Mechanical Design Engineer (Propulsion Components)

$110,000 - $130,000/Yr

SpaceX - Hawthorne, CA

Full-time - Entry Level

Hawthorne, CA

Transportation Equipment Manufacturing

About the position

The Mechanical Design Engineer (Propulsion Components) at SpaceX is responsible for the design, development, and troubleshooting of critical propulsion components for the Falcon 9 and Dragon vehicles. This role involves working on state-of-the-art electromechanical, pneumatic, and hydraulic systems that are essential for the operation of reusable launch vehicles. The engineer will collaborate with multi-disciplinary teams to ensure the reliability and performance of these components, contributing to SpaceX's mission of enabling human life on Mars.

Responsibilities

• Responsible for troubleshooting, development, and flight readiness of valves, regulators, and actuators on the Falcon 9 and Dragon vehicles
• Supports, troubleshoots and documents component anomalies that arise at the build, test, or launch sites
• Collaborates with multi-disciplinary teams on valve and vehicle investigations
• Generates detailed drawings and coordinate valve manufacturing with the production team
• Generates and maintains component specifications
• Develops and executes qualification test plans to ensure readiness for flight (vibration, shock, thermal cycle, life cycle, flow testing)
• Spearheads root cause investigations and redesigns to improve reliability or production rate
• Certifies hardware for crewed flight and repeated reuse through testing and analysis
• Presents and clearly communicates analysis, test results

Requirements

• Bachelor degree in engineering discipline or physics
• 1+ years of experience designing and analyzing mechanical systems via professional work experience, project/research-based student experience, or a combination of both

Nice-to-haves

• Strong interpersonal and collaborative skills, enthusiasm for problem solving, and desire to optimize modern rocket production and launch processes
• Master's degree or 1+ years of professional experience in mechanical or aerospace engineering
• Experience designing, building, testing and troubleshooting mechanical systems
• Understanding of fundamental principles in fluid systems and solid mechanics
• Strong project management skills and effective communication of technical concepts across multi-disciplinary teams
• Hands-on experience with fluid and/or gas handling systems
• Leadership experience on a project or research team
• Experience using test instrumentation and control components (e.g. pressure transducers, thermocouples, resistance temperature detectors, relays, solenoid valves, etc.)
• Knowledge of electro-mechanical devices, actuators, motors, valves, regulators, or other fluid control devices

Benefits

• life insurance
• parental leave
• paid holidays
• sick time
• 401(k)
• retirement plan
• stock options