Design Criteria Engineer (Starship)

SpaceX
Starbase, TX
On-site

Who this role is best for

Design engineers with aerospace systems experience and strong cross-functional collaboration skills will find this role at SpaceX aligning with their technical and team-oriented background.

Best fit for

  • Candidates with aerospace design experience and a track record of cross-disciplinary problem-solving
    — “facilitating cross-disciplinary action and problem-solving across all SpaceX programs and engineering staff
  • Professionals who have worked on high-performance mechanical systems and testing campaigns
    — “confirm acceptance and qualification test campaigns
  • Individuals with a background in CAD modeling and finite element analysis tools
    — “Experience with solid modeling (Siemens NX) and finite element analysis software (FEMAP)

Things to consider

  • The role requires U.S. citizenship or residency due to ITAR export regulations
    — “applicant must be a (i) U.S. citizen or national, (ii) U.S. lawful, permanent resident
  • Candidates must be prepared for long hours and weekend work as needed
    — “Must be willing to work long hours and weekends as needed

How to stand out

  • Highlight experience with rapid design cycles and cross-functional project coordination
    — “Work with a team to perform rapid conceptual design, analysis, and testing cycles
  • Demonstrate proficiency in material selection and cost-benefit analysis for component decisions
    — “Experience with material selection and make vs. buy decisions for system components
  • Showcase hands-on manufacturing experience with tools like mills, lathes, and composites
    — “Hands-on experience with various industry standard manufacturing tools, techniques and processes
  • Emphasize skills in dynamic system simulations and stress analysis for aerospace applications
    — “Experience performing closed-form and numerical stress analysis, simulations of dynamic systems
  • Demonstrate scripting and data analysis experience with tools like Python or MATLAB
    — “Scripting and data analysis experience using Visual Basic, Matlab, Python, and Excel
Pace · Fast PacedCollaboration · HighAutonomy · MediumDecision Impact · Team

Derived from job-description analysis by Serendipath's career intelligence engine.

What success looks like

  • Improved vehicle design
  • Performed design reviews
  • Developed tools and methods for design criteria
Typical background
Experience in aerospace engineeringTechnical education

Skills & requirements

Required

Mechanical DesignSystem EngineeringCross-disciplinary CollaborationStress Analysis

Preferred

CAD ModelingFinite Element Analysis

Stack & domain

Mechanical DesignManufacturingAnalysisCAD ModelingTesting OversightAerospaceStructuresPropulsionLaunch

About the role

Original posting from SpaceX via Greenhouse

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.

DESIGN CRITERIA ENGINEER (STARSHIP) 

The design criteria team is responsible for ensuring that hardware and operations lead to the mission's successful completion and meet or exceed requirements. This engineer will be industry-unique, stepping into an agile system engineering team, facilitating cross-disciplinary action and problem-solving across all SpaceX programs and engineering staff.

RESPONSIBILITIES:

Drive improvements to vehicle design by being closely integrated with hardware teams.

Provide critical peer review and approval of hardware designs during design reviews; confirm acceptance and qualification test campaigns.

Drive the development of tools and methods to ensure accurate and well-disseminated design criteria.

Ensure a cohesive evolution of designs and operations across the different technical teams: avionics, propulsion, structures, launch, manufacturing, analysis, and test.

Work with a team to perform rapid conceptual design, analysis, and testing cycles on development hardware (may include CAD modeling and testing oversight as needed).

BASIC QUALIFICATIONS:

Bachelor's degree in an engineering discipline.

1+ years of experience with mechanical design, manufacturing, and/or analysis (internship experience qualifies).

PREFERRED SKILLS AND EXPERIENCE:

Experience with aerospace structure systems: design, analysis, testing, and fabrication for use in high-performance or safety critical applications. 

Experience with fatigue, vibration, and thermal testing of mechanical assemblies.

Hands-on experience with various industry standard manufacturing tools, techniques and processes, including mills, lathes, electronics assembly, composite layup, etc.

Experience with material selection and make vs. buy decisions for system components.

Experience with solid modeling (Siemens NX) and finite element analysis software (FEMAP). 

Experience performing closed-form and numerical stress analysis, simulations of dynamic systems, and fluid systems analysis.

Scripting and data analysis experience using Visual Basic, Matlab, Python, and Excel.

ADDITIONAL REQUIREMENTS:

Must be willing to work long hours and weekends as needed.

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. 

Source: SpaceX careers (Greenhouse)

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