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A New Paradigm For Space Operations.

What You'll Do:

The Materials and Processes (M&P) Engineer will serve as a core technical authority supporting the development, fabrication, integration, and testing of Space Kinetic's spacecraft mechanisms and flight hardware.

You will work closely with design, manufacturing, quality, and test teams to ensure materials, treatments, and manufacturing processes meet the demands of launch and space environments. The ideal candidate has broad aerospace materials experience and is comfortable supporting hardware from design and qualification through production and failure investigation.

Job Responsibilities:

• Guide mechanical designers on material selection, surface treatments, joint design, and space-environment risks, including atomic oxygen, vacuum outgassing, galvanic corrosion, and thermal cycling.
• Author, review, and approve engineering drawings, material specifications, and process procedures for compliance with aerospace standards.
• Plan and execute qualification programs for metallics, composites, coatings, paints, adhesives, lubricants, and other critical materials and processes.
• Coordinate with internal laboratories and external vendors to characterize materials, analyze test data, and document qualification results.
• Support PDR, CDR, MRR, and other technical reviews by providing M&P risk assessments and actionable recommendations.
• Manage M&P verification activities and ensure materials and processes are approved before flight-hardware assembly.
• Support the Material Review Board by developing technical dispositions for non-conformances identified during manufacturing, assembly, and testing.
• Lead destructive and non-destructive failure investigations, identify root causes, and implement corrective actions.

What It Takes: 

• Bachelor's degree in Materials Science and Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, Aerospace Engineering, Chemical Engineering, or a related technical discipline.
• 3 to 7 years of materials and processes engineering experience supporting spaceflight or similarly high-reliability aerospace hardware.
• Experience with aerospace metallics, including aluminum, titanium, stainless steel, and high-strength alloys.
• Experience with structural composites, carbon-fiber layups, core materials, and associated manufacturing processes.
• Experience with thermal-control hardware and materials, including heat pipes, heaters, thermal-interface materials, coatings, primers, adhesives, potting compounds, sealants, and space-qualified lubricants.
• Hands-on experience investigating manufacturing anomalies, resolving non-conformances, and supporting hardware through qualification or production.

What We'd Love:  

• Experience applying NASA materials and processes standards, including NASA-STD-6016.
• Familiarity with cleanroom operations, contamination control, or planetary protection requirements.
• Experience supporting spacecraft mechanisms or other spaceflight hardware.
• Experience supporting government, national security, NASA, or commercial spaceflight programs.
• Ability to operate with urgency, ownership, and autonomy in a demanding startup environment.
• Passion for advancing the commercial and National Security space industry.

Where You'll Be: 

The position is onsite at our headquarters in El Segundo CA . Domestic travel may be required (up to ~20% of the year). 

What We Offer:  

• Competitive Base Salary + Equity-Based Compensation
• Highly Competitive PTO and Holiday Calendar
• Comprehensive Medical, Dental, and Vision Coverage
• Unique Performance-Based Bonus Structure

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 ITAR here 

Equal Employment Opportunity: 
Space Kinetic provides equal employment opportunities to all employees and applicants without regard to race, color, religion, age, sex, gender identity, sexual orientation, national origin, veteran status, disability or any other legally protected status.