Sr. Materials Engineer, Electronic Materials

About SpaceX and Starlink

SpaceX was founded on the belief that humanity's future in exploring the stars is fundamentally more exciting. Today, SpaceX actively develops technologies to achieve this, with the ultimate goal of enabling human life on Mars. Leveraging its experience in building rockets and spacecraft, SpaceX is deploying Starlink, the world's most advanced broadband internet system. Starlink is the largest satellite constellation globally, providing fast, reliable internet to over 6 million users worldwide. We design, build, test, and operate all system components, from thousands of satellites to consumer receivers and the integrating software. We've only just begun to realize Starlink's global impact potential. As we expand the constellation, we seek best-in-class engineers to join our team.

The Opportunity: Sr. Materials Engineer, Electronic Materials

We are seeking a Sr. Materials Engineer to join our Bastrop, TX team. In this role, you will advance materials technologies crucial for Starlink's deployment. The ideal candidate will possess deep expertise in semiconductor device physics and fabrication, coupled with hands-on industry experience in solar cell development, panel-level packaging, or printed circuit board (PCB) manufacturing. This position demands a technical expert who provides thoughtful leadership, collaborates with stakeholders, and drives material and process innovations across these areas. You will be instrumental in pushing material and device performance limits to enable high-efficiency, reliable systems for both space and terrestrial applications, orchestrating end-to-end equipment and process development.

Responsibilities

• Lead the development and optimization of CVD recipes and device fabrication processes to boost solar cell efficiency.
• Own the full lifecycle of equipment specification, validation, and process development, including device modeling, performance metric characterization, and materials failure analysis.
• Build supply chains for wafers, gases, chemicals, and equipment for solar cell manufacturing.
• Define incoming acceptance criteria for materials (e.g., silicon wafers, conductive pastes).
• Address material and process challenges in panel-level packaging, spearheading the development of next-generation dielectric materials for improved packaging performance and scalability.
• Specify and implement in-process metrology tools for quality control.
• Design wafer-level test structures to evaluate material/electronic properties.
• Integrate simulation tools with experimental data to guide targeted improvements via material or process changes.
• Drive end-to-end material and process R&D programs, from concept through product implementation, to reduce cost, improve efficiency, and enhance reliability in electronic systems.
• Collaborate closely with leadership and stakeholders across design, reliability, production, and supply chain to integrate materials innovations into product roadmaps and ensure operational accountability.
• Manage compliance risks related to materials and processes, ensuring safety and environmental adherence to industry standards.
• Mentor and develop engineers, providing technical guidance and project oversight.

Basic Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Materials Science, Electrical Engineering, or a related engineering discipline.
• 5+ years of experience in microelectronics device research or manufacturing.

Preferred Skills And Experience

• Master’s degree or PhD in Materials Science, Electrical Engineering, or a related field.
• Strong background in semiconductor device physics with extensive hands-on CVD, PVD, and related device fabrication experience, with a preferred background in photovoltaics.
• Expertise in electrical device testing methods (IV, CV, Hall effect, TLM) and optical device characterization (ellipsometry, UV-VIS-IR spectroscopy, PL, EL, QSSPC).
• Proficiency in microscopy and analytical techniques (SEM/EDS, Raman, XRD, AFM, XPS, SIMS, FTIR, DMA, DSC).
• Proven cross-functional leadership skills, aligning diverse teams to achieve shared technology goals.
• Strong communication skills for presenting to stakeholders and mentoring junior engineers.

Additional Requirements

• Ability to work extended hours and weekends as needed.
• Willingness and ability to travel up to 25% of the time.
• Work performed in an environment potentially involving exposure to fumes, odors, and noise.
• Comfort occasionally working in tight or confined spaces.

Key skills/competency

• Semiconductor Device Physics
• Device Fabrication
• CVD/PVD Processes
• Solar Cell Development
• Panel-Level Packaging
• PCB Manufacturing
• Materials Failure Analysis
• Metrology & Characterization
• Supply Chain Management
• Process Optimization