Mechanical Engineer (Crew Starship Avionics)

About the position

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. As a Mechanical Engineer on the Crew Starship team, you will design and build spacecraft systems that are critical to the success and safety of future astronauts. Disciplines within this team include primary and secondary structures, mechanisms, and crew-interfacing hardware. Your design solutions will be driven by all future Crew Starship missions (Lunar, Mars, etc.). This role requires full hardware ownership, from initial design requirements and concepts all the way through design, analysis, prototype, qualification, and integration.

Responsibilities

• Act as extreme owner for electro-mechanical aspects of high reliability spacecraft electronics used on Crew Starship vehicles
• Design electronic packaging, vehicle mounting, and environmental protection for avionics hardware and harnessing
• Support flight hardware, from conception through build, qualification, and ultimately flight operations
• Perform in depth first principles analysis, finite element analysis (FEA), and hand calculations to optimize designs for flight environments
• Select mechanical components and materials, capture designs using computer-aided design (CAD) and configuration management tools, and provide formal documentation for product development milestones
• Assist with architecture definition, capturing product requirements, manufacturing planning, and production test
• Execute development and qualification testing campaigns to exercise designs to their limits and ensure reliable flight hardware
• Directly support NASA with deliverables for Crew Starship milestones
• Work with experts from other teams and departments to ensure that fielded systems perform their function while being efficient, manufacturable, and reliable; challenge assumptions and build strong professional relationships

Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree in mechanical or aerospace engineering
• 1+ years of experience with mechanical/electromechanical hardware design and analysis (research and extracurricular academic projects qualify)

Nice-to-haves

• Passion for spaceflight and electro-mechanical design for high reliability applications
• Experience with CAD and FEA software packages, and very strong first-principles engineering fundamentals
• Experience in design, CAD, FEA, GD&T, defining test plans, designing test setups, and executing hardware environmental qualification tests
• Basic understanding of electrical components and packaging, for example with computers, displays, control panels, sensors, motors, batteries, solar, radio-frequency (RF), and harnessing components
• Understanding of structural analysis and failure modes of complex mechanical systems
• Hands-on experience with mechanism/structures design, prototyping, and precision mechanical assembly
• Familiarity with design-for-manufacture and design-for-cost
• Familiar with how to write software for test automation, data review, and design analysis, preferably in MATLAB or Python
• Basic project management skills and demonstrated ability to collaborate with other engineering disciplines
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills

Benefits

• Pay range: Mechanical Engineer/Level I: $95,000.00 - $115,000.00/per year
• Pay range: Mechanical Engineer/Level II: $110,000.00 - $130,000.00/per year
• Potential discretionary bonuses
• Comprehensive medical coverage
• Access to a 401(k) retirement plan
• Various other discounts and perks
• 10 or more paid holidays per year
• Paid sick leave pursuant to Company policy