Loads & Dynamics Engineer (Starfall)

SPACE EXPLORATION TECHNOLOGIES CORP; Hawthorne, Northern (CA, KY); Hybrid; USD 100,000 - 160,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Stock options

Comprehensive medical, vision and牙d en

401(k) retirement plan

Paid vacation and holidays

Job summary

SpaceX is seeking a Loads & Dynamics Engineer (Starfall) in Hawthorne to join the Starfall team developing a high-capacity re-entry capsule. You will model and analyze dynamic loads across ground, launch, orbit, and re-entry, guiding design decisions with strong hardware intuition.

Bachelor’s in aerospace/physics/engineering plus CAD/FEA and dynamic analysis experience are required; a Master’s degree and expertise with NASTRAN/FEMAP/LS-DYNA and Python/Matlab are highly preferred.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in aerospace, physics, or an engineering discipline.
• 1+ years of experience with CAD and FEA software.
• 1+ years of experience with dynamic analysis.
• Master’s degree in an engineering discipline (preferred).
• Experience with a commercial FEA or Multiphysics package (NASTRAN, FEMAP, LS-DYNA).
• Analytical programming skills (Python, Matlab) and strong communication.

Responsibilities

• Build finite element models and run coupled loads analysis.
• Perform analyses such as spacecraft separation and fatigue analysis.
• Execute dynamic testing from start to finish including pre-test analysis, sensor selection and installation, testing and correlation.
• Own dynamic event analysis by developing in-house programs and correlating with flight data.

Skills

CAD

FEA

Dynamic analysis

Python

Matlab

Frequency-domain analysis

Education

Bachelor's degree in aerospace/physics/engineering

Master's degree in engineering (preferred)

Tools

NASTRAN

FEMAP

LS-DYNA

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 ofenabling human life on Mars.

LOADS & DYNAMICS ENGINEER (STARFALL)
The Starfall team is developing the world’s first high-capacity, high-cadence, and low-cost re-entry space capsule. The Starfall capsule will unlock rapid global mobility by enabling point-point cargo delivery anywhere on Earth in under an hour. Additionally, the Starfall capsule could facilitate numerous other capabilities such as in-space manufacturing and on-orbit research.

In this role, you will work closely with Starfall responsible engineers as well as the Falcon dynamics team to drive hardware and mission design decisions. This role will involve simulation of dynamic events, contributing to in-house computer programs, and hands‑on testing. You will be responsible for all low and high frequency loads and vibration for the capsule during ground transportation, launch/ascent, on-orbit operations, and re‑entry. Strong candidates for this role will have excellent hardware intuition as well as experience with frequency-domain signal processing and analysis.

RESPONSIBILITIES:

• Build finite element models and run coupled loads analysis
• Perform other analyses as required such as spacecraft separation and fatigue analysis
• Execute dynamic testing from start-to-finish including pre-test analysis, sensor selection & installation, testing, and correlation
• Full ownership of dynamic event analysis by developing in-house computer programs and correlating with flight data

BASIC QUALIFICATIONS:

• Bachelor's degree in aerospace, physics, or an engineering discipline
• 1+ years of experience with CAD and FEA software
• 1+ years of experience with dynamic analysis

PREFERRED SKILLS AND EXPERIENCE:

• Master’s degree in an engineering discipline
• Demonstrated ability to develop/analyze hardware within an integrated engineering team outside of a classroom setting
• Experience with a commercial FEA or Multiphysics simulation package (NASTRAN, FEMAP, LS-DYNA)
• Analytical/scientific programming experience (Python, Matlab)
• Highly proficient in classical mechanics, deformable bodies, and statistics/probability
• Excellent oral and written communication skills

ADDITIONAL REQUIREMENTS:

• Ability to work long hours and weekends as necessary to support critical milestones

COMPENSATION AND BENEFITS:
Pay Range:
Level 1: $100,000.00 - $130,000.00
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.

Applicants wishing to view a copy of SpaceX’s .

