Sr. Starship Engineer, Structures

SPACE EXPLORATION TECHNOLOGIES CORP; Town of Texas (WI); On-site; USD 125,000 - 175,000; Full time

Job summary

An innovative industry player is seeking a Sr. Starship Engineer to lead the design and optimization of mechanical systems for the next generation of space exploration vehicles. This role involves tackling complex engineering challenges, collaborating with diverse teams, and ensuring the successful development of reusable spacecraft. If you're passionate about pushing the boundaries of technology and have a strong background in mechanical design, this is an exciting opportunity to contribute to groundbreaking advancements in space travel. Join a team dedicated to making interplanetary living a reality!

Benefits

Comprehensive medical coverage

401(k) retirement plan

Paid parental leave

Paid vacation (3 weeks)

Paid holidays (10 or more)

Disability insurance

Life insurance

Employee Stock Purchase Plan

Long-term incentives

Various discounts and perks

Qualifications

• 5+ years of mechanical design and analysis experience.
• Strong understanding of mechanical first principles and structural methodologies.

Responsibilities

• Own primary and secondary structures on Starship.
• Design flight hardware for next-generation Starship launch vehicle.
• Work with cross-functional teams to optimize vehicle systems.

Skills

Mechanical Design

Analytical Programming (Python, Matlab, Excel)

Structural Analysis

Design for Manufacturing

Interdisciplinary Team Collaboration

Education

Bachelor's degree in Engineering

Tools

FEA Software (NASTRAN, ABAQUS, ANSYS)

Job description

SR. STARSHIP ENGINEER, STRUCTURES

SpaceX is committed to developing revolutionary space technology, with the ultimate goal of enabling people to live on other planets. SpaceX’s Starship spacecraft and Super Heavy rocket – collectively referred to as Starship – represent a fully reusable transportation system designed to carry both crew and cargo to Earth orbit, the Moon, Mars, and beyond. Starship engineers will develop SpaceX's Starship spacecraft, solving complex problems relating to Ship, Booster, primary and secondary structures, thermal protection systems, aerodynamic control surfaces, stage separation systems, recovery systems, and more!

RESPONSIBILITIES:

• Own primary and secondary structures on Starship
• Design flight hardware to achieve ascent, entry, and rapid reuse of next generation Starship launch vehicle
• Develop design criteria where definition is lacking
• Perform hand calculations and FEA to develop, assess, and optimize designs
• Incorporate design for manufacturing principles and supervise first article builds
• Work and drive cross-functional teams to balance operational needs across vehicle systems while optimizing for speed, performance, and cost
• Design and execute qualification testing

BASIC QUALIFICATIONS:

• Bachelor's degree in an engineering discipline
• 5+ years of experience with mechanical design and analysis (competition team or internship experience qualifies)

PREFERRED SKILLS AND EXPERIENCE:

• Experience designing, analyzing, building, and testing high performance, mechanical systems.
• Experience working within interdisciplinary teams to develop solutions to challenging and complex problems.
• Experience with FEA or multiphysics simulation package (e.g. NASTRAN, ABAQUS, ANSYS)
• Experience designing and executing qualification testing
• Strong understanding of mechanical first principles and structural analysis methodologies.
• Proficiency in selecting materials and manufacturing methods for mechanical components.
• Analytical/scientific programming experience (i.e. Python, Matlab, Excel)
• Self-motivated with strong organizational, written, and oral communication skills

COMPENSATION AND BENEFITS:

Pay range:
Mechanical/Senior: $125,000.00 - $175,000.00/per year

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 SpaceX. You may also be eligible for long-term incentives, in the form of company stock, stock options, 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. Exempt employees are eligible for 5 days of sick leave per year.