Falcon GSE Engineer: Design, Build & Activate Launch

SpaceX; Vandenberg Air Force Base Launch Facility 02 (CA); On-site; USD 100,000 - 135,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Stock options

Comprehensive medical, vision, dental

401(k) retirement plan

Paid vacation & holidays

Disability and life insurance

Job summary

SpaceX is seeking a Launch Engineer for the Falcon ground support equipment team at Vandenberg. You will design, build and test hardware for vehicle processing, integrating fluid and mechanical systems to support Falcon 9 operations.

You will lead design reviews, interface with customers, and work hands-on in the field with technicians to ensure high uptime and reliable ground support during all phases of processing and launch.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in an engineering discipline.
• 1+ years of hands-on hardware experience performing fabrication, assembly and/or testing.
• Experience with NX/Teamcenter designing parts and assemblies.
• Experience with CAD and FEA software packages.
• Experience with at least one commercial FEA or multiphysics simulation package (NASTRAN, ABAQUS, ANSYS, CFD codes).
• Demonstrated ability to own hardware or systems within an integrated engineering team outside a classroom setting (FSAE, Engineers without Borders, Design-Build-Fly, NASA student launch, personal ventures).
• Analytical/scientific programming experience (Python, MATLAB, Excel).
• Hands-on experience working with, troubleshooting, and/or designing complex fluid systems that involve pressure vessels, filters, pressure relief valves, etc.

Responsibilities

• Design, build, and activate equipment to support all aspects of launch site vehicle processing and launch, including structural, tooling/fixtures, fluids, and transport equipment.
• This team supports Stage 1, Stage 2, FaIring, launch site payload operations, from Dockside to Launch, with a focus on vehicle interface tooling for structural and fluid connections.
• This team also supports every flight inspection, refurbishment operations for all the umbilicals for pad operations.
• Use hand calculations, finite element analyses (FEA), and computer-aided designs (CAD) to ensure all hardware meets or exceeds internal and customer requirements.
• Lead design reviews and activation testing.
• Serve as a technical interface to customers and suppliers.
• Monitor and participate in ground system build and test, hands-on in the field, alongside skilled technician teams.
• Collaborate with engineers and technicians when performing critical operations on non-flight hardware including mechanical, hydraulic, and pneumatic systems.
• Perform continuing engineering and production support of ground support equipment to support a 99%+ uptime to support flight hardware integration activities

Skills

NX/Teamcenter

CAD/FEA software

FEA packages

Hardware development

Python/MATLAB/Excel

Fluid systems knowledge

Welding/Mechanical

Communication skills

Education

Bachelor's degree in engineering

Tools

NX/Teamcenter

CAD software

FEA packages (NASTRAN/ABAQUS/ANSYS)

Job description

SpaceX is seeking a Launch Engineer for the Falcon ground support equipment team at Vandenberg. You will design, build and test hardware for vehicle processing, integrating fluid and mechanical systems to support Falcon 9 operations.

You will lead design reviews, interface with customers, and work hands-on in the field with technicians to ensure high uptime and reliable ground support during all phases of processing and launch.