Test Stand Design & Build Engineer (Structures/Fluid Systems)

SpaceX; McGregor (TX); On-site; USD 90,000 - 150,000; Full time

Job summary

SpaceX is seeking engineers to support development and production testing of Starship/Raptor, Falcon, and Dragon hardware in McGregor, TX. You'll design, build, and test systems powering cryogenic fluids to high-pressure gas, working directly with technicians to iterate in real time and meet ambitious deadlines.

The role covers entry to senior levels, offering opportunities to contribute from day one in a fast‑paced environment that values hands‑on problem solving, reliability design, and rapid

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in mechanical engineering, aerospace engineering, chemical engineering, or other engineering discipline.
• 1+ years of hands-on design or build experience (professional work, internships, clubs, or other engineering activities qualify).

Responsibilities

• Analyze, design, and build systems that support testing of fully integrated flight vehicles, individual rocket engines, and various rocket components.
• Drive cradle‑to‑grave ownership of engineering projects through design reviews, decision justifications, equipment procurement, and coordination/participation in the construction of your ideas
• Work directly with skilled technicians to build your designs and fix real‑world problems on the fly
• Maintain a tight feedback loop with the test operations team to rapidly alter plans as necessary to meet tight testing deadlines critical to company success
• Operate and troubleshoot equipment to achieve testing objectives, and apply lessons learned to iterate system designs for improved performance and maintenance
• Evaluate complex engineering needs and arrive at solutions to seemingly impractical problems that support test programs and achieve company objectives
• Take a hands‑on approach to tackling rapidly‑emerging field projects that keep the company testing rocket engines and vehicles every single day

Skills

Fluid systems

Structural systems

Problem solving

CAD

Machining

Education

Bachelor’s degree in mechanical engineering

Tools

Siemens NX

ASME piping

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.

TEST STAND DESIGN & BUILD ENGINEER (STRUCTURES/FLUID SYSTEMS)

SpaceX is looking for engineers to support the development and production testing of Starship/Raptor, Falcon, and Dragon engine and vehicle hardware in McGregor, TX. This is a fast-paced, hands‑on, constantly evolving, real‑as‑it‑gets engineering position available for the ambitious. We design, build, activate, modify, and maintain the fluid and mechanical systems that power, restrain, and measure the most powerful high‑volume rocket engines in the world. In this dynamic environment, you can expect your engineering skills to be put to the test and the hardware you designed to be built and installed the very same day. From thousands of gallons per minute of cryogens to tens of pounds per second of high‑pressure gas, we develop clever solutions to meet the needs of a demanding test program both today and in the future. We have open positions ranging from entry‑level to very experienced engineers to add value to the SpaceX mission.

RESPONSIBILITIES:

• Analyze, design, and build systems that support testing of fully integrated flight vehicles, individual rocket engines, and various rocket components.
• Drive cradle‑to‑grave ownership of engineering projects through design reviews, decision justifications, equipment procurement, and coordination/participation in the construction of your ideas
• Work directly with skilled technicians to build your designs and fix real‑world problems on the fly
• Maintain a tight feedback loop with the test operations team to rapidly alter plans as necessary to meet tight testing deadlines critical to company success
• Operate and troubleshoot equipment to achieve testing objectives, and apply lessons learned to iterate system designs for improved performance and maintenance
• Evaluate complex engineering needs and arrive at solutions to seemingly impractical problems that support test programs and achieve company objectives
• Take a hands‑on approach to tackling rapidly‑emerging field projects that keep the company testing rocket engines and vehicles every single day

BASIC QUALIFICATIONS:

• Bachelor’s degree in mechanical engineering, aerospace engineering, chemical engineering, or other engineering discipline
• 1+ years of hands‑on design or build experience (professional work, internships, clubs, or other engineering activities qualify)

PREFERRED SKILLS AND EXPERIENCE:

• 3+ years of engineering design experience in an industrial setting or equivalent
• Strong fundamental understanding and intuition for fluid, structural, or mechanical systems
• Critical thinking and problem solving in stressful, dynamic situations
• Positive responses and outcomes to challenges posed by short deadlines
• Creativity to imagine and design for reliability, efficiency, and maintainability from scratch
• Hands‑on build—machining, welding, and other fabrication techniques are a plus
• Driven approach to addressing challenges and opportunities—an enthusiastic, self‑motivated, positive, can‑do attitude
• Determining the best solution among several options, often balancing cost/schedule/complexity
• Acute attention to detail, and ability to see interactions with related systems to avoid problems
• Instrumentation and testing, data review and analysis, verification of models against reality
• High‑pressure or cryogenic fluid systems and components
• Complex structural or mechanical systems and components.
• Design verification with simplified hand calculations and complex modeling—FEA or CFD is a plus
• Production of fabrication drawings for parts to be machined or welded
• Intermediate skill level using CAD—Siemens NX is a plus
• ASME piping and pressure vessel design
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills

ADDITIONAL REQUIREMENTS:

• Availability to work extended hours and weekends as needed—flexibility is required
• Ability to work both independently and as part of a team, take individual initiative, and communicate effectively to peers, leadership, and customers
• Ability to rapidly change roles/responsibilities while maintaining a high sense of urgency in a fast‑paced, challenging work environment
• Willingness to perform other related duties for the purpose of ensuring an efficient and effective work environment
• Availability to respond to emergencies to support priority projects, missions, and launches
• Ability to perform job duties that require standing, kneeling, crouching, twisting upper body, working in cramped positions in small openings, and climbing hand over hand
• Ability to lift heavy objects unassisted—up to 25 lbs
• Ability to work at elevated heights with proper PPE—up to 300 ft
• Ability to work in extreme outdoor environments when needed—heat, cold, wind, rain, etc.
• Ability to work in environments with exposure to fumes, odors, and noise
• Working conditions may be in tight quarters—physical dexterity is required
• 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 for veterans and individuals with disabilities, or applicants requiring reasonable accommodation to the application/interview process should reach out to [e-mail].

Voluntary Self-Identification

For government reporting purposes, we ask candidates to respond to the below self-identification survey. Completion of the form is entirely voluntary. Whatever your decision, it will not be considered in the hiring process or thereafter. Any information that you do provide will be recorded and maintained in a confidential file.

As set forth in SpaceX’s Equal Employment Opportunity policy,we do not discriminate on the basis of any protected group status under any applicable law.

If you believe you belong to any of the categories of protected veterans listed below, please indicate by making the appropriate selection. As a government contractor subject to the Vietnam Era Veterans Readjustment Assistance Act (VEVRAA), we request this information in order to measure the effectiveness of the outreach and positive recruitment efforts we undertake pursuant to VEVRAA. Classification of protected categories is as follows:

A "disabled veteran" is one of the following: a veteran of the U.S. military, ground, naval or air service who is entitled to compensation (or who but for the receipt of military retired pay would be entitled to compensation) under laws administered by the Secretary of Veterans Affairs; or a person who was discharged or released from active duty because of a service‑connected disability.

A "recently separated veteran" means any veteran during the three‑year period beginning on the date of such veteran's discharge or release from active duty in the U.S. military, ground, naval, or air service.

An "active duty wartime or campaign badge veteran" means a veteran who served on active duty in the U.S. military, ground, naval or air service during a war, or in a campaign or expedition for which a campaign badge has been authorized under the laws administered by the Department of Defense.

An "armed forces service medal veteran" means a veteran who, while serving on active duty in the U.S. military, ground, naval or air service, participated in a United States military operation for which an armed forces service medal was awarded pursuant to Executive Order 12985.