENCE:

Hands-on experience in semiconductor or photovoltaic manufacturing, silicon crystal growth, wafer manufacturing, materials characterization, or a similar laboratory or manufacturing environment
Experience using and maintaining materials-characterization or process equipment (e.g., microscopy, spectroscopy, electrical or optical metrology, wet benches, or related equipment)
Demonstrate ability to run processing and experimental methods independently, analyze data, and determine the cause of irregular results
Experience writing SOPs, training documents, or work instructions, and training others to follow them
Experience handling flammable, toxic, corrosive, or hazardous chemicals safely (academic laboratory experience is applicable)
Experience installing, calibrating, and maintaining process or characterization equipment, including diagnosing issues that affect results
Experience recommending and executing processing or experimental plans and transferring stable methods to production
Proven ability to understand and accurately follow complex laboratory and manufacturing procedures and adhere to safety requirements; strong attention to detail
Comfortable with data collection, documentation, and basic statistical analysis in a clear, organized manner
Strong interpersonal, verbal, and written communication skills; ability to work with engineers, technicians, and cross-functional teams and summarize technical results
Ability to set priorities and determine the next step needed to move a project forward
Ability to shift roles and responsibilities while working independently in a fast-paced, challenging environment with limited oversight

ADDITIONAL REQUIREMENTS:

Must be open to work all shifts, overtime and/or weekends as needed
Must be comfortable working in a production and laboratory environment using hazardous chemicals such as acids, alkalis, and solvents
Must be able to wear appropriate PPE for lab and electro-chemical manufacturing environments
Must be able to walk and stand for long periods of time
Must be able to lift 25 lbs. unassisted
Must be comfortable with climbing up and down ladders, grasping, standing, lifting, bending, pulling, pushing, stooping, stretching, carrying, crawling, and maneuvering in tight spaces

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 [email protected].

About the Company

SpaceX

Builds rockets and runs Starlink satellite internet

SpaceX builds and launches reusable rockets and spacecraft for NASA, the military, and companies, and it runs Starlink, a satellite internet service for homes and businesses. In 2020, its Dragon capsule became the first privately built spacecraft to carry astronauts to the International Space Station. Its Falcon 9 rocket lands its first stage so the booster can fly again, which cuts launch costs, while Starlink beams internet from low-orbit satellites to small dishes for a monthly fee. SpaceX also owns xAI, maker of the Grok chatbot and owner of the social network X, and is building Starship, a fully reusable rocket meant to carry people to the Moon and Mars. Elon Musk founded SpaceX in 2002, and it is based in Starbase, Texas.

Company size: 10,001+
Company stage: IPO
Headquarters: Starbase, Texas
Founded: 2002

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