Propulsion Engineer (Raptor Final Assembly & Tube Shop)

SpaceX
Hawthorne, CA
On-site

Who this role is best for

Strong fit for mechanical or aerospace engineers who challenge requirements and streamline production processes, with experience in high-volume manufacturing and fluid systems.

Best fit for

  • Candidates with mechanical design and manufacturing experience, especially in collegiate projects like Formula SAE or Baja SAE
    — “1+ years of mechanical design and manufacturing experience from either industry or collegiate engineering projects such as Formula SAE, Baja SAE, or Design Build Fly”
  • Individuals who can design tooling and implement robust corrective actions based on data
    — “Extreme owner of tooling design, fabrication, qualification and improvement, based on analysis and data”
  • Engineers with a background in process development and facility layout optimization
    — “Process development, facility and line layouts”

Things to consider

  • The role may require extended hours and weekend work, which could impact work-life balance
    — “Position may require extended hours and weekend work”
  • Candidates must meet ITAR requirements, which limits eligibility to U.S. citizens or residents
    — “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”

How to stand out

  • Highlight experience with high-volume production and process optimization in your resume and interviews
    — “Develop, qualify, and refine assembly processes to enable high volume production of engines”
  • Emphasize your ability to resolve build issues and implement corrective actions
    — “Resolve build issues, disposition nonconforming conditions, perform root cause analysis, and implement robust corrective actions”
  • Showcase your knowledge of manufacturing processes like machining, welding, and automation
    — “Solid understanding of a variety of manufacturing processes, including machining, welding, drilling, and automation”
  • Demonstrate your experience with design for manufacturability and assembly in your application materials
    — “Experience with Design for Manufacturability and Assembly”
  • Include specific examples of working with minimal supervision and managing tooling design
    — “Ability to work with minimal supervision; Extreme owner of tooling design, fabrication, qualification and improvement”
Pace · SteadyCollaboration · HighAutonomy · MediumDecision Impact · Team

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

What success looks like

  • oversee the build and test processes for Raptor final assembly
  • develop and refine assembly processes
  • resolve build issues and implement robust corrective actions
Typical background
Bachelor's degree in mechanical, aerospace, or manufacturing engineering1+ years of mechanical design and manufacturing experience

Skills & requirements

Required

Mechanical DesignManufacturing ExperienceAssembly ProcessesTooling DesignRoot Cause AnalysisCorrective Actions

Preferred

Fluid And Electrical SystemsConfiguration ManagementTest PlansDesign For Manufacturability And AssemblyNX CAD

Stack & domain

Mechanical DesignManufacturing ExperienceBuilding And Testing Of Fluid And Electrical SystemsInterpreting SchematicsDocumentation And Configuration ManagementWriting Test PlansProcess DevelopmentFacility And Line LayoutsPfmeaError ProofingNX (UG Or Equivalent) CADGeometric Dimensioning And Tolerancing (gd&t)

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.

PROPULSION ENGINEER – RAPTOR FINAL ASSEMBLY & TUBE SHOP

RESPONSIBILITIES: 

Responsible for overseeing the build and test processes for the Raptor final assembly & Tube Shop production area

Develop, qualify, and refine assembly processes to enable high volume production of engines

Think creatively; question the status quo; challenge engineering and manufacturing requirements to drive efficient production of Raptor engines on schedule through collaboration with a multidisciplinary team of engineers (design, build, and reliability), internal production teams, and external vendors

Work with design engineering to develop design and manufacturing standards that reduce final assembly burden; implement a maintainable and lasting system of reasonable and powerful requirements

Resolve build issues, disposition nonconforming conditions, perform root cause analysis, and implement robust corrective actions

Extreme owner oftooling design, fabrication, qualification and improvement, based on analysis and data 

Design tooling for new and existing products to support rate production

Streamline existing production builds to minimize cost while improving quality and efficiency

Implement standard practices, troubleshooting guides, and standard repair procedures, including review and approval of planning documents

BASIC QUALIFICATIONS: 

Bachelor's degree in mechanical, aerospace, or manufacturing engineering

1+ years of mechanical design and manufacturing experience from either industry or collegiate engineering projects such as Formula SAE, Baja SAE, or Design Build Fly

PREFERRED SKILLS AND EXPERIENCE: 

Experience with the building and testing of fluid and electrical systems, and interpreting schematics

Documentation and configuration management experience

Experience writing test plans, procedures and providing go/no-go judgment and rationale

Experience taking products through development cycle to full volume production

Solid understanding of a variety of manufacturing processes, including machining, welding, drilling, and automation

Ability to work with minimal supervision

Experience with Design for Manufacturability and Assembly

Experience with NX (UG or equivalent) CAD and geometric dimensioning and tolerancing (GD&T) for component and tooling design

Process development, facility and line layouts

Experience in process development, value stream layout, PFMEA, and error proofing 

ADDITIONAL REQUIREMENTS: 

Ability to work directly with the hardware on the floor for extended periods of time

Position may require extended hours and weekend work

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.

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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