New Graduate Engineer, Starship Components

United States Digital Space LLC; El Segundo (CA); On-site; USD 100,000 - 160,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Stock options & long-term incentives

Employee Stock Purchase Plan

Medical, vision, dental coverage

401(k) retirement plan

Disability insurance

Life insurance

Paid parental leave

3 weeks paid vacation

10+ paid holidays

Job summary

United States Digital Space LLC seeks a New Graduate Engineer for Starship Components to work across manufacturing, design, testing, and machining of space hardware. You will collaborate with production and design teams to accelerate weekly delivery rates, improve designs for assembly and testing, and lead root-cause investigations when failures occur.

The role requires a bachelor’s in engineering or physics and 1+ years of experience from projects or internships.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in engineering or physics.
• 1+ years in mechanical or fluids engineering via projects or internships.
• Graduating Fall/Winter 2026 or Spring/Summer 2027.
• Hands-on experience with vehicle/robotics competitions is preferred.

Responsibilities

• Manufacturing: collaborate to accelerate Starship delivery, improve assembly/testing, and enable targeted automation.
• Design: size components, perform analyses, generate drawings, and review hardware performance.
• Testing: qualify prototypes, develop test plans, and ensure safe operation of hardware.
• Machining: define manufacturing strategy and enable lights-out machining.

Skills

Hands-on robotics competitions

Fluid systems

High-voltage systems

Electronics

Instrumentation

Solid mechanics

Fluid dynamics

Electrical circuits

Data analysis

Education

Bachelor’s degree in engineering or physics

Graduating 2026/2027

Tools

CNC programming

Job description

the company 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 the company is actively developing the technologies to make this possible, with the ultimate goal ofenabling human life on Mars.

NEW GRADUATE ENGINEER, STARSHIP COMPONENTS

The Starship Components team develops the most advanced spacecraft and launch vehicle components in the world. The engineers of this team are hardware experts for valves, regulators, electromechanical actuators, pumps, and explosives that drive critical capabilities on the Starship/Super Heavy vehicle—from propellant flow and ullage gas thrusters to flap/fin actuators. They design, machine, build, and test components tooperatein extreme environments, with temperatures ranging from 80 to 800 K, pressures beyond 800barA, and a life capability of >100 flights. As an engineer of this team, you will use your knowledge, experience, and creativity to develop novel solutions at thecutting edgeof space technology. Following a successful interview process, you will be offered a specialized role within the product lifecycle (manufacturing, design,testing,machining), but as the extreme owner of your hardware, you will need to flex across these disciplines to ensure mission success.

Responsibilities

Manufacturing

• Partner with production and design to accelerate to a weekly Starship delivery rate, striving for high yield and automotive-level costs. Improve designs for assembly/testing, implement linear production flow, design tooling, develop welds, maintain work instructions, train others, and cut in targeted automation.

Design

• Assemble design criteria, select an architecture, size the component for proper force margin, perform structural analysis, generate detailed part drawings, perform qualification testing, present design reviews, and monitor hardware performance in vehicle operations.
• Target zero in-flight anomalies of your hardware and reduce component-caused delays in production and launch. Spearhead component root-cause investigations in the factory and on the vehicle, and implement fixes to prevent repeat failures.

Testing

• Prove out prototypes in R&D, define hardware capabilities in qualification tests to failure (vibration, thermal, life, climactic), and develop per-unit acceptance test plans under flight-like conditions (cryogenic temperatures, high voltage/pressure).
• Develop automated test systems to validate flight hardware rapidly and reliably and introduce state-of -the-art infrastructure to coax out failures on the ground. Be rigorous in the safe operation of highly energetic equipment.

Machining

• For individual parts, define the manufacturing strategy (casting, forging, machining), implement DFM feedback, perform CNC programming on lathes/mills, select cutting tools, prove out the machining process, generate an inspection plan, and enable lights-out machining.

BASIC QUALIFICATIONS:

• Bachelor’s degree in an engineering discipline or physics.
• 1+ years of mechanical and/or fluids engineering experience via project teams, research, internships, and/or professional experience.
• Graduating in Fall/Winter of 2026 or Spring/Summer of 2027.

PREFERRED SKILLS AND EXPERIENCE:

• Hands‑on experience from industry or collegiate vehicle/robotics competitions in fluid systems, high-voltage systems, electronics, or instrumentation (e.g., pressure transducers, thermocouples, solenoid valves, accelerometers, etc.).
• Strong foundation in solid mechanics, fluid dynamics, electrical circuits, manufacturing processes, dynamics and controls, heat transfer, and thermodynamics.
• Ability to collect, process, and review complex engineering datasets in tabular or graphical forms to extract relevant trends or failure modes.
• Understanding of electromechanical devices, gear trains, actuators, motors, valves, pumps, regulators, filters, and explosives.
• Success in academics at a rigorous and highly regarded university: minimum GPA of 3.5/4.0 or higher, standardized test scores in the minimum 95th percentile, merit-based scholarship recipient.

ADDITIONAL REQUIREMENTS:

• Ability to work extended hours andweekendsas necessary.

Compensation and Benefits

Pay Range:

Level 1: $100,000.00 - $130,000.00Level 2: $115,000.00 - $160,000.00

Your actual level and base salary will be determined on a case-by‑case basis and may vary based on the following considerations: job-related knowledge and skills, education, and experience.

Base salary is just one part of your total rewards package at the company. You may also be eligible for long-term incentives, in the form of company stock or long-term cash awards, as well as potential discretionary bonuses and the ability to purchase additional stock at a discount through an Employee Stock Purchase Plan. You will also receive access to comprehensive medical, vision, and dental coverage, access to a 401(k) retirement plan, short and long-term disability insurance, life insurance, paid parental leave, and various other discounts and perks. You may also accrue 3 weeks of paid vacation and will be eligible for 10 or more paid holidays per year. Employees accrue paid sick leave pursuant to Company policy which satisfies or exceeds the accrual, carryover, and use requirements of the law.

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.

the company is an Equal Opportunity Employer; employment with the company 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 the company’s Affi­rmative Action Plan for veterans and individuals with disabilities, or applicants requiring reasonable accommodation to the application/interview process should reach out [e-mail].