Materials & Process Engineer

At Stoke, we believe a thriving space economy will enable a vibrant, sustainable, and equitable future here on Earth. That is why we’re building Nova, our fully and rapidly reusable launch vehicle. Designed for daily flight, Nova tackles the core challenges of space transportation by reducing cost, increasing availability, and improving reliability. By radically lowering launch costs and increasing flight cadence, we’re helping create a truly scalable space industry.

Our team is mission-driven, collaborative, and empowered to take ownership of their work. If you want to work alongside some of the most dedicated and talented people on Earth, we’d love to have you join us.

Description

We are seeking an Materials & Process Engineer to join our dynamic team to support fully reusable launch vehicles. In this role, you will be responsible for leading strategy, testing, characterization, and qualification efforts centered around Stoke's material systems. You will collaborate with design, analysis, and manufacturing teams through all phases of the product lifecycle. This role is pivotal in ensuring the reliability, performance, and producibility of Nova. You must be ready to stay focused, move fast, self-direct, and learn on the fly.

Responsibilities

• Serve as the responsible M&P engineer for Stoke's engines, structures, mechanisms, coatings, and adhesives
• Trade, evaluate, and select appropriate materials for a variety of hardware systems, considering performance requirements, cost, and sustainability factors
• Design and execute material characterization programs: mechanical testing, environmental exposure, fatigue, and failure analysis, generating original properties data
• Author, implement, and maintain M&P requirements, material specifications, testing protocols and engineering work standards related to Stoke material systems
• Lead failure analysis and root cause investigations for material-related anomalies, establishing corrective action processes that feed back into design iteration
• Evaluate, qualify, and manage material suppliers, including receiving inspection criteria, lot acceptance requirements, and supply chain risk mitigation
• Define the strategy and qualification philosophy for materials at Stoke
• Collaborate with engines, structures, analysis, avionics, valves, welding, additive, and manufacturing to create a robust system level material property database
• Own and build out Stoke's materials characterization lab, testing protocols, and development workflows

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in materials science, chemical engineering, mechanical engineering, physics, aerospace engineering, or a related technical discipline
• 3+ years of professional experience in materials engineering, with demonstrated expertise in material selection, characterization, qualification, testing, and failure analysis
• Background working across multiple material systems & processes - metals, soft goods, coatings, powder metallurgy, welding, and heat treatment
• Proficiency with material characterization techniques and tools - metallography, microscopy, mechanical testing
• Demonstrated track record of material and process decisions that have been validated through flight or equivalent high-reliability hardware programs

Preferred Qualifications

• Master's degree or PhD in materials science, chemical engineering, or a related field
• Experience architecting M&P programs for rocket systems across the full development lifecycle - requirements definition, trade studies, development testing, and qualification
• Familiarity with ASTM, NASA, AWS industry standards
• Expertise in key M&P disciplines including fracture mechanics, corrosion control, statistics, and failure analysis

Benefits

• Equity - We know that our employees are the reason we succeed. To give everyone a stake in our future, we are pleased to offer equity in the form of stock options to all regular, full-time employees. 
• Comprehensive benefits program including subsidized medical, dental, and vision insurance 
• Company-paid life and disability insurance 
• 401(k) plan with employer match 
• 4 weeks’ Paid Time Off  
• Holidays - 10 days (including an end-of-year closure) 
• Paid Family/Parental Leave  
• On-site gym or monthly wellness stipend (depending on location) 
• Dog friendly offices! 

Compensation

Target Levels:

• Level 3 Range: $129,150 - $193,620
• Level 4 Range: $151,305 - $252,105

Our job posts are intentionally written to attract a wide variety of experience levels, and we make decisions about the right fit on a per-candidate basis. 

Your actual level and base salary will be decided based on your specific experience and skill level.

ITAR Requirements

To conform to U.S. Government space technology export regulations, including the International Traffic in Arms Regulations (ITAR), you must be a U.S. citizen, lawful permanent resident of the U.S., protected individual as defined by 8 U.S.C. 1324b(a)(3), or eligible to obtain the required authorizations from the U.S. Department of State.

Equal Opportunity 

The Company is an Equal Opportunity Employer, including with respect to disability and veteran status.  It is committed to compliance with all equal opportunity laws, including the Immigration and Nationality Act (INA) and Title VII.   It does not discriminate on the basis of nationality, race, citizenship, immigration status, or any other protected class when it comes to employment practices, including hiring. 

Employment at the Company is contingent upon satisfactory completion of reference and background checks, and on your ability to prove your identity and authorization to work in the U.S. for the Company.  Employees must comply with the United States Citizenship and Immigration Services employment verification requirements, and, therefore, they must complete an Employment Eligibility Verification Form I-9 at the start of employment and re-verify authorization to work periodically.

Separate from this I-9 process, this position entails access to certain technology and technical data that is restricted under U.S. export control laws and regulations.  Employment or continued employment may be conditioned on your legal authorization to work with or have access to export control materials as necessary to perform your job.

Candidate Rights & Accommodations

If you require a reasonable accommodation to complete the application or participate in the interview process, please contact [email protected]. Requests will be handled in accordance with applicable laws. Please do not include medical or other confidential information in your initial request.

For more information about your rights, please refer to the "Know Your Rights" notice here. 

E-Verify

Stoke Space uses E-Verify to confirm the identity and employment eligibility of all new hires. 

For more information on the right to work, please refer to the poster here.