Mechanical Engineer, Tower & Launch Mount (Starship)

InvestedintheMission; Town of Florida (NY); On-site; USD 90,000 - 140,000; Full time

Job summary

SpaceX is seeking a Mechanical Engineer for the Tower & Launch Mount (Starship) to design for manufacturability, integrate and test critical launch pad components, and lead on-site engineering support during assembly and testing at a high-paced spaceflight environment.

You will create CAD models, develop production processes, and partner with teams to drive improvements across the launch system for next-gen vehicles.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in mechanical or aerospace engineering.
• 1+ year hands-on project experience with mechanical systems (internship or project work applies).

Responsibilities

• Work with analysts and design team to ensure solutions meet tower design and manufacturing requirements.
• Develop production procedures and manage transitions from development to production.
• Coordinate development, qualification, and acceptance testing of systems and tooling to meet deadlines.
• Implement design for manufacturability changes to improve production efficiency.
• Create CAD models and prints for flight and tooling components.
• Lead on-site design engineering contact for efficient build of parts and assemblies.
• Create and maintain build schedules.
• Resolve manufacturing discrepancies with quality team across design, fabrication and assembly.
• Participate in design reviews with suppliers and customers.
• Collaborate with engineering and production to ideate and improve for current and next-generation vehicles.
• Source and advise vendors from a technical perspective.

Skills

Mechanical design

Aerospace engineering

GD&T

FEM/FEA

NX/CAD

Teamcenter/PLM

Welding processes

interpersonal skills

Education

Bachelor's degree in mechanical or aerospace engineering

Tools

Siemens NX

Teamcenter

CAD/PLM

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.

MECHANICAL ENGINEER, TOWER & LAUNCH MOUNT (STARSHIP)

The Starship launch mount and catch tower will redefine ground support systems for launch vehicles as we know them, with the ultimate goal of launching, catching, and relaunching orbital boosters in hours or days instead of weeks or months. The Mechanical Engineer role covers design for manufacturability concepts through integration and testing of these critical launch pad components. You will be highly engaged on the primary and secondary structures of the launch mount and tower, including designing tooling (assembly aides, welding, part fixturing, etc.) and processes (welding, large part movement, large structure integration) to rapidly build early versions of the tower and launch mount. Further along in the build, you will be responsible for items such as integration operations, sequencing, and working with technicians on installing flight-critical hardware on the tower and launch mount. Throughout the build, you will be responsible for documenting processes and driving continual improvement to them for future builds. Furthermore, Mechanical Engineers will be expected to sometimes act as de facto supervisors and advisors to production technicians, welders, and other skilled labor partners.

RESPONSIBILITIES:

• Work closely with analysts and design team to ensure solutions meet the requirements for tower design as well as the manufacturing processes
• Develop production procedures/processes and manage the transition of parts and assemblies from development to production
• Coordinate and execute development, qualification, and acceptance testing of systems and tooling needed to meet hardware deadlines
• Execute design for manufacturability changes to enhance production efficiency
• Create original CAD models and prints for flight and/or tooling components
• Lead the on-site design engineering contact for the efficient build of parts and assemblies
• Create and maintain build schedules
• Resolve and analyze manufacturing discrepancies, while interfacing with the quality team (resolving issues for design, fabrication and assembly)
• 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
• Source, retain and advise new and experienced vendors from a technical perspective

BASIC QUALIFICATIONS:

• Bachelor's degree in mechanical engineering, aerospace engineering, or other engineering discipline
• 1+ year(s) of hands-on project experience with mechanical systems (internship and project experience applies)

PREFERRED SKILLS AND EXPERIENCE:

• 2+ years of manufacturing design experience
• 2+ years of professional experience in the field of aerospace/mechanical engineering
• 2+ years of experience with Geometric Dimensioning and Tolerancing (GD&T) concepts
• Experience with fluid dynamics, finite element, or related computer-based modeling
• Experience with large steel structure construction (civil, naval, or mechanical)
• Experience designing and/or operating pressurized systems (cryogenic, hydraulic, compressed gases)
• Experience leading operation-critical part mechanical design, including basic structures calculations and design considerations
• Experience with finite element analysis (FEA) software packages
• Process development, facility and line layouts, error-proofing
• Experience with Unigraphics NX and Teamcenter CAD and product lifecycle management (PLM) systems
• Detailed knowledge of Siemens NC or similar CAD and PLM packages
• Prior experience with developing, maintaining and improving welding processes
• Strong interpersonal and organizational skills

ADDITIONAL REQUIREMENTS:

• Flight hardware typically is built in tight quarters and physical dexterity is required
• Ability to work at elevated heights up to 500 feet
• Ability to pass Air Force background check for Cape Canaveral
• 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
• Typically exposed to work in extreme outdoor environments – heat, cold, rain
• Work performed in an environment requiring exposure to fumes, odors, and noise
• Schedule varies depending on site operational needs; flexibility required
• Flexibility to travel to other SpaceX sites (less than 25%)

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 Aff… or applicants requiring reasonable accommodation to the application/interview process should reach out to [e-mail].