Voluntary Self-Identification

For government reporting purposes, we ask candidates to respond to the below self-identification survey.Completion of the form is entirely voluntary. Whatever your decision, it will not be considered in the hiringprocess or thereafter. Any information that you do provide will be recorded and maintained in aconfidential file.

As set forth in SpaceX’s Equal Employment Opportunity policy,we do not discriminate on the basis of any protected group status under any applicable law.

If you believe you belong to any of the categories of protected veterans listed below, please indicate by making the appropriate selection.As a government contractor subject to the Vietnam Era Veterans Readjustment Assistance Act (VEVRAA), we request this information in order to measurethe effectiveness of the outreach and positive recruitment efforts we undertake pursuant to VEVRAA. Classification of protected categoriesis as follows:

A "disabled veteran" is one of the following: a veteran of the U.S. military, ground, naval or air service who is entitled to compensation (or who but for the receipt of military retired pay would be entitled to compensation) under laws administered by the Secretary of Veterans Affairs; or a person who was discharged or released from active duty because of a service-connected disability.

A "recently separated veteran" means any veteran during the three-year period beginning on the date of such veteran's discharge or release from active duty in the U.S. military, ground, naval, or air service.

An "active duty wartime or campaign badge veteran" means a veteran who served on active duty in the U.S. military, ground, naval, or air service during a war, or in a campaign or expedition for which a campaign badge has been authorized under the laws administered by the Department of Defense.

An "Armed forces service medal veteran" means a veteran who, while serving on active duty in the U.S. military, ground, naval or air service, participated in a United States military operation for which an Armed Forces service medal was awarded pursuant to Executive Order 12985.

Select...

Voluntary Self-Identification of Disability

Form CC-305

Page 1 of 1

OMB Control Number 1250-0005

Expires 04/30/2026

Why are you being asked to complete this form?

We are a federal contractor or subcontractor. The law requires us to provide equal employment opportunity to qualified people with disabilities. We have a goal of having at least 7% of our workers as people with disabilities. The law says we must measure our progress towards this goal. To do this, we must ask applicants and employees if they have a disability or have ever had one. People can become disabled, so we need to ask this question at least every five years.

Completing this form is voluntary, and we hope that you will choose to do so. Your answer is confidential. No one who makes hiring decisions will see it. Your decision to complete the form and your answer will not harm you in any way. If you want to learn more about the law or this form, visit the U.S. Department of Labor’s Office of Federal Contract Compliance Programs (OFCCP) website at www.dol.gov/ofccp .

How do you know if you have a disability?

A disability is a condition that substantially limits one or more of your "major life activities." If you have or have ever had such a condition, you are a person with a disability. Disabilities include, but are not limited to:

• Alcohol or other substance use disorder (not currently using drugs illegally)
• Autoimmune disorder, for example, lupus, fibromyalgia, rheumatoid arthritis, HIV/AIDS
• Blind or low vision
• Cancer (past or present)
• Cardiovascular or heart disease
• Celiac disease
• Cerebral palsy
• Deaf or serious difficulty hearing
• Diabetes
• Disfigurement, for example, disfigurement caused by burns, wounds, accidents, or congenital disorders
• Epilepsy or other seizure disorder
• Gastrointestinal disorders, for example, Crohn's Disease, irritable bowel syndrome
• Intellectual or developmental disability
• Mental health conditions, for example, depression, bipolar disorder, anxiety disorder, schizophrenia, PTSD
• Missing limbs or partially missing limbs
• Mobility impairment, benefiting from the use of a wheelchair, scooter, walker, leg brace(s) and/or other supports
• Nervous system condition, for example, migraine headaches, Parkinson’s disease, multiple sclerosis (MS)
• Neurodivergence, for example, attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), autism spectrum disorder, dyslexia, dyspraxia, other learning disabilities
• Partial or complete paralysis (any cause)
• Pulmonary or respiratory conditions, for example, tuberculosis, asthma, emphysema
• Short stature (dwarfism)
• Traumatic brain injury

Disability Status Select...

PUBLIC BURDEN STATEMENT: According to the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 no persons are required to respond to a collection of information unless such collection displays a valid OMB control number. This survey should take about 5 minutes to complete.