NDE Engineer: Advanced Inspection for Spaceflight

SpaceX; Hawthorne (CA); On-site; USD 100,000 - 135,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Stock options

Long-term incentives

Performance bonuses

401(k) plan

Medical, vision and dental coverage

Paid vacation and holidays

Job summary

SpaceX in Hawthorne, CA is seeking an NDE Engineer to advance nondestructive evaluation techniques and data analytics to improve manufacturing quality for flight reliability.

You will collaborate with vehicle engineering across programs, prototype inspection systems, and contribute to risk reduction, design for inspectability, and transition new methods into production with cross-functional teams.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in an engineering discipline, physics, or computer science.
• 1+ years of hands-on technical engineering experience.
• Master’s degree or PhD in an engineering discipline.
• Knowledge of NDE techniques such as ultrasonic testing, eddy current testing, digital radiography testing, etc.
• Knowledge of statistical modeling, machine learning, and mathematical optimization.
• Understanding of hardware and software development and validation process.
• Familiarity with JIRA or similar task/feature tracking systems.
• Knowledge of automation, including robotics.
• Experience with software and automation coding (Labview, Python, C#, SQL).
• Ability to multitask, from developing technologies, project management, and training people throughout the introduction of multiple productive solutions, from inception and R&D to full-volume production.
• Experience with problem solving tools and techniques: Practical Problem Solving, 8D etc.

Responsibilities

• Develop and deliver advanced nondestructive evaluation inspection solutions
• Design, prototype, and implement nondestructive sensor systems to solve manufacturing quality problems
• Interface with vehicle engineering across all programs to align on inspection requirements and capabilities, feasibility, designing parts for inspectability, inspection method selection, interpretation and evaluation of data
• Prototype early inspection development and bench-top validation to reduce risk for new technologies
• Interface with vendors, tooling, and automation groups to define requirements, manage projects through to delivery
• Support targets and goals such as nondestructive automation initiatives, increased probability of detection, reduced cycle time, right-first-time manufacture/assembly, and indication/defect reduction
• Develop technology in emerging nondestructive methodologies
• Support NDE specialists with the development, qualification, and deployment of new inspection processes (gauge R&R, PODs), including documentation and training
• Be able to present risk/performance analysis and recommendations to cross-functional teams, including executives
• Manage priorities and support a host of projects simultaneously
• Define integration test plans for hardware products or software features with integration milestones that align with the program timeline
• Drive cross-functional nondestructive design and analysis discussions with electrical, software, manufacturing, and vehicle design teams
• Develop data collection and analysis pipeline at all stages of the project
• Understand and debug hardware and software interactions during design, launch, and deployment
• Use field data to improve the design and performance of NDE systems

Skills

NDE techniques

Statistical modeling

Machine learning

Mathematical optimization

Hardware development

Software development

Data analysis

Problem solving

Multitasking

Education

Bachelor's degree in engineering/physics/computer science

1+ years of hands-on technical engineering experience

Master’s or PhD in engineering (preferred)

Tools

LabVIEW

Python

C#

SQL

JIRA

Job description

SpaceX in Hawthorne, CA is seeking an NDE Engineer to advance nondestructive evaluation techniques and data analytics to improve manufacturing quality for flight reliability.

You will collaborate with vehicle engineering across programs, prototype inspection systems, and contribute to risk reduction, design for inspectability, and transition new methods into production with cross-functional teams.