Dynamics Engineer (Starship)

Spacex; Northern (KY); On-site; USD 90,000 - 150,000; Full time

Job summary

SpaceX in the United States is seeking a Dynamics Engineer for the Starship program. The role focuses on induced environments, system and vehicle dynamics, and ensuring hardware qualification for ground testing and flight.

You will develop models, run analyses in Python and MATLAB, perform dynamic testing end-to-end, and work with multiple engineering teams to implement hardware changes. Candidates should have a bachelor\u2019s in engineering and hands-on experience with dynamics, data analysis,

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in engineering or related field.
• 1+ year of experience in structural or fluid dynamics.
• Experience with data analysis or hardware testing.
• Knowledge of vibration and modal testing is a plus.
• Proficiency in Python and MATLAB for data processing.

Responsibilities

• Resolve dynamics problems through analysis, testing and flight data.
• Build finite element and lumped-element models of launch vehicle systems.
• Execute dynamic testing from planning to data analysis and model correlation.
• Own system-level analyses and drive hardware modifications.
• Develop and adapt codes for analysis using in-house tools.

Skills

Structural dynamics

Fluid dynamics

Data processing

Python

MATLAB

Frequency-based analysis

ODE solving

Vibration testing

Education

Bachelor’s degree in engineering

Tools

MATLAB

Python

Finite element modeling (FEM)

ANSYS

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 (STARSHIP)

The Starship Dynamics team is responsible for induced vehicle environments, system dynamics and vehicle dynamics on the Starship and HLS vehicles. The dynamics group is focused on defining forcing functions acting on the vehicle, predicting vehicle and system response, and ensuring hardware is qualified for ground testing and flight. The group has a wide range of responsibilities that include structural dynamics, fluid system dynamics, random vibration, engine dynamics and multibody dynamics. Dynamics engineers are expected to have a strong intuition of physics first principles, frequency domain analysis, and a broad range of engineering disciplines, in addition to having solid software and analytical skills.

RESPONSIBILITIES:

• Resolve dynamics problems through analysis, test and the use of flight data
• Build finite element and lumped element models of launch vehicle systems
• Execute dynamic testing from start-to-finish (pre-test analysis, sensor selection & installation, testing, data analysis, signal processing and model correlation)
• Own system level analysis and drive hardware modifications or vehicle operations across vehicle engineering teams
• Perform 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 or fluid dynamics via full-time employment, outside the classroom projects, or lab work

PREFERRED SKILLS AND EXPERIENCE:

• Hands-on experience either analyzing data or building hardware
• Experience with frequency-based and/or time-history vibration analysis
• Experience with vibration, shock, and modal testing (system-identification experience a plus)
• Experience with data processing and analysis in Python and MATLAB
• Experience with solving ordinary differential equations
• Experience with turbomachinery, combustion dynamics, fluid system modeling, or structural-fluid coupling pogo problems
• Working knowledge of structural analysis and test, including a fundamental understanding of strength, stability and fatigue failure mechanisms

ADDITIONAL REQUIREMENTS:

• Position may require extended work hours and weekend work
• 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.

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