New Graduate Engineer, Infrastructure

Spacex; Starbase (TX); On-site; USD 70,000 - 110,000; Full time

Job summary

SpaceX is seeking a New Graduate Mechanical Engineer to help build the infrastructure behind power generation and supercompute at Starbase. You will support mechanical scope from concept through design, fabrication, construction, and commissioning, spanning power generation, fluid and cooling systems, and supporting structures for production.

You will collaborate with engineering, construction, and operations teams to deliver hardware that performs in the field.

Qualifications

• Bachelors, Masters or PhD in engineering or physics; 2026/2027 graduate window.
• Coursework or project work in mechanical design, structures, fluids, thermal systems, or power/cooling equipment.
• Experience with CAD and with hand calculations or analysis tools (NASTRAN/ABAQUS/ANSYS/Python/Matlab/Excel).
• Strong data-driven decision making and ability to perform trade studies using first principles.

Responsibilities

• Develop design concepts and size infrastructure systems based on loads and site conditions.
• Collaborate across disciplines to balance cost, schedule, reliability, and capability.
• Create CAD models and prints for components and assemblies for site integration.
• Build analysis models to validate designs against system needs.
• Apply hand calculations and empirical methods for rapid design iteration.
• Support validation with development hardware and testing of joints and components.
• Assist in testing and commissioning subsystems and installations.
• Work with construction and build engineers to refine designs during build and installation.

Skills

Mechanical design

CAD

First principles

Data-driven decisions

Education

Bachelor's/Master/PhD in engineering or physics

Tools

NASTRAN

ABAQUS

ANSYS

Python

Matlab

Excel

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.

NEW GRADUATE ENGINEER, INFRASTRUCTURE

SpaceX is looking for a New Graduate Mechanical Engineer to help build the infrastructure behind power generation and supercompute at Starbase. You will support mechanical scope from concept through design, fabrication, construction, and commissioning. The work can span power generation, fluid and cooling systems, and the structures and equipment that production depends on. You will work across engineering, construction, and operations, and see your work show up in hardware that has to perform in the field.

RESPONSIBILITIES:

• Develop design concepts and help size infrastructure systems based on operational loads, site conditions, and how the facility will actually run
• Collaborate with peers across disciplines to develop designs that balance cost, schedule, reliability, and capability
• Create detailed designs and generate CAD models and prints for components, assemblies, and integration into the larger site
• Build analysis models to assess designs and confirm they meet the needs of the system
• Apply first-order hand calculations and empirical formulas to assess and iterate on designs rapidly
• Support validation through development hardware, mockups, or first articles, and testing of critical joints, components, and design elements
• Support testing and commissioning of subsystems and full installations
• Partner with construction, build engineers, and technicians to improve designs and resolve issues found during build and installation
• Support installation of hardware in the field, witness designs being built and brought online, and see them go into service
• Participate in design reviews and help move designs from development into installed hardware

BASIC 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 design, analysis, build, or test experience via project team, research, internships, and/or professional experience

PREFERRED SKILLS AND EXPERIENCE:

• Coursework or project experience in mechanical design, structural analysis, fluids, thermal systems, or power and cooling equipment
• Experience with CAD, and with hand calculations or an analysis package such as NASTRAN, ABAQUS, ANSYS, Python, Matlab, or Excel
• 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
• 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 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 50 lbs. (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 25 lbs. (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 500 ft), 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
• 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.

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