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E-Space · 2 weeks ago

Senior Materials Engineer

Saratoga, CA

Full-time

Onsite

Senior Level

5+ years exp

E-Space is a company focused on making connectivity from space universally accessible, secure, and actionable. They are seeking a Senior Materials Engineer to oversee polymer selection, testing, and lifetime prediction for spacecraft and related products, while also designing experiments and ensuring compliance with safety standards.

Information ServicesSatellite Communication

Growth Opportunities

No H1B

Responsibilities

Own polymer characterization for space environments: UV susceptibility (including VUV), vacuum/thermal behavior, atomic oxygen and radiation awareness, contamination/outgassing, and end of life performance

Design test strategies & procedures: create end to end test plans, DOEs, acceptance criteria, and data packages for materials, adhesives, coatings, films, potting/encapsulants, and composites

Build and operate custom rigs: conceive, specify, and bring up test equipment such as UV in vacuum exposure chambers, thermal vacuum cycling fixtures, LN₂ based cryogenic setups, and environmental monitoring (e.g., radiometry, RGA, QCM)

Model lifetime & degradation: develop physics of failure and empirical models (e.g., Arrhenius/WLF/time-temperature superposition, UV dose-response, Weibull/statistical life) to predict performance over mission profiles (LEO/GEO/deep space)

Execute and analyze: run tests, reduce data, quantify uncertainties, and deliver concise engineering recommendations and redlines to design/manufacturing

Author documentation: write procedures, lab work instructions, and formal test reports suitable for internal design reviews and customer/agency audits

Cross functional support: advise design, thermal, optical, contamination control, and manufacturing teams on material selection and qualification plans

Own compliance & safety: uphold lab safety for vacuum, UV, cryogens, and high voltage; ensure calibration/traceability and good measurement practice

Vendor & lab interfacing: qualify suppliers, specify external test campaigns (e.g., AO or radiation exposure), and review external lab reports

Qualification

Polymer characterizationLifetime prediction modelingCustom test rig designTechnical writingData analysis (Python/Matlab)Vacuum systems safetyContamination control knowledgeCAD/FEA familiarityAdhesives for spaceTeam mentoring

Required

5–10 years applied experience in polymer/materials characterization with a strong hands-on laboratory bias

Demonstrated ability to design from scratch: custom fixtures, chambers, exposure setups (vacuum + UV, LN₂/cryogenic), and to write robust procedures

Depth in polymer degradation mechanisms (photooxidation, chain scission/crosslinking, volatilization/outgassing, thermal aging) and how they map to space conditions

Proven skill in lifetime prediction and DOE/statistics, including building models that drive design decisions

Excellent technical writing: clear test plans, procedures, and reports suitable for design reviews and audits

Strong safety mindset around vacuum systems, UV sources, and cryogens

BS/MS/PhD in Materials Science, Polymer Science, Chemical Engineering, or related discipline (or equivalent practical experience)