Thermal Control and Life Support Hardware Engineer (Crew Starship)

SPACE EXPLORATION TECHNOLOGIES CORP; Northern (KY); Hybrid; USD 120,000 - 170,000; Full time

Job summary

SpaceX is seeking a Thermal Control and Life Support Hardware Engineer for the Crew Starship program. You will design and build environmental control systems, maintain thermal management, and ensure hardware reliability for Mars and Moon missions.

Collaboration with engineers, technicians, and suppliers is essential to deliver safe, manufacturable solutions. The role requires strong fundamentals in fluid/mechanical systems, GD&T, and experience with NX/ANSYS/ABAQUS.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in engineering or science discipline.
• 1+ years of experience with fluid, mechanical, or environmental control systems (internships/project teams count).
• Experience with space hardware design and analysis is a plus.

Responsibilities

• Own conceptualization, design, and build of life support and thermal control systems for Crew Starship missions.
• Iterate on manufacturing processes and development testing in a fast-paced environment.
• Lead design reviews with internal teams and suppliers; ensure integration with avionics and software.

Skills

Fluid systems

Mechanical systems

Environmental control

NX

GD&T

FEM/Structural

ABAQUS

ANSYS

Education

Bachelor's degree in engineering or science

Tools

NX

ABAQUS

ANSYS

Job description

Thermal Control and Life Support Hardware Engineer (Crew Starship)

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 ofenabling human life on Mars.

THERMAL CONTROL AND LIFE SUPPORT HARDWARE ENGINEER (CREW STARSHIP)

After 50 years, humankind will once again return to surface of the moon using SpaceX’s Crew Starship (also known as HLS or the Human Landing System) – this time for good. Leveraging the lessons learned from our flight proven Dragon spacecraft and Falcon rocket, Starship will usher in the next era of crewed spaceflight and exploration, ultimately allowing us to establish permanent communities on the Moon, Mars, and beyond.

As a Thermal Control and Life Support Engineer, you will have the opportunity to utilize your knowledge, experience, and creativity to develop novel solutions at the cutting edge of space technology. This team develops the necessary hardware to maintain environmental and thermal control as well as support life onboard the Starship spacecraft. The role requires attentiveness across disciplines, as it involves design, analysis, testing, and manufacturing of components that are critical to the safety of future astronauts and passengers.

RESPONSIBILITIES:

• Own the conceptualization, design, and build of creative life support and thermal control systems for all Crew Starship missions, including Mars missions, across disciplines such as fans and air distribution, air sanitation, water collection and reclamation, waste management, fire suppression, and active thermal control
• Rapidly iterate on manufacturing processes and development testing in a fast-paced environment
• Be responsible for project delivery timeline from early design through production, launch, and sustained operations.
• Lead design reviews internally and externally with suppliers and customers
• Work with interdisciplinary customers to ensure the component will integrate with the necessary avionics, software, mission operations, etcetera
• Ensure designs are manufacturable and reliable
• Exemplify technical excellence and be accountable for your own work

BASIC QUALIFICATIONS:

• Bachelor’s degree in an engineering or science discipline
• 1+ years of experience working with fluid systems, mechanical systems, environmental control systems, or components (internship and project team experience is applicable)

PREFERRED SKILLS AND EXPERIENCE:

• Ability to perform trade studies using first principles and engineering fundamentals to make clear recommendations even with partial information
• Experience with rotating machinery
• Experienced in NX
• Solid understanding and application of geometric dimensioning and tolerancing (GD&T) and tolerance stack-up analysis
• Experience with structural analysis methods (hand calcs, ABAQUS, ANSYS) in order to optimize hardware to strength requirements as well as to evaluate for life and fracture
• Knowledge of metallic and fluid system manufacturing techniques, processes, equipment, and other processes such as machining, welding, brazing, tube bending, etc.
• Experience with selection of materials considering engineering properties, manufacturing, and fluid compatibility
• Able to work well in an integrated collaborative team environment, including frequent interactions with technicians, other engineers, and managers
• Highly self-motivated with strong organizational and written/oral communication skills – able to prioritize and execute tasks in a high-pressure environment with theongoing drive for continuous improvement in all aspects of work

ADDITIONAL REQUIREMENTS:

• Must be willing to work long hours and weekends as needed to support critical milestones
• Ability to pass Air Force background checks for Cape Canaveral
• 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 Affi" ... or applicants requiring reasonable accommodation to the application/interview process should reach out [e-mail] .