SpaceX

Builds rockets and runs Starlink satellite internet

Lead Starship Engineer - Ship Vehicle Assembly

Manufacturing EngineeringConfirmed live in the last 24 hours

Full-timeBrownsville, TX, USANo salary listed

About the Job

Requirements

A bachelor's degree in mechanical, manufacturing, or aerospace engineering is required.
At least 2 years of process development and build experience on integrated assemblies is required; internship and academic experience do not count.
Flight hardware work requires physical dexterity in tight quarters.
Ability to stand, kneel, crouch, twist the upper body, work in cramped positions and small openings, and climb hand over hand is required.
The role may involve exposure to extreme outdoor environments, including heat, cold, and rain, as well as fumes, odors, and noise.
Ability to work extended hours and weekends depending on site operational needs is required.
Ability to travel to remote build sites up to 15% is required.
Physical demands include standing up to 3 hours per day, sitting up to 6 hours per day, pushing or pulling up to 50 pounds unassisted for up to 15 minutes per day, overhead reaching up to 3 hours per day, walking up to 3 hours per day, lifting or carrying up to 25 pounds unassisted for up to 15 minutes per day, climbing ladders or stairs up to 1 hour per day, and working in temperatures over 80 degrees for up to 30 minutes per day.
Ability to safely work at heights up to 500 feet and in confined spaces, use an air-purifying respirator, and perform the listed physical requirements is required. A pre-employment questionnaire and/or physical may be required to confirm these capabilities, potentially including a medical history review.
Applicants must be U.S. citizens or nationals, lawful permanent residents, refugees, or asylees, or be eligible to obtain required authorizations from the U.S. Department of State.

Responsibilities

Lead and develop a team of build engineers designing the production system.
Mentor team members and foster their continual technical and professional development.
Develop lean manufacturing processes, factory infrastructure, tools, and documentation to enable efficient, high-rate production.
Work with the design engineering team to drive simplicity into vehicle systems at a complex level.
Build long-term direction for vehicle architecture and factory infrastructure to meet the evolving needs of the program and company.
Coordinate and execute development, qualification, and acceptance testing of systems and tooling needed to meet hardware deadlines.
Create original computer-aided design models and prints for flight and/or tooling components.
Execute design-for-manufacturability changes to enhance production efficiency.
Create and maintain build schedules and detailed work instructions.
Develop process parameters and requirements, and drive next-generation architectures.

Desired Qualifications

A master's degree in an engineering discipline is preferred.
Experience recruiting, training, and managing a high-performing team with wide scope.
Experience with process development, facility and line layouts, and error-proofing.
Experience owning the outcome of large integrated build and test scope, including both new product introduction and mature build execution.
Experience with fluid dynamics and pressurized components such as valves, regulators, tubes, and pipes.
Experience leading operation-critical part mechanical design, including basic structures, fluids, electrical calculations, and design considerations.
Experience with computer-aided design and finite element analysis software packages.
Experience with Unigraphics NX and Teamcenter computer-aided design and product lifecycle management systems.
Strong interpersonal and organizational skills.

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.

LEAD STARSHIP ENGINEER (SHIP VEHICLE ASSEMBLY)

The Lead Starship Engineer will be responsible for the production of the Starship airframe weldment. This includes assembling the Integrated Payload Volume, the PEZ, Raceway, Tank Cleaning, and Megabay 2 Stacking. This position will work directly with integration, propulsion, and quality partners in the Starfactory and hand off to airframe integration.

Production encompasses a wide range of pressurized components, propulsion systems, structures, avionics, tooling design, and process development. The lead engineer ensures the efficiency, cost, and quality of these systems while developing a team of engineers who own discrete assemblies and project scope. The lead engineer is accountable for scoping the team and growing the depth chart to support new vehicles and ultimately staff the Gigabay.

