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 (CREW STARSHIP AVIONICS)

Become a part of the Crew Starship Avionics team and support the mission to revolutionize orbital flight and space travel - opening access for humankind to establish new frontiers in space, and ultimately make humans a multi-planetary species.

The Crew Starship Avionics team has taken the challenge to develop avionics for the SpaceX Human Landing System, which will soon carry astronauts to the moon as part of NASA’s Artemis program. Across all systems, from communications, to power, to life support, to navigation, and even creature comforts, our team’s hardware will safely support astronauts on their lunar mission, while humanity looks on. This will be one of the most sophisticated and largest crewed vehicles flown in space, and will be developed at a cost and rate previously considered unthinkable in the space industry. Become a part of this fast moving and world class development team, working with super smart and motivated engineers, and achieve truly audacious goals. If you’re ready for a challenge and would like to help take humanity back to the moon then you’ve come to the right place!

RESPONSIBILITIES:

• Act as extreme owner for electro-mechanical aspects of high reliability spacecraft electronics and avionics systems used on Crew Starship vehicles
• Design electronic packaging, vehicle mounting, and environmental protection for avionics hardware and harnessing
• Take key role in development of flight hardware, from conception through build, qualification, and ultimately flight operations
• Provide technical leadership across the organization, manage related risk and change across the program, drive new technology introduction, and provide mentoring for less senior engineers
• 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
• Drive system and architecture trades, product requirements, manufacturing planning, and production test for electrical designs
• Define validation approach and create development and qualification testing campaigns to exercise designs to their limits and ensure reliable flight hardware
• Act as liaison with NASA counterparts to provide technical insight, and lead creation of deliverables for Crew Starship milestones
• Act as primary point of contact with experts from other teams and departments to ensure that fielded systems perform their intended function while being efficient, manufacturable, and reliable; challenge assumptions and build strong professional relationships

BASIC QUALIFICATIONS:

• Bachelor’s degree in mechanical or aerospace engineering
• 5+ years of experience with mechanical/electromechanical hardware design and analysis

PREFERRED SKILLS AND EXPERIENCE:

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

ADDITIONAL REQUIREMENTS:

• Extended hours and weekend work may be required to support critical project and mission milestones
• Occasional travel may be required to Starbase, Texas

COMPENSATION AND BENEFITS:                            

Pay range:          

Mechanical Engineer/Senior: $125,000.00 - $175,000.00/per year      

Your actual level and base salary will be determined on a case-by-case basis and may vary based on the following considerations: job-related knowledge and skills, education, and experience.

Base salary is just one part of your total rewards package at SpaceX. You may also be eligible for long-term incentives, in the form of company stock, stock options, or long-term cash awards, as well as potential discretionary bonuses and the ability to purchase additional stock at a discount through an Employee Stock Purchase Plan. You will also receive access to comprehensive medical, vision, and dental coverage, access to a 401(k) retirement plan, short and long-term disability insurance, life insurance, paid parental leave, and various other discounts and perks. You may also accrue 3 weeks of paid vacation and will be eligible for 10 or more paid holidays per year.

ITAR REQUIREMENTS:

• To conform to U.S. Government space technology export regulations, including the International Traffic in Arms Regulations (ITAR) you must be a U.S. citizen, lawful permanent resident of the U.S., protected individual as defined by 8 U.S.C. 1324b(a)(3), or eligible to obtain the required authorizations from the U.S. Department of State. Learn more about the ITAR here.  

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.