Sr. Launch Engineer, Stage 0 Propellant Generation (Starship)

SPACE EXPLORATION TECHNOLOGIES CORP; Town of Florida (NY); On-site; USD 120,000 - 190,000; Full time

Job summary

SpaceX is seeking a Sr. Launch Engineer for Stage 0 Propellant Generation at Cape Canaveral. You will own the design, build, and optimization of cryogenic propellant processing systems across Starship launch sites, including interfaces with operations, procurement, and construction teams.

You bring a bachelor’s in engineering and 5+ years of hands-on experience, with strong skills in fluids, thermals, and pressure vessel design. On-site work and travel to other SpaceX sites are required.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in mechanical, chemical, aerospace, or related engineering field.
• 5+ years of hands-on build or design experience.

Responsibilities

• Analyze, design, and build systems that support rocket launches and testing.
• Cradle-to-grave ownership including design reviews, procurement, and construction coordination.
• Apply interdisciplinary skills in system-level process design, pressurized fluids and thermal analysis, and cost/schedule optimization.
• Collaborate with technicians and support groups to implement designs and resolve issues on site.
• Maintain rapid feedback loops with operations and construction teams to meet tight deadlines.
• Troubleshoot equipment to meet design objectives and minimize downtime.
• Hands-on execution of field projects to keep launches on schedule.

Skills

Fluid systems design

Cryogenic processing

Project ownership

Troubleshooting under time pressure

Cross-functional collaboration

Effective communication

Hands-on fabrication awareness

Education

Bachelor's degree in mechanical engineering, chemical engineering, aerospace engineering, or related field

Tools

NX CAD

FEA/CFD

ASME piping and pressure vessel design

Job description

Sr. Launch Engineer, Stage 0 Propellant Generation (Starship)

Cape Canaveral, FL

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.

The Starship launch team is looking for a highly motivated individual to support launch pad fluid systems design and build with a focus on the implementation of cryogenic propellant processing and generation systems for all Starship launch sites, landing sites, test sites, production facilities, etc. Join the team responsible for launching the largest and most powerful rocket known to man!

RESPONSIBILITIES

• Analyze, design, and build systems that support critical rocket launches and testing
• Cradle-to-grave project ownership through hosting design reviews, project decision justification, equipment procurement, and coordination and assistance of the construction of your ideas
• Apply interdisciplinary engineering skills in fields of system-level process design and initial sizing, detailed pressurized fluid and thermal analysis, structural engineering, materials and component selection and cost/schedule optimization
• Work directly with technicians and support groups to build your designs, and fix real-world problems on the fly
• Maintain a tight feedback loop with operation and construction teams to rapidly alter plans as necessary to meet tight deadlines
• ActivateCommissionand troubleshoot equipment to achieve design objectives and iterate system maintenance strategies to reduce future downtime
• Apply a hands on approach to tackling daily field projects necessary to keep the company launching rockets
• Provide innovative solutions to problems under minimal supervision or direction

BASIC QUALIFICATIONS

• Bachelor’s degree in mechanical engineering, chemical engineering, aerospace engineering, or other engineering discipline
• 5+ years of hands‑on build or design experience

PREFERRED SKILLS AND EXPERIENCE

• Experience with quick‑thinking and problem solving in time‑critical situations
• Collaborative team player, enthusiastic, self‑motivated, with a positive can‑do attitude
• Acute attention to detail, ability to see interactions with other systems to avoid problems
• Creative and passionate approach to addressing opportunities and challenges while balancing cost and schedule
• Strong fundamental intuition of fluid and/or structural/mechanical systems
• Creativity to imagine and design for reliability, efficiency, and maintainability from scratch
• General hands‑on experience; automotive, machining, welding, and other fabrication techniques is a plus
• Ability to work independently as well as part of a team, take initiative, and communicate effectively
• Ability to rapidly change roles/responsibilities while maintaining a high sense of urgency in a high‑paced, challenging work environment
• Ability to verify designs with simplified hand calculations; experience in finite element analysis or computational fluid dynamics is a plus
• 3+ years of mechanical, fluids, or thermal design experience in an industrial setting or equivalent
• Experience with instrumentation, testing, data review and analysis, verification against an analytical model
• Experience with high pressure and cryogenic fluid systems and components and operations
• Experience producing drawings for fabrication
• Intermediate skill level using CAD (NX a plus)
• American Society of Mechanical Engineers (ASME) piping and pressure vessel design experience

ADDITIONAL REQUIREMENTS

• Ability to respond to emergencies to support priority projects, missions, and launches
• Ability to pass Air Force background check for Cape Canaveral
• Ability to work extended hours and weekends as needed; flexibility is required
• Ability to work in extreme outdoor environments when needed – heat, cold, wind, rain, etc.
• Ability to work in an environment requiring exposure to fumes, odors, and noise
• Working conditions may be in tight quarters and physical dexterity is required
• Ability to lift heavy objects up to 25 lbs. unassisted
• Ability to work on ladders, lifts, and at elevated heights (up to 300 feet) with proper personal protective equipment (PPE)
• Must be willing to travel to other SpaceX sites and vendors – up to 15%
• 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 affirmative action plan or requiring reasonable accommodation to the application/interview process should reach out to [e-mail].