Mechanical Engineer, Machine Design (Starship)

SPACE EXPLORATION TECHNOLOGIES CORP; Brownsville (TX); On-site; USD 70,000 - 90,000; Full time

Job summary

SPACE EXPLORATION TECHNOLOGIES CORP is looking for a Mechanical Engineer specializing in Machine Design for the Starship project in Brownsville, Texas. The successful candidate will work with a dedicated team to design and activate essential production assets.

The role requires a Bachelor's degree in engineering and offers opportunities to collaborate across multiple disciplines. Applicants should have experience with CAD software and be ready for a hands-on role in a dynamic environment.

Qualifications

• 1+ years of experience in designing and analyzing mechanical structures.
• Experience in academic research or professional work related to mechanical engineering.

Responsibilities

• Design and activate machinery for Starship production.
• Develop the Starfactory for rapid build and operation.
• Collaborate with engineers to optimize manufacturing processes.
• Execute structural sizing and mechanism design.

Skills

Ability to prioritize and execute tasks in a fast‑paced environment

Collaborative team environment

Experience in a production facility

Managing large CAD assembly models

Finite element analysis experience

Designing and fabricating welded structures

Designing and testing mechanisms

Education

Bachelor’s degree in an engineering discipline

Tools

CAD software (Solidworks, NX, CATIA, ProE)

Job description

Mechanical Engineer, Machine Design (Starship)

SpaceX was founded under the belief that a future where humanity is 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.

MECHANICAL ENGINEER, MACHINE DESIGN (STARSHIP)

As a member of the Starship Tooling team, you will work with a team of elite engineers across multiple disciplines to design, build, and activate critical production assets required to build the Starship launch vehicle. This position is based at our Starship production facility in Brownsville, Texas but may involve work on designs that are implemented across all of SpaceX’s sites supporting the Starship program.

RESPONSIBILITIES

• Design, build, and activate custom machinery and infrastructure to enable the production and handling of Starship launch vehicles
• Develop the Starfactory and Gigafactory of the future to enable rapid build, test, and operation of our transport architectures
• Collaborate with vehicle engineers to influence vehicle design and manufacturing processes to maximize production rate
• Use your technical knowledge to execute on structural sizing, mechanism design, hardware fabrication, and activation testing to deliver results on projects
• Create detailed models and engineering prints in NX
• Perform engineering hand calculations and analysis to size structures and mechanisms.
• Create manufacturing planning for scope performed by internal welding and toolmaking teams.
• Support machine activation with controls engineering team and perform development testing with production engineering team.

BASIC QUALIFICATIONS

• Bachelor’s degree in an engineering discipline
• Experience using a CAD software design package (e.g. Solidworks, NX, CATIA, or ProE)
• 1+ years of total experience in one or more of the following: involvement with an outside-of-the-classroom project designing and building mechanical structures; academic research on mechanical structures; professional experience designing and analyzing mechanical structures

PREFERRED SKILLS AND EXPERIENCE

• Ability to prioritize and execute tasks in a fast‑paced, dynamic environment
• Ability to work in a collaborative team environment, including daily interactions with engineers, technicians, suppliers, and leadership
• Experience working in a production facility with equipment and machinery
• Experience managing large CAD assembly models and drawings
• Experience with finite element analysis
• Experience designing and fabricating mass efficient welded structures
• Experience designing and testing mechanisms
• Strong understanding and application of GD&T

ADDITIONAL REQUIREMENTS

• Ability to pass Air Force background check for Cape Canaveral
• Ability to work extended hours and weekends as necessary
• Willing to travel to other SpaceX locations as necessary
• Work schedule may vary depending on site operational needs, and flexibility is required
• Lifting, standing, climbing, bending, grasping, sitting, pulling, pushing, stooping, stretching, and carrying are generally required to perform the functions of this position
• 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 affirmative action plan for veterans and individuals with disabilities, or applicants requiring reasonable accommodation to the application/interview process should reach out to [e-mail].