RESPONSIBILITIES:

Lead and develop a team of build engineers designing the production system
Mentor and foster the continual technical and professional development of team members
Develop lean manufacturing processes, factory infrastructure, tools, and documentation to enable efficient and high-rate production
Work with the design engineering team to drive simplicity into the vehicle systems at a complex level
Build long-term direction for vehicle architecture and factory infrastructures to meet the evolving needs of the program and company
Coordinate and execute development, qualification, and acceptance testing of systems and tooling needed to meet hardware deadlines
Create original CAD models and prints for flight and/or tooling components
Execute design for manufacturability changes to enhance production efficiency
Create and maintain build schedules and detailed work instructions
Develop process parameters, requirements, and drive next generation architectures

BASIC QUALIFICATIONS:

Bachelor's degree in mechanical, manufacturing, or aerospace engineering
2+ years of process development and build experience on integrated assemblies (internship and academic experience not applicable)

PREFERRED SKILLS AND EXPERIENCE:

Master's degree in engineering discipline
Experience recruiting, training, and managing a high performing team with wide scope
Experience with process development, facility and line layouts, and error-proofing
Experience owning the outcome of large integrated build and test scope, inclusive of both new product introduction and mature build execution
Experience with fluid dynamics and pressurized components (valves, regulators, tubes, pipes, etc.)
Experience leading operation-critical part mechanical design, including basic structures, fluids, electrical calculations and design considerations
Experience with CAD and FEA software packages
Experience with Unigraphics NX and Teamcenter CAD and PLM systems
Strong interpersonal and organizational skills

ADDITIONAL REQUIREMENTS:

Flight hardware typically is built in tight quarters and physical dexterity is required
Ability to perform job duties that require standing, kneeling, crouching, twisting upper body, working in cramped positions in small openings and climbing hand over hand
Occasionally exposed to work in extreme outdoor environments – heat, cold, rain
Work performed in an environment requiring exposure to fumes, odors, and noise
Must be able to work extended hours and weekends depending on site operational needs
Flexibility to travel to remote build sites – up to 15%
Stand: Up to 3 hours per day
Sit: Up to 6 hours per day
Push/Pull: Up to 50lbs. (unassisted) Up to 15 minutes per day
Overhead reach: Up to 3 hours per day
Walk: Up to 3 hours per day
Lift/Carry: Up to 25lbs. (unassisted) Up to 15 minutes per day
Climb (ladder/stairs): Up to 1 hour per day
Ability to work in temperatures over 80 degrees: up to 30 minutes per day
Candidate must be capable of safely working at heights (up to 500ft), in confined spaces, using an air purifying respirator, and performing the physical requirements of the job listed in the job description. Candidate may be required to complete a pre-employment questionnaire and/or physical to confirm these capabilities, which may include a medical history review

ITAR REQUIREMENTS:

To conform to U.S. Government export regulations, applicant must be a (i) U.S. citizen or national, (ii) U.S. lawful, permanent resident (aka green card holder), (iii) Refugee under 8 U.S.C. § 1157, or (iv) Asylee under 8 U.S.C. § 1158, or be 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 reach out to [email protected].

About the Company

SpaceX

Builds rockets and runs Starlink satellite internet

SpaceX builds and launches reusable rockets and spacecraft for NASA, the military, and companies, and it runs Starlink, a satellite internet service for homes and businesses. In 2020, its Dragon capsule became the first privately built spacecraft to carry astronauts to the International Space Station. Its Falcon 9 rocket lands its first stage so the booster can fly again, which cuts launch costs, while Starlink beams internet from low-orbit satellites to small dishes for a monthly fee. SpaceX also owns xAI, maker of the Grok chatbot and owner of the social network X, and is building Starship, a fully reusable rocket meant to carry people to the Moon and Mars. Elon Musk founded SpaceX in 2002, and it is based in Starbase, Texas.

Company size: 10,001+
Company stage: IPO
Headquarters: Starbase, Texas
Founded: 2002

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