Sr. Mechanical Engineer (Starship Avionics) at SpaceX
Hawthorne, CA, United States
SpaceX was founded under the belief that a future where humanity is out exploring the stars is fundamentally more exciting than one where we are not. Today SpaceX is actively developing the technologies to make this possible, with the ultimate goal of enabling human life on Mars.
SR. MECHANICAL ENGINEER (STARSHIP AVIONICS)
SpaceX is committed to developing revolutionary space technology, with the ultimate goal of enabling people to live on other planets. The Starship Mechanical Engineer based in Hawthorne, CA will support the development of SpaceX's Starship spacecraft and Super Heavy rocket (collectively referred to as Starship), a fully reusable transportation system designed to carry both crew and cargo to Earth orbit, the Moon, Mars, and beyond.
RESPONSIBILITIES:
Own complex mechanical systems on Starship Booster and Ship through their entire design cycle
Drive conceptual design, architecture trades, and first order sizing. Develop design criteria where definition is lacking
Balance operational needs across vehicle systems while optimizing for development speed, mass and cost
Perform in depth first principles analysis and FEA to assess and optimize designs
Incorporate design for manufacturing principles and supervise first article builds
Design and execute qualification testing
Coordinate with multi-disciplinary teams working on system level vehicle design trades
Lead multidisciplinary root cause investigations and component redesigns to improve reliability and/or production rate
Extreme ownership of product outcomes for spaceflight hardware
BASIC QUALIFICATIONS:
Bachelor's degree in mechanical or aerospace engineering
Experience with CAD and FEA software packages
5+ years of experience with mechanical, electromechanical, or fluid system design and analysis
PREFERRED SKILLS AND EXPERIENCE:
3+ years of technical project leadership
10+ years of professional experience in mechanical design and analysis
Demonstrated strength in technical communication, articulating design decisions, and technical mentorship
Strong demonstrated capability in design, CAD and FEA
Hands-on experience with mechanism design, prototyping, and precision mechanical assembly
Experience with design for high volume production with a focus on design for manufacturability
Knowledge of and experience in selecting materials, manufacturing methods, and surface treatments for mechanical components
Solid understanding and application of GD&T
Demonstrated understanding of structural analysis and failure modes of complex mechanical systems
Proficiency in one or more programming languages
ADDITIONAL REQUIREMENTS:
Must be willing to travel as needed to Starbase launch facility - Brownsville, TX
Extended hours and weekend work may be required to support critical project and mission milestones
ITAR REQUIREMENTS:
SpaceX is an Equal Opportunity Employer; employment with SpaceX is governed on the basis of merit, competence and qualifications and will not be influenced in any manner by race, color, religion, gender, national origin/ethnicity, veteran status, disability status, age, sexual orientation, gender identity, marital status, mental or physical disability or any other legally protected status.
Applicants wishing to view a copy of SpaceX's Affirmative Action Plan for veterans and individuals with disabilities, or applicants requiring reasonable accommodation to the application/interview process should notify the Human Resources Department at (310) 363-6000.
