Sr. Mechanical Engineer, Hardware Development (Starshield)
Hawthorne, CA
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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, HARDWARE DEVELOPMENT (STARSHIELD)
In a dynamic global security environment, SpaceX's agility is more necessary than ever. Starshield brings SpaceX's strengths to national security, focusing on intelligence, communications, and hosted payloads. Starshield is now looking to disrupt how our nation approaches homeland defense with proliferated ground infrastructure.
We are looking for a driven and creative engineer to serve as the responsible engineer for new sensing technology. This is an opportunity to get in on the ground-floor and be an influential decision-maker for an emerging program with potentially billions of dollars of impact. You will be a key contributor to the hardware design, demo, and production of this product.
Engineers on this team love driving projects to success and working effectively with internal and external partners and customers. We are looking for team players with exceptional communication skills and strong engineering fundamentals to tackle a wide breadth of work. The ideal candidate will have project experience in mechanical, electrical, and software engineering as well as the demonstrated ability to learn.
RESPONSIBILITIES:
Own hardware from conceptual design through volume production and in-flight operations to support various customers' needs
Work closely with partners on the RF, software, and GNC teams to 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
Demonstrate extreme ownership of product outcomes at every stage of development and production
BASIC QUALIFICATIONS:
Bachelor's degree in an engineering or STEM discipline
3+ years of experience with CAD or FEA software packages
5+ years of experience with mechanical and/or electromechanical design and analysis
3+ years of experience in technical project management and/or systems engineering
PREFERRED SKILLS AND EXPERIENCE:
Master's degree in engineering or a related technical discipline
Ability and willingness to obtain a Top Secret clearance
Experience managing ambiguous multidisciplinary projects (RF, electrical, mechanical, software)
Solid understanding and application of GD&T
Demonstrated ability to 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.)
Demonstrated understanding of structural analysis and failure modes of complex mechanical and/or electromechanical systems
Self-motivated with strong organizational, written, and oral communication skills
Proficient in 3D CAD (NX preferred)
ADDITIONAL REQUIREMENTS:
Ability to work long hours and weekends as necessary to meet mission-critical deadlines
Willing to travel at least 10% of the time, to vendors, customers, or domestics/international ground sites.
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:
Mechanical Engineer/Senior: $125,000.00 - $175,000.00/per year
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, stock options, 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 ITARhere (https://www.pmddtc.state.gov/?id=ddtc\kb\article\page&sys\id=24d528fddbfc930044f9ff621f961987) .
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.
