Thermal Control and Life Support Hardware Engineer (Crew Starship)

SpaceX
Starbase, TX
On-site

Who this role is best for

A natural match if you have experience with life support systems and a background in mechanical or environmental engineering.

Best fit for

  • Candidates with hands-on experience in fluid and thermal systems design for aerospace applications
    — “develop the necessary hardware to maintain environmental and thermal control
  • Individuals who have led or participated in complex system integration projects
    — “Work with interdisciplinary customers to ensure the component will integrate with the necessary avionics, software, mission operations, etcetera
  • Engineers with a track record of rapid iteration and testing in high-pressure environments
    — “Rapidly iterate on manufacturing processes and development testing in a fast-paced environment

Things to consider

  • U.S. citizenship or residency is a strict requirement due to ITAR regulations
    — “applicant must be a (i) U.S. citizen or national, (ii) U.S. lawful, permanent resident
  • The role may require long hours and extended workweeks to meet project deadlines
    — “Must be willing to work long hours and weekends as needed to support critical milestones

How to stand out

  • Highlight experience with GD&T and tolerance stack-up analysis in your resume and interviews
    — “Solid understanding and application of geometric dimensioning and tolerancing (GD&T)
  • Demonstrate your ability to perform trade studies using first principles in your application materials
    — “Ability to perform trade studies using first principles and engineering fundamentals
  • Showcase leadership in design reviews and cross-team collaboration in your professional narrative
    — “Lead design reviews internally and externally with suppliers and customers
  • Emphasize experience with structural analysis tools like ABAQUS or ANSYS in your qualifications
    — “Experience with structural analysis methods (hand calcs, ABAQUS, ANSYS)
  • Demonstrate familiarity with metallic and fluid system manufacturing techniques
    — “Knowledge of metallic and fluid system manufacturing techniques, processes, equipment
Pace · Fast PacedCollaboration · HighAutonomy · MediumDecision Impact · CompanyLevel · Mid

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

What success looks like

  • conceptualization, design, and build of creative life support and thermal control systems
  • rapid iteration on manufacturing processes and development testing
  • project delivery timeline from early design through production
  • lead design reviews
  • ensure designs are manufacturable and reliable
Typical background
fluid systemsmechanical systemsenvironmental control systems

Skills & requirements

Required

Thermal Control SystemsLife Support SystemsFluid SystemsMechanical SystemsEnvironmental Control SystemsComponent DesignProject ManagementDesign ReviewsManufacturing ProcessesDevelopment Testing

Preferred

Rotating MachineryNXGeometric Dimensioning And TolerancingStructural AnalysisMaterial SelectionCollaborative Team Environment

Stack & domain

Fluid SystemsMechanical SystemsEnvironmental Control SystemsComponentsNXGeometric Dimensioning And Tolerancing (gd&t)Tolerance Stack-up AnalysisStructural Analysis Methods (hand Calcs, Abaqus, Ansys)Metallic And Fluid System Manufacturing Techniques, Processes, EquipmentSelection Of Materials Considering Engineering Properties, Manufacturing, And Fluid CompatibilityAbility To Perform Trade Studies Using First Principles And Engineering FundamentalsExperience With Rotating MachineryExperienced In NXSolid Understanding And Application Of Geometric Dimensioning And Tolerancing (gd&t) And Tolerance Stack-up AnalysisExperience With Structural Analysis Methods (hand Calcs, Abaqus, Ansys)Knowledge Of Metallic And Fluid System Manufacturing Techniques, Processes, Equipment, And Other Processes Such As Machining, Welding, Brazing, Tube Bending, Etc.Able To Work Well In An Integrated Collaborative Team EnvironmentHighly Self-motivated With Strong Organizational And Written/oral Communication SkillsThermal ControlLife SupportSpacecraft

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.

THERMAL CONTROL AND LIFE SUPPORT HARDWARE ENGINEER (CREW STARSHIP)

After 50 years, humankind will once again return to surface of the moon using SpaceX’s Crew Starship (also known as HLS or the Human Landing System) – this time for good. Leveraging the lessons learned from our flight proven Dragon spacecraft and Falcon rocket, Starship will usher in the next era of crewed spaceflight and exploration, ultimately allowing us to establish permanent communities on the Moon, Mars, and beyond.

As a Thermal Control and Life Support Engineer, you will have the opportunity to utilize your knowledge, experience, and creativity to develop novel solutions at the cutting edge of space technology. This team develops the necessary hardware to maintain environmental and thermal control as well as support life onboard the Starship spacecraft. The role requires attentiveness across disciplines, as it involves design, analysis, testing, and manufacturing of components that are critical to the safety of future astronauts and passengers.

RESPONSIBILITIES:

Own the conceptualization, design, and build of creative life support and thermal control systems for all Crew Starship missions, including Mars missions, across disciplines such as fans and air distribution, air sanitation, water collection and reclamation, waste management, fire suppression, and active thermal control

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

Be responsible for project delivery timeline from early design through production, launch, and sustained operations.

Lead design reviews internally and externally with suppliers and customers

Work with interdisciplinary customers to ensure the component will integrate with the necessary avionics, software, mission operations, etcetera

Ensure designs are manufacturable and reliable

Exemplify technical excellence and be accountable for your own work

BASIC QUALIFICATIONS:

Bachelor’s degree in an engineering or science discipline

1+ years of experience working with fluid systems, mechanical systems, environmental control systems, or components (internship and project team experience is applicable)

PREFERRED SKILLS AND EXPERIENCE:

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

Experience with rotating machinery

Experienced in NX

Solid understanding and application of geometric dimensioning and tolerancing (GD&T) and tolerance stack-up analysis

Experience with structural analysis methods (hand calcs, ABAQUS, ANSYS) in order to optimize hardware to strength requirements as well as to evaluate for life and fracture

Knowledge of metallic and fluid system manufacturing techniques, processes, equipment, and other processes such as machining, welding, brazing, tube bending, etc.

Experience with selection of materials considering engineering properties, manufacturing, and fluid compatibility

Able to work well in an integrated collaborative team environment, including frequent interactions with technicians, other engineers, and managers

Highly self-motivated with strong organizational and written/oral communication skills – able to prioritize and execute tasks in a high-pressure environment with the ongoing drive for continuous improvement in all aspects of work

Master’s degree in engineering discipline

ADDITIONAL REQUIREMENTS:

Must be willing to work long hours and weekends as needed to support critical milestones

Ability to pass Air Force background checks for Cape Canaveral

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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