Industrial Designer

Full Time
Hawthorne, CA, USA
7 months ago

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.

INDUSTRIAL DESIGNERThe Industrial Designer will play a crucial role in the conceptual development of consumer products, human spaceflight products, and interior designs. Industrial Designers excel in common design deliverables such as sketches, prototypes, color and material finishes, and visualization, particularly in relation to customer experience and product quality.

Within the design team at SpaceX, there are several sub-teams with different focus areas. By adhering to industrial design best practices, SpaceX Industrial Designers will deliver products that not only inspire the world but also meet the requirements of engineering, manufacturing, and operations.  Members of the design team are pivotal in educating and implementing design process elements, including digital modeling, scale model prototyping, theme development, and production integration.

RESPONSIBILITIES:

  • Develop and execute design solutions for challenges related to form, usability, physical ergonomics, and brand development, presenting them effectively
  • Provide design expertise and feedback throughout the product development process
  • Create illustrations to clearly communicate design decisions and support engineering milestones
  • Conceptualize and design new prototypes for product trades and development milestones
  • Assist the engineering department with class-A surfacing and sketch models, spanning broad design themes to component-level details
  • Collaborate with the development team to bring prototypes to completion as required
  • Contribute to the development and improvement of the prototyping process at SpaceX, ensuring alignment with engineering and program milestones, and providing testing properties for operations
  • Work closely with color and material designers to create designs that consider the possibilities and constraints of the color and trim vision, fostering a unified vision for the designs
  • Collaborate with suppliers to achieve optimal products in terms of craftsmanship, cost, and engineering, while maintaining alignment with the design vision

BASIC QUALIFICATIONS:

  • Bachelor's degree in a design discipline (i.e. industrial design, transportation, product, architecture)
  • 2+ years of professional experience in industrial/transportation design within production and advanced design environments

PREFERRED SKILLS AND EXPERIENCE:

  • 2+ years of professional experience with advanced design programs at an Original Equipment Manufacturer (OEM)
  • 2+ years of professional digital modeling experience using a 3D modeling tool like IG/NX or a similar platform
  • Exceptional design, visualization, and graphic skills
  • Ability to thrive in an integrated team environment, with daily interaction with technicians, engineers, and managers
  • Excellent verbal and graphical communication skills to effectively convey design concepts
  • In-depth technical knowledge of prototyping, manufacturing, and assembly processes
  • Demonstrated capability to independently lead the design development process
  • Proficient in transforming 2D designs into 3D models and managing large assembly models while tracking historical data
  • Advanced technical knowledge of prototyping, manufacturing, and assembly processes
  • Excellent judgment of design proportions and proposals
  • Self-motivated with the capability to manage multiple parallel-path projects
  • Ability to collaborate effectively in an integrated team, engaging in daily interactions with technicians, engineers, and managers
  • Strong verbal and graphical communication skills for effective design concept presentation
  • Demonstrated ability to deliver successful designs within tight timing constraints

ADDITIONAL REQUIREMENTS:

  • Strong visual portfolio is mandatory for consideration
  • This is not a remote or hybrid position and will require relocation if not already local to the Hawthorne, CA area
  • Position occasionally requires the ability to work extended hours, weekends and offsite when needed

COMPENSATION AND BENEFITS:

Pay range:

Industrial Designer/Level I: $95,000.00 - $115,000.00/per yearIndustrial Designer/Level II: $110,000.00 - $130,000.00/per yearYour 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.