Lead Starship Engineer (Ship Vehicle Assembly)

SpaceX; Brownsville (TX); On-site; USD 150,000 - 210,000; Full time

Job summary

SpaceX in Brownsville, TX seeks a Lead Starship Engineer to own the Starship airframe weldment production, including Integrated Payload Volume, PEZ, Raceway, Tank Cleaning, and Megabay 2 Stacking. You will work with integration, propulsion, and quality partners to drive manufacturing.

You will build and lead a team of engineers, develop lean processes, and ensure cost and quality while scaling to future vehicles.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in mechanical, manufacturing, or aerospace engineering.
• 2+ years of process development and build experience on integrated assemblies.
• Flexibility to travel to remote build sites — up to 15%.

Responsibilities

• Lead and develop a team of build engineers designing the production system.
• Mentor and foster technical and professional development of team members.
• Develop lean manufacturing processes, factory infrastructure, tools, and documentation.
• Collaborate with design to simplify vehicle systems at a complex level.
• Build long-term direction for vehicle architecture and factory infrastructures.
• Coordinate development, qualification, and testing of systems and tooling.
• Create CAD models and prints for flight and tooling components.
• Perform DFM changes to enhance production efficiency.
• Create and maintain build schedules and detailed work instructions.
• Develop process parameters and drive next generation architectures.

Skills

Process development

Team leadership

CAD

FEA

NX/Unigraphics

Teamcenter

Interpersonal skills

Education

Bachelor's degree in mechanical manufacturing or aerospace engineering

Master's degree in engineering

Tools

Unigraphics NX

Teamcenter PLM

CAD/FEA software

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.

LEAD STARSHIP ENGINEER (SHIP VEHICLE ASSEMBLY)

The Lead Starship Engineer will be responsible for the production of the Starship airframe weldment. This includes assembling the Integrated Payload Volume, the PEZ, Raceway, Tank Cleaning, and Megabay 2 Stacking. This position will work directly with integration, propulsion, and quality partners in the Starfactory and will hand off to airframe integration.

Production encompasses a wide range of pressurized components, propulsion systems, structures, avionics, tooling design, and process development. The lead engineer ensures the efficiency, cost, and quality of these systems while developing a team of engineers who own discrete assemblies and project scope. The lead engineer is accountable for scoping the team and growing the depth chart to support new vehicles and ultimately staff the Gigabay.

RESPONSIBILITIES

• Lead and develop a team of build engineers designing the production system
• Mentor and foster the continual technical and professional development of team members
• Develop lean manufacturing processes, factory infrastructure, tools, and documentation to enable efficient and high-rate production
• Work with the design engineering team to drive simplicity into the vehicle systems at a complex level
• Build long-term direction for vehicle architecture and factory infrastructures to meet the evolving needs of the program and company
• Coordinate and execute development, qualification, and acceptance testing of systems and tooling needed to meet hardware deadlines
• Create original CAD models and prints for flight and/or tooling components
• Execute design for manufacturability changes to enhance production efficiency
• Create and maintain build schedules and detailed work instructions
• Develop process parameters, requirements, and drive next generation architectures

BASIC QUALIFICATIONS

• Bachelor's degree in mechanical, manufacturing, or aerospace engineering
• 2+ years of process development and build experience on integrated assemblies (internship and academic experience not applicable)

PREFERRED SKILLS AND EXPERIENCE

• Master's degree in engineering discipline
• Experience recruiting, training, and managing a high performing team with wide scope
• Experience with process development, facility and line layouts, and error-proofing
• Experience owning the outcome of large integrated build and test scope, inclusive of both new product introduction and mature build execution
• Experience with fluid dynamics and pressurized components (valves, regulators, tubes, pipes, etc.)
• Experience leading operation-critical part mechanical design, including basic structures, fluids, electrical calculations and design considerations
• Experience with CAD and FEA software packages
• Experience with Unigraphics NX and Teamcenter CAD and PLM systems
• Strong interpersonal and organizational skills

ADDITIONAL REQUIREMENTS

• Flight hardware typically is built in tight quarters and physical dexterity is required
• Ability to perform job duties that require standing, kneeling, crouching, twisting upper body, working in cramped positions in small openings and climbing hand over hand
• Occasionally exposed to work in extreme outdoor environments - heat, cold, rain
• Work performed in an environment requiring exposure to fumes, odors, and noise
• Must be able to work extended hours and weekends depending on site operational needs
• Flexibility to travel to remote build sites - up to 15%
• Stand: Up to 3 hours per day
• Sit: Up to 6 hours per day
• Push/Pull: Up to 50lbs. (unassisted) Up to 15 minutes per day
• Overhead reach: Up to 3 hours per day
• Walk: Up to 3 hours per day
• Lift/Carry: Up to 25lbs. (unassisted) Up to 15 minutes per day
• Climb (ladder/stairs): Up to 1 hour per day
• Ability to work in temperatures over 80 degrees: up to 30 minutes per day
• Candidate must be capable of safely working at heights (up to 500ft), in confined spaces, using an air purifying respirator, and performing the physical requirements of the job listed in the job description. Candidate may be required to complete a pre-employment questionnaire and/or physical to confirm these capabilities, which may include a medical history review

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 Affi should reach out to [e-mail].