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Polymer Internships Jobs in California (NOW HIRING)

Starpath

Chemical / Materials Engineer - Space Solar

Hawthorne, CA · On-site

$125K - $160K/yr

  • Medical

  • Dental

  • Vision

  • PTO

... polymer, or related materials (internship and academic research applicable) * Working knowledge of materials characterization techniques and the ability to interpret chemical, thermal, and electrical ...

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Polymer Internships information

What types of projects can I expect to work on during a polymer internship?

As a polymer intern, you can expect to be involved in hands-on projects such as developing new polymer blends, testing material properties in the laboratory, assisting with process optimization, and analyzing data from experiments. Interns often work closely with experienced engineers and scientists, contributing to both research and product development teams. This experience provides valuable exposure to various stages of polymer production and testing, helping you build practical skills and industry knowledge.

What is the difference between Polymer Internships vs Polymer Technicians?

AspectPolymer InternshipsPolymer Technicians
Required CredentialsTypically pursuing or recent graduates with relevant courseworkPost-secondary education or technical certifications in polymer science or engineering
Work EnvironmentResearch labs, manufacturing facilities, or corporate R&D departmentsManufacturing plants, quality control labs, or production lines
Employer & Industry UsageInternship programs in chemical, materials, or polymer companiesFull-time roles in polymer manufacturing and processing industries

Polymer Internships are entry-level opportunities for students or recent graduates to gain experience in polymer science, often in research or development settings. Polymer Technicians are more experienced roles involving hands-on work in manufacturing, quality control, or processing. While internships focus on learning and exposure, technicians perform operational tasks essential to production.

What are polymer internships?

Polymer internships are temporary positions for students or recent graduates to gain hands-on experience working with polymers—large molecules used in materials like plastics, rubbers, and fibers. These internships are typically offered by research institutions, manufacturing companies, or chemical firms. Interns may assist in laboratory research, product development, quality testing, or process optimization. The experience helps students apply classroom knowledge to real-world projects, build professional networks, and enhance their resumes for future careers in polymer science or engineering.

What are the key skills and qualifications needed to thrive as a polymer intern, and why are they important?

To thrive as a Polymer Intern, you typically need a background in chemistry, materials science, or chemical engineering, along with foundational knowledge of polymer properties and synthesis. Familiarity with laboratory equipment, safety protocols, and analytical tools like FTIR, DSC, or GPC is often required. Strong attention to detail, willingness to learn, and effective teamwork and communication skills set outstanding interns apart. These competencies are essential for contributing to research projects, maintaining safety, and efficiently supporting innovation in polymer development.

What are popular job titles related to Polymer Internships jobs in California?

For Polymer Internships jobs in California, the most frequently searched job titles are:

What job categories do people searching Polymer Internships jobs in California look for?

The top searched job categories for Polymer Internships jobs in California are:

What cities in California are hiring for Polymer Internships jobs?

Cities in California with the most Polymer Internships job openings:

Polymer Internships jobs near you
Infographic showing various Polymer Internships job openings in California as of August 2026, with employment types broken down into 13% Internship, 1% As Needed, 68% Full Time, 16% Part Time, 1% Temporary, and 1% Summer. Highlights an 92% Physical, 4% Hybrid, and 4% Remote job distribution.

Chemical / Materials Engineer - Space Solar

Starpath

Hawthorne, CA • On-site

$125K - $160K/yr

Full-time

Medical, Dental, Vision, PTO

Posted 2 days ago

New

Job description

Chemical / Materials Engineer - Space Solar
Position Details
Location: Los Angeles (Hawthorne), CA
Employment Type: Full-time
Department: Starlight Solar
Travel: Occasional
About Starpath
Starpath develops and manufactures the technologies that will enable humans to live on the Moon and Mars. Today, we are building robotic systems that locally produce the essential commodities a lunar civilization will require at extreme scale: water, power, and oxygen. Our ultimate goal is to build and operate a self-sustaining city on Mars.
The Role
The Starlight team is focused on dramatically improving space solar power to support Starpath's core mission and the greater space economy. Starlight manufactures the lowest cost and highest performance space solar ever, which will power the majority of new satellites built on Earth and all of Starpath's equipment on the Moon and Mars.
As a Chemical / Materials Engineer on the Starlight team, you will work alongside our senior chemists on the materials and chemistries behind our solar cells and encapsulation systems. You'll support development, characterization, and scale-up work across cell chemistry, polymer encapsulation, and barrier systems - running experiments, building process workflows, and translating bench-scale chemistry into stable, reproducible manufacturing.
Responsibilities
  • Support development and optimization of chemistries and processes across cell materials, polymer encapsulation, and barrier systems
  • Run experiments, characterize materials, and analyze data to inform chemistry and process decisions
  • Build and maintain lab workflows, sample tracking, and characterization pipelines that support fast iteration
  • Perform materials and device characterization using techniques such as XRD, XPS, FTIR, DSC, TGA, SEM, photoluminescence, IV, and stability/degradation testing
  • Partner with senior chemists on root-cause investigations connecting chemistry to device and encapsulation performance
  • Support scale-up of bench-level chemistry into stable, reproducible processes on the manufacturing line
  • Contribute to environmental stability strategies - moisture, oxygen, thermal, UV, and radiation tolerance
  • Maintain lab safety, chemical inventory, and contamination control practices
  • Push back on unnecessary complexity - simplify chemistries, reduce process steps, and cut overhead wherever it doesn't add value

Required Qualifications
  • Bachelor's or Master's degree in chemistry, chemical engineering, materials science, applied physics, or a related discipline
  • 1+ years of hands-on experience with thin-film photovoltaic, optoelectronic, polymer, or related materials (internship and academic research applicable)
  • Working knowledge of materials characterization techniques and the ability to interpret chemical, thermal, and electrical data
  • Demonstrated ability to run experiments, collect and analyze data, and draw conclusions from bench work

Preferred Qualifications
  • Master's degree in a relevant discipline
  • Direct experience with thin-film PV, OLED, OPV, or related solution-processed optoelectronic materials
  • Hands-on experience with polymer chemistry - encapsulants, adhesives, barrier films, or bonded joints
  • Experience with solution-processed deposition methods (spin coating, blade coating, slot-die coating) or polymer curing and lamination
  • Proficiency with common characterization techniques - XRD, XPS, FTIR, DSC, TGA, SEM, AFM, photoluminescence, IV, EQE
  • Experience translating bench chemistry to larger-area or pilot-scale processes
  • Familiarity with glovebox operations, cleanroom protocols, and chemical safety
  • Experience using Python, MATLAB, or comparable tools for data analysis
  • Exposure to aerospace, space, or other high-reliability hardware environments

Compensation & Benefits
  • Location: Los Angeles (Hawthorne), CA
  • Competitive salary plus equity package; compensation scales with candidate experience
  • PTO & health/dental/vision coverage included

EAR 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.

Equal Opportunity
Starpath is an equal opportunity employer. We celebrate diversity and are committed to creating an inclusive environment for all employees.

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