Sr. Fluids Engineer (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 of enabling human life on Mars.

SR. FLUIDS ENGINEER (STARSHIP)

Starship is the largest and most capable space launch system ever developed. With the capability to deliver in excess of 100 metric tons to Earth’s orbit, it will fundamentally change access to space, and is the technology that will be used to establish a self-sustaining city on Mars. We will ultimately need thousands of Starships to accomplish that feat.

The production fluids team develops (1) machinery used for flight-like validation of all vehicles prior to flight, and (2) all gas generation farms to produce and distribute manufacturing and test gasses throughout the production site! We are looking for enthusiastic and creative individuals to pave the future of Starship production testing & automation. As a Fluids Engineer, you will be responsible for developing systems from the ground-up using multidisciplinary skills. Specifically, this involves taking a problem, breaking it down to its core fundamentals, and designing / building / deploying a solution in the form a production-grade automated fluids system. We are looking for exceptional and aspirational engineers ready to take on this challenge.

RESPONSIBILITIES:

• Design, build, and deploy automated / manual fluids systems to support high-rate production vehicle performance validation testing
• Design, build, and deploy simple data acquisition and control systems for control and monitoring
• Own full integration, validation, and handoff to production of each test system at each deployed production cell
• Perform detailed fluids analysis to characterize and troubleshoot expected design performance
• Work closely with our in-house build shop to develop and own the scaling of the manufacturing line for your system
• Support critical vehicle test campaigns & operations, provide troubleshooting and technical support
• Develop and maintain detailed timelines to capture and communicate project progress
• Make high-value decisions on the fly, use feedback to continuously iterate and develop both product and process
• Support critical vehicle tests & operations, provide troubleshooting and technical support
• Develop build, maintenance, and upgrade plans for new and existing equipment to maximize up-time

BASIC QUALIFICATIONS:

• Bachelor’s degree in aerospace engineering, manufacturing engineering, mechanical engineering, or other technical discipline
• 5+ year's of experience in a hands-on project with mechanical/electrical systems

PREFERRED SKILLS AND EXPERIENCE:

• 6+ years of manufacturing design experience
• 6+ years of professional experience in the field of aerospace/mechanical engineering
• 6+ years of experience with GD&T concepts
• Ability to work effectively in a team environment
• Experience with mechanical design, including basic structures calculations and design considerations
• Experience with Siemens NX and Teamcenter CAD
• Experience with fluid system design, build and test
• Electrical schematic design experience
• Hands-on experience building and commissioning high quality electrical control panels
• Experience in fast-paced iterative design and manufacturing environments
• Experience solving complex problems with little to no supervision on schedule as an individual or as a member of an integrated team

ADDITIONAL REQUIREMENTS:

• 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
• Typically exposed to work in outdoor environments – heat, cold, rain
• Schedule varies depending on site operational needs; must be willing to work extended hours and/or weekends as business needs require
• Flexibility to travel to other SpaceX sites
• Stand: Up to 3 hours per day
• Sit: Up to 6 hours per day
• Push/Pull: Up to 50lbs. (unassisted) Up to 15 minutes per day
• Overhead reach: Up to 3 hours per day
• Walk: Up to 3 hours per day
• Lift/Carry: Up to 25lbs. (unassisted) Up to 15 minutes per day
• Climb (ladder/stairs): Up to 1 hour per day
• Kneel/Crouch: N/A
• Upper body twist: N/A
• Ability to work in temperatures over 80 degrees: up to 30 minutes per day
• Candidate must be capable of safely working at heights (up to 500ft), in confined spaces, using an air purifying respirator, 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.

ITAR REQUIREMENTS:

• 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 EEOCompliance@spacex.com.