Materials Engineer - Solar Array Assembly

About the role

Aerospacelab, which designs and manufactures small satellites and develops earth observation services, is looking for a motivated, hands-on junior or mid-level Materials Engineer to join the Solar Array Assembly (SAA) development and production team. The role is based in Belgium and is offered on a permanent basis.

Key responsibilities

• Select and qualify SAA materials and processes such as adhesives, encapsulants, substrates, coverglass bonding and cell interconnect welding.
• Write test plans, prepare and follow up samples through manufacturing and testing (thermal cycling, mechanical, ageing), analyse the results and write the reports.
• Maintain the materials and processes lists (DML/DPL) of the SAA and their justification.
• Present and defend results to the customer at design reviews (PDR, CDR, QR) and answer their questions and RIDs.
• Follow up suppliers and test laboratories on specifications, test campaigns, incoming inspection and non-conformances.
• Support the SAA mechanical, electrical and AIT teams on materials questions, failure investigations and root-cause analysis.

Required profile

• Master's degree, PhD or equivalent in Materials Science, Chemistry, Mechanical Engineering or Aerospace Engineering.
• 5+ years of experience in a materials engineering role, preferably in the space or aerospace industry.
• Hands-on attitude: comfortable in the lab and on the shop floor, able to prepare samples and run tests yourself.
• Able to build a clear technical argument and defend it in front of a customer; good communication skills and a team-oriented mindset.

Required skills

• Experience with polymer materials (adhesives, encapsulants, composites, coatings) and their testing.
• Knowledge of space solar array technology: multijunction cells, coverglass, interconnect welding, flexible or rigid substrates.
• Nice to have: familiarity with ECSS standards (ECSS-Q-ST-70 series) and ESA milestone reviews; materials characterisation (FTIR, SEM, peel/shear testing) and outgassing testing; process quality tools (SPC, DOE, FMEA).
• Fluency in French is a plus.

What we offer

• A career path built by you, with direct impact on the company's growth.
• A flat hierarchy and a fast-paced environment.
• Flexible ways of working.
• A salary package consistent with your experience.