Mechanical Engineer - Entry Level - On-site

Usi Insurance; Town of Texas (WI); On-site; USD 70,000 - 105,000; Full time

Job summary

SpaceX is seeking a New Graduate Mechanical Engineer to join the Starbase team and contribute to the design, analysis, and build of Starship and Super Heavy hardware. You’ll be aligned to design, analysis, test, structures, fluids, manufacturing, tooling, or machine design, tackling challenges across disciplines.

The role requires a bachelor’s, master’s, or PhD in engineering or physics, graduating in 2026 or 2027, and a willingness to relocate to Starbase, TX.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in an engineering discipline or physics (2026/2027).
• Strong problem-solving and data-driven decision-making abilities.
• Demonstrated hardware experience or passion for real-world products.

Responsibilities

• Own the design and development of next generation launch vehicles, launch pad and production lines
• Transform system requirements into hardware concepts and trade implementation options
• Perform hand calculations and FEA to develop, assess, and optimize designs
• Rapidly iterate on manufacturing processes and development testing in a fast-paced environment
• Collaborate with interdisciplinary teams to ensure hardware integrates with all Starship systems
• Participate in design reviews with internal teams and suppliers
• Generate ideas and improvements for current and next-generation vehicles
• Own large business outcomes

Skills

Data-driven decisions

Trade studies

Engineering fundamentals

Entrepreneurial mindset

Hardware development

Multi-disciplinary collaboration

Resilience under pressure

Fast learning

Education

Bachelor’s/Master’s/PhD in engineering or physics

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.

New Graduate Engineer, Mechanical (Starship)

Our Starbase team is working on the toughest and most audacious project on our planet: making humanity multiplanetary. Our team is building high performance flight hardware, a high-volume rocket production line, and a launch system that can rapidly and reliably launch and land our rockets. Our mechanical engineers are responsible for designing, analyzing, and building all of the hardware across the Starship and Super Heavy vehicles. Expect a dynamic role doing what you’re best at. Whatever your skill set, you’ll be aligned to the part of the program you’re most effectively able to contribute to (design, analysis, test, structures, fluids, manufacturing, tooling, machine design, etc.). If you are a high performing engineer, want to immerse yourself in never-before-solved challenges, and are excited to put in the effort to make this goal a reality, we want to hear from you.

Job Responsibilities

• Own the design and development of next generation launch vehicles, launch pad and production lines
• Transform system requirements into hardware concepts and trade implementation and architecture options
• Perform hand calculations and FEA to develop, assess, and optimize designs
• Rapidly iterate on manufacturing processes and development testing in a fast-paced environment
• Collaborate with interdisciplinary teams to ensure hardware integrates with all Starship systems and supports necessary mission operations
• Participate in design reviews internally and with suppliers and customers
• Partner with engineering and production teams to generate ideas, designs, and improvements for current and next-generation vehicles
• Own large business outcomes

Qualifications

• Graduating with a bachelor’s degree, master’s degree or PhD in 2026 or 2027
• Degree in an engineering discipline or physics
• 1+ years of mechanical or fluids design, analysis, or build experience via project team, research, internships, and/or professional experience

Preferred Skills & Experience:

• Strong ability to use data and analysis to make fast data-driven decisions
• Ability to perform trade studies and make clear recommendations using first principles and engineering fundamentals even with partial information. Strong understanding of engineering fundamentals
• Experience working at a nimble engineering organization or in a highly technical position that required a scrappy, entrepreneurial manner to accomplish tasks with tight time or budget constraints
• Excelled in ultra-competitive environments. You’ve nailed a podium finish in engineering, math, or science competitions, achieved scores in the top percentile of scholastic or standardized tests, or demonstrated other incredible feats of intellectual achievement
• Experience building hardware or have a passion for contributing to a work product that operates in the real world
• Succeeded in multiple endeavors at once; maybe you worked through college, were a student athlete, or demonstrated strong work or academic performance in multiple fields
• Demonstrated rapid growth, you’ve held successive positions of increasing responsibility within an organization, were able to get yourself up to speed at a heroic pace, and accomplished something meaningfully difficult early in your career
• Demonstrated resilience and the ability to overcome failure or extreme odds. Many critics would say that our goals are impossible but this isn’t the first time we’ve proven that highly improbable goals like reusable rockets can become possible

Additional Requirements:

• Ability to work extended hours and weekends as necessary
• Ability and willingness to relocate to Starbase, TX (Brownsville, TX area)
• 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
• Kneel/Crouch: N/A
• Upper body twist: N/A
• 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