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.
DESIGN ENGINEER, TURBOMACHINERY (STARSHIP)
This role is responsible for the overall mechanical and structural design of turbomachinery components and assemblies for Starship propulsion systems. The turbomachinery designer will create detailed 3D models and conduct structural analysis to ensure all components perform reliably under extreme operating conditions. Responsibilities include modeling turbomachinery components, executing detailed mechanical designs with geometric dimensioning and tolerancing (GD&T), conducting structural analysis, and driving the manufacturing and assembly process. As the turbomachinery design engineer, you will have full ownership of the design for turbomachinery components on Starship!
RESPONSIBILITIES:
- Collaborate with a multidisciplinary team of turbomachinery and manufacturing engineers, driving the rapid development and execution of designs for Starship's propulsion system turbomachinery
- Design, build, and test turbopumps for Starship, the most advanced orbital vehicle propulsion system ever designed
- Perform structural analysis on the components level and as assembled - this includes thermal deformation required for stack-up analysis during all phases of the operation
- Develop and train teammates to support empowered product ownership by utilizing risk-conscious decision-making skills under pressure
- Interface with our world-class production team to ensure that your team’s designs are successfully translated into the fleet of rockets that is revolutionizing access to space
- Maintain a positive and constructive attitude in the face of technical and non-technical challenges
BASIC QUALIFICATIONS:
- Bachelor’s degree in an engineering discipline
- 2+ years of professional experience in mechanical design and structural analysis
- Professional experience with 3D CAD modeling, GD&T, manufacturing process and machine setup
PREFERRED SKILLS AND EXPERIENCE:
- Master’s degree in an engineering discipline
- Experience in a highly technical position that required a scrappy, entrepreneurial manner to enthusiastically accomplish tasks with tight time or budget constraints
- 2+ years of experience in structural analysis with ANSYS package. Professional experience in ruing nonlinear FEA and fracture analysis is a plus
- Understanding of engineering fundamentals and the ability to perform basic analysis
- Strong desire to mentor and grow employees
- Good understanding of thermodynamics, compressible and incompressible flow, thermochemistry mechanics, structural design in demanding environments, and/or materials
ADDITIONAL REQUIREMENTS:
- Willingness to work extended hours and weekends as needed to resolve critical technical or timing issues
- Ability to perform hands-on work in all environments (heat, cold, rain), in tight quarters or at heights
- Ability to work extended hours and weekends as needed; flexibility required
- Ability to focus while working in hazardous conditions and wearing appropriate personal protective equipment (PPE)
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 [email protected].
SpaceX Compensation & Benefits Highlights
The following summarizes recurring compensation and benefits themes identified from responses generated by popular LLMs to common candidate questions about SpaceX and has not been reviewed or approved by SpaceX.
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Equity Value & Accessibility — Equity grants are a core part of total compensation, with periodic company-run tender offers that create liquidity before any public listing. These mechanisms can make the equity component feel materially valuable in practice.
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Healthcare Strength — The package includes comprehensive medical, dental, and vision coverage, with on-site clinics and health resources at major sites. This breadth of coverage is presented as a strong element of the offering.
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Wellbeing & Lifestyle Benefits — Major locations feature on-site amenities such as fitness facilities, food/coffee, clinics, and other conveniences. These lifestyle perks enhance day-to-day value alongside cash and equity.
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What We Do
SpaceX designs, manufactures and launches the world’s most advanced rockets and spacecraft. The company was founded in 2002 by Elon Musk to revolutionize space transportation, with the ultimate goal of making life multiplanetary. SpaceX has gained worldwide attention for a series of historic milestones. It is the only private company ever to return a spacecraft from low-Earth orbit, which it first accomplished in December 2010. The company made history again in May 2012 when its Dragon spacecraft attached to the International Space Station, exchanged cargo payloads, and returned safely to Earth — a technically challenging feat previously accomplished only by governments. Since then Dragon has delivered cargo to and from the space station multiple times, providing regular cargo resupply missions for NASA.
