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Weekend Polymer Jobs in El Segundo, CA (NOW HIRING)

Starpath

Polymer Chemist - Space Solar

Hawthorne, CA · On-site

$125K - $200K/yr

Polymer Chemist - Space Solar Position Details Location: Los Angeles (Hawthorne), CA Employment Type: Full-time Department: Starlight Solar Travel: Occasional About Starpath Starpath develops and ...

Meta

Research Scientist, Optical Systems

Pasadena, CA

$122K/yr

PhD in Chemistry, Polymer Science, Chemical Engineering, Materials Science, Physics, or related field * Hands-on experience with nanofabrication techniques, including E-beam lithography, optical ...

PPG

Lead Synthesis Chemist

Burbank, CA

Success requires organic and polymer synthesis skills and the ability to collaborate to accomplish projects. You will report to the Senior Manager, Adhesives and Polymers at our Burbank, CA facility.

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All JobsPolymer JobsWeekend Polymer JobsWeekend Polymer Jobs in El Segundo, CA

Weekend Polymer information

See El Segundo, CA salary details

$53.8K

$95.2K

$165.1K

How much do weekend polymer jobs pay per year?

As of Aug 29, 2026, the average yearly pay for weekend polymer in El Segundo, CA is $95,150.00, according to ZipRecruiter salary data. Most workers in this role earn between $74,600.00 and $122,500.00 per year, depending on experience, location, and employer.

What is a weekend polymer?

Weekend Polymer jobs typically refer to positions in manufacturing or laboratory settings where employees work primarily on weekends to assist with the production, testing, or development of polymer materials. These roles may involve operating machinery, conducting quality checks, or assisting scientists and engineers with research. Weekend Polymer positions are ideal for individuals seeking flexible work schedules or supplemental income, and they often require knowledge of safety protocols and basic understanding of polymers. These jobs are common in industries such as plastics, automotive, aerospace, and materials science.

What are the typical responsibilities and challenges faced by a weekend polymer technician?

As a Weekend Polymer Technician, you'll primarily be responsible for monitoring and operating polymer production equipment during weekend shifts, conducting quality checks, and recording process data. One common challenge is troubleshooting machinery issues with limited on-site support, as weekend teams are often smaller. Collaboration with weekday staff is essential for smooth handoffs and addressing ongoing projects or maintenance needs. The role offers a unique opportunity to develop expertise in polymer processing while enjoying a flexible schedule, which can be advantageous for work-life balance.

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

To thrive as a Polymer Engineer, you need a solid background in chemistry, materials science, and polymer processing, typically supported by a relevant engineering degree. Familiarity with CAD software, rheometers, spectroscopic analysis, and knowledge of industry standards or certifications such as Six Sigma is common. Strong problem-solving, attention to detail, and communication skills help in collaborating with teams and innovating new materials. These competencies ensure the effective development and testing of polymers that meet both technical and commercial requirements.

What is the difference between Weekend Polymer vs Weekend Chemical Operator?

AspectWeekend PolymerWeekend Chemical Operator
CredentialsHigh school diploma or equivalent; some roles may require technical certificationsHigh school diploma or equivalent; chemical handling certifications often preferred
Work EnvironmentManufacturing plants, production lines, polymer processing facilitiesChemical plants, processing units, manufacturing environments
Industry UsagePrimarily in plastics and polymer manufacturingIn chemical manufacturing, including polymers and other chemicals
Job FocusOperating and monitoring polymer production equipmentHandling chemicals, operating processing machinery, ensuring safety

Weekend Polymer and Weekend Chemical Operator roles share similar environments and certifications, but the Polymer role focuses specifically on polymer production processes, while the Chemical Operator handles a broader range of chemicals. Both roles are essential in manufacturing settings and often require safety and technical certifications.

What cities near El Segundo, CA are hiring for Weekend Polymer jobs?

Cities near El Segundo, CA with the most Weekend Polymer job openings:

Weekend Polymer jobs near you

Polymer Chemist - Space Solar

Starpath

Hawthorne, CA • On-site

$125K - $200K/yr

Full-time

Medical, Dental, Vision, PTO

Re-posted 7 days ago

Job description

Polymer Chemist - 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 Polymer Chemist on the Starlight team, you will own the polymer materials, encapsulation systems, and barrier chemistries that protect our perovskite solar cells from the space environment. You'll drive the formulation, qualification, and integration decisions that determine how well our arrays survive moisture, oxygen, thermal cycling, UV, and radiation across years on orbit - while staying compatible with the underlying perovskite chemistry.
Responsibilities
  • Develop, formulate, and qualify polymer encapsulants, edge seals, barrier films, and adhesives for perovskite solar hardware
  • Engineer moisture and oxygen barrier systems with ultra-low water vapor transmission rate (WVTR) and oxygen transmission rate (OTR) to protect perovskite cells
  • Develop low-temperature curing and lamination processes compatible with perovskite-cell processing constraints
  • Drive root-cause investigations on bonding, outgassing, delamination, and ingress-driven degradation across manufacturing and qualification testing
  • Characterize polymer materials and bonded joints using techniques such as FTIR, DSC, TGA, WVTR/OTR, and lap shear/peel testing
  • Evaluate polymer and encapsulation performance under space environments - vacuum outgassing (ASTM E595), thermal cycling, UV, atomic oxygen, and ionizing radiation
  • Translate bench chemistry into stable, high-yield production processes in partnership with cell, panel, and manufacturing engineering
  • Push back on unnecessary complexity - simplify chemistries, reduce cure times, and cut overhead wherever it doesn't add value

Required Qualifications
  • Master's or PhD in polymer chemistry, chemistry, materials science, chemical engineering, or a related discipline
  • 3+ years of hands-on experience with polymer encapsulants, adhesives, or barrier films for sensitive optoelectronic or electronic devices (graduate research applicable)
  • Demonstrated ability to connect polymer chemistry and processing to device-level reliability outcomes

Preferred Qualifications
  • PhD in a relevant discipline with a focus on encapsulation, barrier materials, or polymer chemistry for optoelectronic devices
  • Direct experience formulating or qualifying encapsulation systems for moisture- and oxygen-sensitive devices (perovskite PV, OLED, OPV, or flexible electronics)
  • Hands-on experience with ultra-low WVTR/OTR barrier materials, including multilayer and inorganic-organic hybrid barrier stacks
  • Familiarity with low-temperature cure systems - UV, moisture cure, low-temperature thermal - compatible with perovskite processing constraints
  • Experience with surface preparation, adhesion science, and bond strength testing
  • Knowledge of space-grade material requirements - low outgassing (ASTM E595), UV stability, atomic oxygen resistance, and radiation tolerance
  • Experience scaling polymer processes from bench to high-rate production
  • 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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