Sr. Mechanical Engineer, Operations (Starship)

SpaceX
Starbase, TX
On-site

Who this role is best for

Best suited to candidates with 5+ years of industrial production experience working in high-volume manufacturing environments, particularly those with expertise in process optimization and cross-functional collaboration.

Best fit for

  • Candidates with 5+ years of industrial production experience and a background in process optimization
    — “5+ years of professional experience in production engineering, manufacturing, or industrial project management
  • Individuals with experience in high-volume production settings and systems integration
    — “Experience with high volume production atmospheres (automotive or similar)
  • Engineers who have led cross-functional initiatives and standardized best practices in production
    — “lead cross-functional and multidisciplinary initiatives in a fast-paced environment that increase production throughput, optimize material flow, support new product introduction efforts, reduce build hours, and standardize best practices

Things to consider

  • Onsite presence is mandatory, with no remote work options available
    — “This position is based in Starbase, TX and requires being onsite - remote work not considered
  • Travel may be required to other SpaceX facilities, up to 5-10% of the time
    — “Must be able to travel - up to 5-10% travel may be required to other SpaceX facilities

How to stand out

  • Highlight experience with Lean principles and Six Sigma in process improvement projects
    — “Proficiency with Lean principles, Six Sigma concepts and applications
  • Demonstrate your ability to lead cross-functional initiatives and drive process improvements
    — “lead cross-functional and multidisciplinary initiatives in a fast-paced environment
  • Showcase your skills in data analysis and visualization using tools like Power BI
    — “Proficiency with statistics, data analysis, cost/benefit analysis, and visualization tools such as Power BI or similar
  • Emphasize your experience in inventory, production, and capacity planning with MRP/ERP systems
    — “Experience with inventory, production, and capacity planning (including MRP/ERP systems)
  • Demonstrate experience in supporting production start-up and ramp periods
    — “Experience supporting production start-up and production ramp periods
Pace · Fast PacedCollaboration · HighAutonomy · MediumDecision Impact · TeamLevel · Senior

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

What success looks like

  • increased production throughput
  • optimized material flow
  • reduced build hours
  • standardized best practices
Typical background
mechanical engineeringaerospace engineeringindustrial engineering

Skills & requirements

Required

Mechanical EngineeringProduction EngineeringManufacturingIndustrial Project ManagementCAD ProgramsLean PrinciplesSix Sigma ConceptsData AnalysisCost/benefit AnalysisVisualization ToolsInventory ManagementProduction PlanningERP SystemsProcess Improvement

Preferred

SQLPythonAI Tools

Stack & domain

CAD ProgramsLean PrinciplesSix Sigma ConceptsStatisticsData AnalysisCost/benefit AnalysisVisualization ToolsInventoryProductionCapacity PlanningMrp/erp SystemsSQLPythonAI ToolsLeadershipProblem SolvingProject Management MethodologiesCommunicationCollaborationProduction EngineeringManufacturingIndustrial Project Management

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.

SR. MECHANICAL ENGINEER, OPERATIONS (STARSHIP)

At the forefront of SpaceX’s mission to make humanity an interplanetary species, Starship is the vehicle that will deliver humans to Mars and beyond. This mechanical engineering role will support production programs through strategic planning, optimization of production processes, and alignment of resources to tasks. We are seeking engineers to lead cross-functional and multidisciplinary initiatives in a fast-paced environment that increase production throughput, optimize material flow, support new product introduction efforts, reduce build hours, and standardize best practices.

RESPONSIBILITIES:

Identify, design, plan, and execute capital equipment, machine, building/infrastructure, and layout upgrades to meet production, materials management, and site demand

Drive improvements to increase production throughput, reduce production build hours and quality issues, and remove waste from complex processes

Act as subject matter expert in multiple Starship production processes and systems, enabling complex data gathering, troubleshooting, and problem solving

Work as part of a team to develop, manage, and implement production strategies to mitigate future production risks and seize opportunities to improve output, quality, safety, and cost

Develop site and factory design plans that meet production rate targets, involving production line layouts, capacity studies, material flow analyses, building requirements, and facility/utility resources

Define new business processes and systems for high volume production, including manufacturing execution, inventory management, nonconformance resolution, configuration management, material traceability, process control, and maintenance

Train technicians, engineers, and leaders on best-in-class operations practices by driving process improvement workshops, providing training and information briefs on key topics, and demonstrating solutions in the area

Consistently contribute effort, leadership, and creative thinking to solving complex problems in a collaborative fashion and under tight deadlines

Collaborate across disciplines including Production, Engineering, Test, Materials Management, Quality, and Supply Chain to ensure efficiency and consistency across the organization

Regularly present findings, improvement opportunities, and project execution to program leadership

BASIC QUALIFICATIONS:

Bachelor’s degree in mechanical, aerospace, industrial, or other engineering discipline

5+ years of professional experience in production engineering, manufacturing, or industrial project management  

PREFERRED SKILLS AND EXPERIENCE:

Experience with high volume production atmospheres (automotive or similar)

Proficiency with CAD programs (Siemens NX, SolidWorks, AutoCAD, Revit, or similar)

Proficiency with Lean principles, Six Sigma concepts and applications, creative problem solving and project management methodologies

Proficiency with statistics, data analysis, cost/benefit analysis, and visualization tools such as Power BI or similar

Experience with inventory, production, and capacity planning (including MRP/ERP systems)

Experience with SQL, Python, and AI tools

Experience with discrete event modeling software, statistical analysis, or operations research fields

Experience with Bluebeam Revu

Experience analyzing large datasets, checking for accuracy/errors in datasets, and communicating data driven conclusions

Experience supporting production start-up and production ramp periods

Able to contribute to and work well with multi-disciplinary and cross-functional teams

Ability to identify customer needs, gather requirements, and execute independently

Ability to work effectively in a fast-paced, high-stress, dynamic environment that includes working with changing needs and requirements

Excellent written and verbal communication skills

Demonstrated ability to communicate with and influence stakeholders in higher-level leadership  

ADDITIONAL REQUIREMENTS:

Must be able to work extended hours, some nights and/or weekends when needed to meet major milestones

Must be able to travel - up to 5-10% travel may be required to other SpaceX facilities

This position is based in Starbase, TX and requires being onsite - remote work not considered

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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