Senior Materials Engineer
E-Space
Other Engineering
Saratoga, CA, USA
USD 140k-190k / year
Posted on Mar 10, 2026
Ready to make connectivity from space universally accessible, secure and actionable? Then you’ve come to the right place!
E-Space is bridging Earth and space to enable hyper-scaled deployments of Internet of Things (IoT) solutions and services. We are building a highly-advanced low Earth orbit (LEO) space system that will fundamentally change the design, economics, manufacturing and service delivery associated with traditional satellite and terrestrial IoT systems.
We’re intentional, we’re unapologetically curious and we’re 100% committed to innovate space-based communications and deliver actionable intelligence that will expand global economies, protect space and our planet and enhance our overall quality of life.
About the role:
We are looking for a hands-on Senior Materials Engineer to lead the development, prototyping, and qualification of material solutions for spacecraft components. You will own the material selection, process development, and testing pipeline — from rapid vendor prototyping through environmental qualification — for polymer and flexible component architectures.
This is a role for someone who doesn't just understand materials in the abstract but has deep intuition for how material choices and process parameters affect system-level performance in thin constructions — foils, vapor-deposited films, adhesive layers, and flexible laminates.
What you will do:
- Own material selection and process development for thin-film and flexible spacecraft components, with attention to how material properties influence electromagnetic and optical behavior.
- Develop and scale vacuum deposition and coating processes, with a clear understanding of how lab-scale prototyping translates to volume manufacturing — yield, throughput, process control, and cost.
- Drive rapid prototyping cycles by working directly with material vendors and contract manufacturers to source, fabricate, and iterate on component prototypes.
- Define and execute environmental test campaigns (thermal vacuum, radiation, atomic oxygen, outgassing, UV exposure, thermal cycling) to qualify materials for the space environment.
- Collaborate with Thermal, Optical & RF engineers to correlate material and process variations with measured performance, closing the loop between fabrication and function.
- Evaluate substrates, conductive films, adhesives, and coatings for combined structural, thermal, and electromagnetic suitability.
What you bring to this role:
- BS/MS in Materials Science, Chemical Engineering, or a related field. Advanced degree preferred.
- 5+ years of experience in materials engineering with direct, hands-on work on thin-film deposition and coating processes in a production or pre-production environment.
- Understanding of how material properties (dielectric, conductive, mechanical) affect Thermal, RF and optical system performance.
- Experience qualifying materials for the space environment, including familiarity with outgassing standards, thermal vacuum testing, and radiation effects on polymers and thin films.
- Demonstrated ability to work with external vendors to rapidly develop and iterate on prototype hardware.
- Practical understanding of manufacturing scale-up — you've thought carefully about how a process moves from prototyping to continuous, high-volume production.
- Comfort working across disciplines — you don't need to be an antenna or RF engineer, but you need to connect material decisions to system performance.
We are redefining how satellites are designed, manufactured and used—so we’re looking for candidates with passion, deep knowledge and direct experience on LEO satellite component development, design and in-orbit activities. If that’s your experience – then we’ll be immediately wow-ed.
The Company is not currently able to provide employment sponsorship for candidates who do not hold work authorization for the location of this role.
Why E-Space is right for you:
As a member of our team, you will play a crucial role in driving our success. Our team members have a strong sense of dedication and responsibility; this includes a strong commitment to our mission to create an entirely new suite of global capabilities to improve lives, business efficiencies and build a smarter planet. This means that there will be times when extra hours, including nights and weekends, may be needed to meet critical deadlines and mission goals. In return, we offer a dynamic work environment with opportunities for professional growth and development and the chance to make a meaningful impact in a high-growth industry.
We want you to make the most of your journey at E-Space. That’s why we support and invest in the physical, emotional and financial well-being of our team members and their families. Some of what you can expect when working at E-Space:
• An opportunity to really make a difference
• Sustainability at our core
• Fair and honest workplace
• Innovative thinking is encouraged
• Competitive salaries
• Continuous learning and development
• Health and wellness care options
• Financial solutions for the future
• Optional legal services (US only)
• Paid holidays
• Paid time off
140000 - 190000 USD a year
The estimated range is meant to reflect an anticipated salary range for the position in question, which is based on market data and other factors, all of which are subject to change. Individual pay is based on location, skills and expertise, depth of relevant experience, and other relevant factors. For questions about this, please speak to the recruiter if you decide to apply for the role and are selected for an interview.
