Sr. Materials Engineer, Corrosion Control and Fluid Compatibility (Starmind) at SpaceX
- In Bastrop, TX.
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, CORROSION CONTROL AND FLUID COMPATIBILITY (STARMIND) SpaceX is leveraging its experience deploying and operating the world’s largest satellite constellation to develop Starmind, a new constellation of satellites capturing solar energy in space to power low-cost, high-performance AI compute for Earth. Realizing this vision demands highly reliable, high performance electrical compute hardware, solar power systems, thermal radiators, and more. These systems must operate in the extreme environment of space while delivering the connectivity, control, power distribution, and processing needed for orbital AI inference. The Starmind team designs, builds, and operates the orbital compute fabric of the future, developing key in-house technologies from satellites’ flight computers and power systems to custom compute electronics, memory, and networking for on-orbit data centers. As a Senior Materials Engineer, you will serve as the technical owner for corrosion control, chemical resistance, liquid coolants and long-term material compatibility - defining and maintaining specifications for base fluids, additives, and wetted materials (including contaminant limits and compatibility criteria), while building and driving a comprehensive testing program evaluating coolant quality, contamination, and materials reliability. RESPONSIBILITIES: Own design criteria, selection, and reliability evaluations of materials used in liquid cooling systems Define and perform laboratory testing evaluating relevant corrosion mechanisms and long-duration chemical compatibility Define material and fluid performance requirements, specifications, validation approaches, and approval criteria Evaluate and down-select supplier technologies and formulations against performance, quality, cost, timing, and compliance objectives Drive material characterization and root cause analysis for failure resolution Define and execute experimental design and reliability campaigns for materials used in thermal management systems BASIC QUALIFICATIONS: Bachelor’s degree in materials science, chemical engineering, corrosion engineering, or a STEM field 5+ years of experience in chemical and fluids processing or thermal management systems Hands-on experience with materials selection, testing, manufacturing processes, fluid compatibility and corrosion evaluations PREFERRED SKILLS AND EXPERIENCE: Master’s degree or PhD in materials science, chemical engineering, corrosion engineering, or a STEM field Strong understanding of chemical compatibility, corrosion mechanisms, coolant formulation, contaminant analysis, and the effects of vacuum, radiation, thermal cycling, and microgravity on fluids and materials Broad knowledge of thermal control systems, coolants (e.g., dielectric, ammonia, or specialized formulations), radiators, and/or two-phase systems Experience with spacecraft thermal control systems, satellite/ ISS/ CubeSat fluids, space-qualified coolants (e.g., dielectric, ammonia, or specialized formulations), radiators, or two-phase systems in vacuum/microgravity Experience coordinating material trials with process engineering, equipment suppliers, and material vendors Demonstrated ability to lead structured root cause analysis (e.g., DOE, 5-why, fishbone, fault-tree) and convert findings into durable material or process recommendations Experience working in a high-volume manufacturing or assembly environment and partnering with process, quality, production, and supply-chain teams Track record of owning complex, ambiguous materials problems end-to-end, setting priorities with limited supervision, and delivering results on tight timelines Experience mentoring engineers, technicians, …