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 (STARSHIP)

SpaceX is committed to developing revolutionary space technology, with the ultimate goal of enabling people to live on other planets. The Starship mechanical engineer will support the development of SpaceX's Starship spacecraft, a fully reusable transportation system designed to carry both crew and cargo to Earth orbit, the Moon, Mars, and beyond.

RESPONSIBILITIES:

• Own primary and secondary structures on Starship
• Design flight hardware to achieve ascent, entry, and rapid reuse of next-generation launch vehicle 
• Develop design criteria where definition is lacking
• Perform hand calculations and FEA to develop, assess, and optimize designs
• Incorporate design for manufacturing principles and supervise first article builds
• Balance operational needs across vehicle systems while optimizing for development speed, mass, and cost
• Design and execute qualification testing

BASIC QUALIFICATIONS:

• Bachelor's degree in an engineering discipline
• 5+ years of professional experience in mechanical and/or fluids engineering

PREFERRED SKILLS AND EXPERIENCE:

• Master's degree in mechanical engineering
• Strong ability to use data and analysis to make fast data-driven decisions
• Ability to perform trade studies and make clear recommendations using first principles and engineering fundamentals even with partial information. Strong understanding of engineering fundamentals
• Experience working at a nimble engineering organization or in a highly technical position that required a scrappy, entrepreneurial manner to accomplish tasks with tight time or budget constraints
• Experience building hardware or have a passion for contributing to a work product that operates in the real world
• Demonstrated rapid growth. You’ve held successive positions of increasing responsibility within an organization, were able to get yourself up to speed at a heroic pace, and accomplished something meaningfully difficult early in your career
• You’ve demonstrated resilience and the ability to overcome failure or extreme odds. Many critics would say that our goals are impossible but this isn’t the first time we’ve proven that highly improbable goals like reusable rockets can become possible

ADDITIONAL REQUIREMENTS:

• Ability to work extended hours and weekends as necessary

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 & long-term disability insurance, life insurance, paid parental leave, and various other discounts and perks. You may also accrue 3 weeks of paid vacation & will be eligible for 10 or more paid holidays per year. Exempt employees are eligible for 5 days of sick leave per year.

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 notify the Human Resources Department at (310) 363-6000.