Launch Engineer, Fluid Systems (Starship)

Summary

SpaceX is a pioneering aerospace manufacturer and space transport services company, focused on enabling human life on Mars. They are seeking a Launch Engineer in Fluid Systems to design, build, and maintain fluid systems for rocket launches, ensuring efficient and effective operations in a fast-paced environment.

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
• Design modular hardware capable of being manufactured at volume for future launch sites across the world
• 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 the launch operations team to rapidly alter plans as necessary to meet tight deadlines
• Activate and troubleshoot equipment to achieve design objectives and iterate system maintenance strategies to reduce future downtimes
• Independently evaluate complex problems and arrive at solutions to seemingly impractical problems that best support the program
• Hands-on approach to tackling daily field projects necessary to keep the company launching rockets

Skills

• Bachelor's degree in physics, mechanical engineering, chemical engineering, aerospace engineering, or other engineering discipline
• 1+ years of hands-on build or design experience (internship, club, and competition team experience qualifies)
• Ability to respond to emergencies to support priority projects, missions, and launches
• 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 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 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)
• Stand: Up to 6 hours per day
• Sit: Up to 6 hours per day
• Push/Pull: Up to ≤ 50 lbs. (unassisted) 15 minutes or less per day
• Overhead reach: Up to 3 hours per day
• Walk: Up to 10 hours per day
• Lift/Carry: Up to ≤ 25 lbs. (unassisted) 15 minutes or less per day
• Climb (ladder/stairs): Up to 1 hour per day
• Kneel/Crouch: Up to 3 hours per day
• Upper body twist: Up to 3 hours per day
• Ability to work in temperatures over 80 degrees 6 hours or greater per day
• Candidate must be capable of safely working at heights (up to 500ft), in confined spaces, operating heavy equipment and machinery, and performing the physical requirements of the job listed in the job description
• Candidate may be required to complete a pre-employment questionnaire and/or physical to confirm these capabilities, which may include a medical history review
• 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
• 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
• Willingness to perform other related duties to ensure an efficient and effective work environment
• Experience with quick thinking and problem-solving in stressful situations
• Experience solving challenges posed by short deadlines
• 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 with machining, welding, and other fabrication techniques is a plus
• Experience with instrumentation, testing, data review and analysis, verification against a model
• 3+ years of mechanical, fluids, or thermal design experience in an industrial setting or equivalent
• Experience with high-pressure and cryogenic fluid systems and components
• Experience producing drawings for welders and machine shop fabrication
• Collaborative team player, eager to find the best solution while balancing cost and schedule
• Acute attention to detail, ability to see interactions with other systems to avoid problems
• Intermediate skill level using CAD (NX a plus)
• Ability to verify designs with simplified hand calculations; experience in finite element analysis (FEA) or computational fluid dynamics (CFD) is a plus
• American Society of Mechanical Engineers (ASME) piping and pressure vessel design experience
• Creative and passionate approach to addressing opportunities and challenges, and an enthusiastic, self-motivated, positive can-do attitude
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills

Qualifications

Must Haves

• Bachelor's degree in physics, mechanical engineering, chemical engineering, aerospace engineering, or other engineering discipline
• 1+ years of hands-on build or design experience (internship, club, and competition team experience qualifies)
• Ability to respond to emergencies to support priority projects, missions, and launches
• 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 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 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)
• Stand: Up to 6 hours per day
• Sit: Up to 6 hours per day
• Push/Pull: Up to ≤ 50 lbs. (unassisted) 15 minutes or less per day
• Overhead reach: Up to 3 hours per day
• Walk: Up to 10 hours per day
• Lift/Carry: Up to ≤ 25 lbs. (unassisted) 15 minutes or less per day
• Climb (ladder/stairs): Up to 1 hour per day
• Kneel/Crouch: Up to 3 hours per day
• Upper body twist: Up to 3 hours per day
• Ability to work in temperatures over 80 degrees 6 hours or greater per day
• Candidate must be capable of safely working at heights (up to 500ft), in confined spaces, operating heavy equipment and machinery, and performing the physical requirements of the job listed in the job description
• Candidate may be required to complete a pre-employment questionnaire and/or physical to confirm these capabilities, which may include a medical history review
• 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

Nice to Haves

• 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
• Willingness to perform other related duties to ensure an efficient and effective work environment
• Experience with quick thinking and problem-solving in stressful situations
• Experience solving challenges posed by short deadlines
• 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 with machining, welding, and other fabrication techniques is a plus
• Experience with instrumentation, testing, data review and analysis, verification against a model
• 3+ years of mechanical, fluids, or thermal design experience in an industrial setting or equivalent
• Experience with high-pressure and cryogenic fluid systems and components
• Experience producing drawings for welders and machine shop fabrication
• Collaborative team player, eager to find the best solution while balancing cost and schedule
• Acute attention to detail, ability to see interactions with other systems to avoid problems
• Intermediate skill level using CAD (NX a plus)
• Ability to verify designs with simplified hand calculations; experience in finite element analysis (FEA) or computational fluid dynamics (CFD) is a plus
• American Society of Mechanical Engineers (ASME) piping and pressure vessel design experience
• Creative and passionate approach to addressing opportunities and challenges, and an enthusiastic, self-motivated, positive can-do attitude
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills