Mechanical Design Engineer (Starship 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 (Starship Components) at SpaceX is responsible for developing advanced spacecraft and launch vehicle components, specifically focusing on flow and position control devices. This role involves designing, analyzing, and characterizing components for high performance in extreme environments, while collaborating with various teams to ensure manufacturability and reliability. The engineer will lead projects, provide input into vehicle architecture, and work towards achieving high component build rates to support SpaceX's mission of enabling human life on Mars.

Responsibilities

• Develop state-of-the-art, manufacturable flow control devices and mechanisms across Starship and Super Heavy stage systems.
• Partner with manufacturing, production, testing, and supply chain to achieve high component build rates.
• Generate and maintain detailed drawings, component specifications, analysis, and risk assessments.
• Spearhead root cause investigations and implement corrective actions to prevent repeat failures.
• Set the standard for rigorous component design and qualification testing.
• Target zero in-flight anomalies of propulsion components and minimize production and launch delays.
• Act as the chief engineer, collaborating with stage/component teams to inform system-level architecture.

Requirements

• Bachelor's degree in physics or an engineering discipline.
• 1+ years of mechanical design/hands-on manufacturing experience.

Nice-to-haves

• Strong interpersonal and collaborative skills.
• 1+ years of experience designing and analyzing mechanical systems.
• Master's degree or 1+ years of professional experience in mechanical or aerospace engineering.
• Experience designing, building, testing, and troubleshooting mechanical systems.
• Strong project management skills and effective communication of technical concepts.
• Hands-on experience with fluid, gas, or high voltage systems.
• Leadership experience on a project or research team.
• Experience using test instrumentation and control components.
• Knowledge of electro-mechanical devices and fluid systems.

Benefits

• Comprehensive medical, vision, and dental coverage.
• 401(k) retirement plan.
• Short & long-term disability insurance.
• Life insurance.
• Paid parental leave.
• Employee Stock Purchase Plan with stock purchase options.
• 3 weeks of paid vacation.
• 10 or more paid holidays per year.