New Graduate Engineer, Mechanical (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.

NEW GRADUATE ENGINEER, MECHANICAL (STARSHIP) 

Our Starbase team is working on the toughest and most audacious project on our planet: making humanity multiplanetary. Our team is building high performance flight hardware, a high-volume rocket production line, and a launch system that can rapidly and reliably launch and land our rockets. Our mechanical engineers are responsible for designing, analyzing, and building all of the hardware across the Starship and Super Heavy vehicles. Expect a dynamic role doing what you’re best at. Whatever your skill set, you’ll be aligned to the part of the program you’re most effectively able to contribute to (design, analysis, test, structures, fluids, manufacturing, tooling, machine design, etc.). If you are a high performing engineer, want to immerse yourself in never-before-solved challenges, and are excited to put in the effort to make this goal a reality, we want to hear from you.

RESPONSIBILITIES:  

Own the design and development of next generation launch vehicles, launch pad and production lines

Transform system requirements into hardware concepts and trade implementation and architecture options

Perform hand calculations and FEA to develop, assess, and optimize designs

Rapidly iterate on manufacturing processes and development testing in a fast-paced environment 

Collaborate with interdisciplinary teams to ensure hardware integrates with all Starship systems and supports necessary mission operations

Participate in design reviews internally and with suppliers and customers

Partner with engineering and production teams to generate ideas, designs, and improvements for current and next-generation vehicles 

Own large business outcomes

BASIC QUALIFICATIONS: 

Graduating with a bachelor’s degree, master’s degree or PhD in 2026 or 2027 

Degree in an engineering discipline or physics

1+ years of mechanical or fluids design, analysis, or build experience via project team, research, internships, and/or professional experience

PREFERRED SKILLS AND EXPERIENCE: 

Strong ability to use data and analysis to make fast data-driven decisions

Ability to perform trade studies and make clear recommendations using first principles and engineering fundamentals even with partial information. Strong understanding of engineering fundamentals

Experience working at a nimble engineering organization or in a highly technical position that required a scrappy, entrepreneurial manner to accomplish tasks with tight time or budget constraints

Excelled in ultra-competitive environments. You’ve nailed a podium finish in engineering, math, or science competitions, achieved scores in the top percentile of scholastic or standardized tests, or demonstrated other incredible feats of intellectual achievement

Experience building hardware or have a passion for contributing to a work product that operates in the real world

Succeeded in multiple endeavors at once; maybe you worked through college, were a student athlete, or demonstrated strong work or academic performance in multiple fields 

Demonstrated rapid growth, you’ve held successive positions of increasing responsibility within an organization, were able to get yourself up to speed at a heroic pace, and accomplished something meaningfully difficult early in your career

Demonstrated resilience and the ability to overcome failure or extreme odds. Many critics would say that our goals are impossible but this isn’t the first time we’ve proven that highly improbable goals like reusable rockets can become possible

ADDITIONAL REQUIREMENTS: 

Ability to work extended hours and weekends as necessary

Ability and willingness to relocate to Starbase, TX (Brownsville, TX area)

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.