Dynamics Engineer (Falcon & Dragon)

SPACE EXPLORATION TECHNOLOGIES CORP; Hawthorne (CA); On-site; USD 100,000 - 160,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Stock options

Employee stock purchase plan

Medical, vision, and dental coverage

401(k) retirement plan

Paid parental leave

3 weeks paid vacation and 10+ paid hol

Holidays

Job summary

SpaceX is seeking a DYNAMICS ENGINEER (Falcon & Dragon) to perform dynamic analyses and testing across Falcon and Dragon vehicles. You will process flight data, monitor vehicle health, and drive hardware modifications based on analyses.

The role requires a strong intuition for dynamic systems, hands-on data work, and programming skills in Python and MATLAB, with experience in FEA/DMAP tools and standard dynamics methods.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in engineering required.
• 1+ years of experience in structural dynamic analyses or system dynamics modeling.

Responsibilities

• Resolve dynamics problems through hand calculations, analysis, tests, and flight data.
• Use flight data to monitor the health of SpaceX Falcon vehicle fleet and engine performance.
• Execute dynamic testing from planning to data processing and model correlation.
• Own system-level analyses and drive hardware modifications or vehicle operations.
• Perform component and vehicle-level analyses using commercial and in-house codes and write new code.

Skills

Dynamic analysis

Data processing

Vibration testing

DMAP programming

Structural dynamics modeling

Python

MATLAB

Education

Bachelor's degree in engineering

Tools

NASTRAN

FEMAP

Python

MATLAB

Job description

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.

DYNAMICS ENGINEER (FALCON & DRAGON)

The Falcon and Dragon Dynamics team is responsible for all dynamic and vibration analyses on SpaceX’s operational vehicles. The Dynamics group owns all low and high-frequency loads, forcing function development, and vehicle response predictions, and ensures hardware is qualified for flight. The group is focused on supporting all variants of the fast-paced Falcon launch vehicle and America’s human spaceflight program, Dragon. The group has a wide range of responsibilities that include structural dynamics, flight data review and processing, modeland analysis correlation, fairing and launch pad acoustics, engine dynamics, and software programming for tool development. Dynamics engineers are expected to have a strong intuition of dynamic systems and a broad range of engineering disciplines, in addition to having solid software and analytical skills.

RESPONSIBILITIES

• Resolve dynamics problems through hand calculations, analysis, tests, and the use of extensive flight data
• Use flight data to monitor the health of our Falcon vehicle fleet, including engine performance
• Execute dynamic testing from start-to-finish (pre-test planning, sensor selection & installation, testing, data and signal processing, and model correlation)
• Own system level analyses and drive hardware modifications or vehicle operations across vehicle engineering teams
• Perform component and vehicle-level analyses using commercial and in-house codes as well as write new code

BASIC QUALIFICATIONS

• Bachelor’s degree in an engineering discipline
• 1+ years of experience with structural dynamic analyses or system dynamics modeling (can be in a professional, academic, entrepreneurial, or hobby setting)

PREFERRED SKILLS AND EXPERIENCE

• Hands-on experience either analyzing data or building hardware
• Experience with vibration and shock testing
• Experience with NASTRAN (knowledge of DMAP programming a plus)
• Analytical/scientific programming experience, including data processing (Python and MATLAB preferred)
• Finite element modeling experience with at least one commercial FEA package (FEMAP experience a plus)
• Working knowledge of structural analysis and test, including a fundamental understanding of strength, stability and fatigue failure mechanisms

ADDITIONAL REQUIREMENTS

• Able to work extended hours and/or weekends to support critical milestones

COMPENSATION AND BENEFITS

• Pay Range:
  1. Level 1: $100,000.00 - $130,000.00
  2. Level 2: $115,000.00 - $160,000.00

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 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. Employees accrue paid sick leave pursuant to Company policy which satisfies or exceeds the accrual, carryover, and use requirements of the law.

• 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.