Mechanical Engineer (Starshield)

SpaceX
Hawthorne, CA
On-site

Who this role is best for

A natural match if you have experience with mechanical and electromechanical design and a background in satellite systems.

Best fit for

  • Candidates with hands-on experience in integrated engineering teams and satellite mechanisms
    — “Own hardware or systems within an integrated engineering team outside a classroom setting”
  • Individuals with a background in mechanical design and a passion for national security applications
    — “Starshield leverages SpaceX’s Starlink technology and launch capability to support national security efforts”

Things to consider

  • Active clearance is a significant requirement for classified program eligibility
    — “Ability and willingness to obtain a Top Secret clearance”
  • This role requires extensive travel to various locations including vendors and customers
    — “Ability to travel to SpaceX, vendors, customers, and partner locations as necessary”
  • Candidates must be eligible for U.S. Government export authorizations under ITAR rules
    — “applicant must be a (i) U.S. citizen or national, (ii) U.S. lawful, permanent resident”

How to stand out

  • Highlight experience with environmental testing and system validation in your resume
    — “Perform environmental and performance testing on hardware to validate analysis”
  • Showcase your ability to drive system-level optimization and design criteria development
    — “Develop design criteria, collaborate on requirements, and drive system-level optimization”
  • Emphasize your background in reducing fabrication complexity and error-proofing systems
    — “Drive holistic DFM to create elegant designs with a focus on piece part and process count reductions”
  • Demonstrate experience with electromechanical systems and satellite architecture
    — “work on the architecture, simulation, and controls of electromechanical systems for the world’s most cutting-edge satellites”
  • Include any experience with hosted payloads or earth observation systems in your application materials
    — “initial focus on earth observation, communications, and hosted payloads”
Pace · Fast PacedCollaboration · HighAutonomy · MediumDecision Impact · Team

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

What success looks like

  • design and develop complex mechanisms and mechanical systems
  • drive system-level optimization
  • establish efficient product lifecycle
Typical background
Bachelor's degree in engineering or STEM discipline1+ years of experience with mechanical and/or electromechanical design and analysis

Skills & requirements

Required

Mechanical EngineeringCADFEA SoftwareElectromechanical DesignStructural Analysis

Preferred

GD&TProject Management

Stack & domain

CADFEAMechanical DesignElectromechanical DesignStructural AnalysisGD&TLeadershipTeamworkProblem-solvingSpaceSatelliteMechanical Engineering

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.

MECHANICAL ENGINEER (STARSHIELD)

Starshield leverages SpaceX’s Starlink technology and launch capability to support national security efforts. While Starlink is designed for consumer and commercial use, Starshield is designed for government use, with an initial focus on earth observation, communications, and hosted payloads.

SpaceX is looking to hire a satellite mechanical and mechanisms engineer to work with a brilliant and passionate team of engineers. You will own the design and development responsibilities over our complex mechanisms and mechanical systems. You will have the opportunity to work on the architecture, simulation, and controls of electromechanical systems for the world’s most cutting-edge satellites.

RESPONSIBILITIES:

Own hardware and mechanisms from conceptual design through volume production and on-orbit operations to support various customers’ needs

Develop design criteria, collaborate on requirements, and drive system-level optimization

Rapidly iterate on designs and analysis to inform high-level systems trades and steer overall product direction

Drive holistic DFM to create elegant designs with a focus on piece part and process count reductions, error-proofing at every step of fabrication and integration, and consistent performance and production metrics

Establish an efficient product lifecycle starting in the supply chain through final integration that balances cost, complexity, and quality; work closely with partner teams to design and realize an efficient in-house production line

Perform environmental and performance testing on hardware to validate analysis and demonstrate compliance with design criteria

Own product delivery timeline through conception, design, assembly, and launch

Own product outcomes at every stage of development and production

BASIC QUALIFICATIONS:

Bachelor's degree in an engineering or STEM discipline

Experience with CAD or FEA software packages (can be in a professional, academic, entrepreneurial, or hobby setting)

1+ years of experience with mechanical and/or electromechanical design and analysis (internship and extracurricular experience are applicable)

PREFERRED SKILLS AND EXPERIENCE:

Master’s degree in engineering or a related technical discipline

Ability and willingness to obtain a Top Secret clearance

Knowledge and application of GD&T

Own hardware or systems within an integrated engineering team outside a classroom setting (FSAE, Engineers without Borders, Student Directed Research, Design-Build-Fly, NASA student launch, personal entrepreneurial ventures, etc.)

Understanding of structural analysis and failure modes of complex mechanical systems2

ADDITIONAL REQUIREMENTS:

Ability to work long hours and weekends as necessary to meet mission-critical deadlines

Ability to travel to SpaceX, vendors, customers, and partner locations as necessary

An active clearance may provide the opportunity for you to work on sensitive SpaceX missions; if so, you will be subject to pre-employment drug and random drug and alcohol testing.

COMPENSATION AND BENEFITS:

Pay Range:

Level 1: $100,000.00 - $130,000.00

Level 2: $115,000.00 - $160,000.00

Your actual level and base salary will be determined on a case-by-case basis and may vary based on the following considerations: job-related knowledge and skills, education, and experience.

Base salary is just one part of your total rewards package at SpaceX. You may also be eligible for long-term incentives, in the form of company stock or long-term cash awards, as well as potential discretionary bonuses and the ability to purchase additional stock at a discount through an Employee Stock Purchase Plan. You will also receive access to comprehensive medical, vision, and dental coverage, access to a 401(k) retirement plan, short and long-term disability insurance, life insurance, paid parental leave, and various other discounts and perks. You may also accrue 3 weeks of paid vacation and will be eligible for 10 or more paid holidays per year. Employees accrue paid sick leave pursuant to Company policy which satisfies or exceeds the accrual, carryover, and use requirements of the law.

Those with an active clearance will receive a 10% differential, up to an additional $20,000 annually, once officially briefed into a classified program.

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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