Junior Materials Engineer - Thermal Protection System

At Orbital Paradigm, we develop autonomous reentry capsules for routine, fast-return transport from orbit, supporting in-space manufacturing, science, and logistics.

We’re seeking a Junior Materials Engineer to help develop our thermal protection material, a key technology for our vehicles. You’ll work from lab-scale development to system integration, collaborating with engineering teams to deliver solutions.

This hands-on role focuses on lab work, material analysis, and process development, ideal for someone with a background in materials, chemistry, or physics who enjoys experimentation and wants to grow in a high-impact space project.

Your Responsibilities

• Lead laboratory work for material processing and development.
• Define and maintain lab protocols and workflows.
• Explore and optimize processing techniques for ceramic / glass-based materials.
• Analyze and interpret material behavior throughout the development stages.
• Support material characterization and performance validation.
• Contribute to production scale-up and integration into the final system.
• Document results and communicate findings to the team.
• Collaborate with internal and external partners across different disciplines.

Your Profile

We’re looking for a hands-on, analytical professional who is comfortable working in a lab and taking ownership of experimental work.

Ideal experience

What We Offer