Project Engineer, Critical Lift (Starship)

United States Digital Space LLC; Starbase (TX); On-site; USD 95,000 - 130,000; Full time

Job summary

United States Digital Space LLC is seeking a CRITICAL LIFT & TRANSPORT ENGINEER (STARSHIP) to join the launch site engineering team in Starbase, TX. You will develop lift plans for Starship and Super Heavy booster operations, design rigging schemes, and oversee ground support equipment while coordinating with cross-functional teams to ensure safe, efficient lifts.

The role requires hands-on engineering judgment, familiarity with OSHA/ASME B30 standards, and the ability to produce calculations

Qualifications

• Experience planning and executing critical lifts with heavy-haul transports.
• Familiarity with OSHA and ASME B30 safety standards.
• Ability to analyze structural, civil and mechanical issues.
• Ability to prepare engineering calculations and reports.

Responsibilities

• Plan, analyze, and execute critical lifts and heavy-haul transports for large-scale hardware, ensuring safety and compliance.
• Develop lift plans, rigging designs, and transport configurations using AutoCAD and FEA.
• Coordinate with cross-functional teams to assess mass properties, rigging locations, and load paths.
• Select and specify equipment such as cranes, SPMTs, and hydraulic trailers; perform equipment inspections.
• Conduct risk assessments and fatigue/stress analyses for lifts beyond standard capacities.
• Oversee on-site operations, pre-lift dry runs, real-time monitoring, and debriefs.
• Interface with vendors for equipment rentals and oversee contracted operations.
• Maintain documentation and calculations for audits and lessons learned.
• Support off-hour operations with real-time troubleshooting during high-stakes lifts.
• Drive continuous improvement in lift/transport processes and technology adoption.

Skills

Lift planning

Rigging design

Cross-functional collaboration

Engineering calculations

Safety and regulatory compliance

Tools

AutoCAD

FEA

CG Calculations

Rigging inspections

SPMTs and cranes

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.

CRITICAL LIFT & TRANSPORT ENGINEER(STARSHIP)

the company is currently seeking an individual to join the launch site engineering team in Starbase, TX. As a member of this team, you will have the opportunity to utilize your multi-disciplinary knowledge, experience, and creativity to develop solutions to launch pad operations, ground support equipment, transportation, and production with the goal of maximizing efficiency without sacrificing safety or reliability.

Specifically, you will be responsible for ensuring all aspects of critical transport and lift operations for our Starship and Super Heavy booster vehicles, as well as ground support equipment, have been properly designed, reviewed, and carried out. You will be responsible for addressing complex structural, civil, and mechanical issues that arise and utilizing engineering intuition as well as thorough calculation to provide engineering disposition for the path forward.

RESPONSIBILITIES:

• Plan, analyze, and execute critical lifts and heavy-haul transports for large-scale hardware (e.g., rocket stages, ground support equipment, or structural components), ensuring compliance with safety standards, regulations (e.g., OSHA, ASME B30), and engineering best practices.
• Develop critical lift plans, rigging designs, and transport configurations using tools like AutoCAD, finite element analysis (FEA), and center-of-gravity calculations.
• Coordinate with cross-functional teams (e.g., vehicle structures, manufacturing, launch ops, logistics) to assess hardware mass properties, rigging/lashing connection locations, structural capability, stability, and load paths during lifts and transports.
• Select and specify equipment such as mobile/crawler cranes, self-propelled modular transporters (SPMTs), conventional hydraulic trailers, and rigging hardware; perform equipment inspections and capacity verifications.
• Conduct risk assessments, hazard analyses, and fatigue/stress analyses for lifts exceeding standard capacities.
• Oversee on-site operations, including pre-lift dry runs, real-time monitoring, and post-operation debriefs.
• Interface with external vendors for specialized equipment rentals and oversee contracted operations involving cranes, rigging, hydraulic trailers, and marine transport.
• Maintain documentation, including engineering calculations, drawings, and reports for regulatory audits and lessons learned.
• Support off-hour operations as needed, including real-time troubleshooting and issue resolution during high-stakes/first-time lifts or transports.
• Drive continuous improvement and development in lift/transport processes, such as adopting new technologies.