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.
NEW GRADUATE ENGINEER, LAUNCH & TEST (STARSHIP)
SpaceX is building the infrastructure to make humanity multiplanetary, and Starship will not fly without world-class launch and test systems. As a new graduate engineer on the Starship Launch & Test team, you will work directly on the design, analysis, activation, and operation of the Starship tower, launch mount, fluid systems, and test stands that enable rapid iteration and high launch cadence. This is a high-impact role where new graduates contribute to real hardware that supports testing, launch, and recovery of the most powerful rocket ever built. If you want to solve problems that have never been solved before and help push the boundaries of what’s possible, apply now.
RESPONSIBILITIES:
- Support the design, analysis, and development of Starship launch mount, tower, and test infrastructure
- Perform structural, thermal, and fluids analysis to evaluate and optimize hardware designs
- Contribute to fluid systems that handle cryogens and high-pressure gases for testing and launch operations
- Collaborate with vehicle, software, and operations teams to ensure systems integrate and perform reliably
- Participate in design reviews and help translate requirements into manufacturable hardware
- Work hands-on with technicians to build, activate, and troubleshoot systems in a fast-paced environment
- Assist with test planning, real-time operations support, and post-test data review
- Identify opportunities to improve reliability, reduce turnaround time, and increase launch rate
- Drive rapid iteration by applying engineering fundamentals to solve complex, real-world problems
BASIC QUALIFICATIONS:
- Graduating with a bachelor’s degree, master’s degree or PhD in 2026 or 2027
- Degree in an engineering discipline or physics
- 1+ years of mechanical or fluids design, analysis, or build experience via project team, research, internships, and/or professional experience
PREFERRED SKILLS AND EXPERIENCE:
- Strong ability to use data and analysis to make fast data-driven decisions
- Ability to perform trade studies and make clear recommendations using first principles and engineering fundamentals even with partial information
- Strong understanding of engineering fundamentals
- Experience working at a nimble engineering organization or in a highly technical position that required a scrappy, entrepreneurial manner to accomplish tasks with tight time or budget constraints
- Excelled in ultra-competitive environments (achieved podium finish in engineering, math, or science competitions, achieved scores in the top percentile of scholastic or standardized tests, or demonstrated other incredible feats of intellectual achievement)
- Experience building hardware or have a passion for contributing to a work product that operates in the real world
- Succeeded in multiple endeavors at once; maybe you worked through college, were a student athlete, or demonstrated strong work or academic performance in multiple fields
- Demonstrated rapid growth, you’ve held successive positions of increasing responsibility within an organization, were able to get yourself up to speed at a heroic pace, and accomplished something meaningfully difficult early in your career
- Demonstrated resilience and the ability to overcome failure or extreme odds - critics may say that our goals are impossible but this isn’t the first time we’ve proven that highly improbable goals like reusable rockets can become possible
ADDITIONAL REQUIREMENTS:
- Ability to work extended hours and weekends as necessary – flexibility required
- Ability and willingness to relocate to Starbase, TX (Brownsville, TX area)
- Stand: Up to 3 hours per day
- Sit: Up to 6 hours per day
- Push/Pull: Up to 50lbs. (unassisted) Up to 15 minutes per day
- Overhead reach: Up to 3 hours per day
- Walk: Up to 3 hours per day
- Lift/Carry: Up to 25lbs. (unassisted) Up to 15 minutes per day
- Climb (ladder/stairs): Up to 1 hour per day
- Kneel/Crouch: N/A
- Upper body twist: N/A
- Ability to work in temperatures over 80 degrees: up to 30 minutes per day
- Candidate must be capable of safely working at heights (up to 500ft), in confined spaces, using an air purifying respirator, and performing the physical requirements of the job listed in the job description
- Candidate may be required to complete a pre-employment questionnaire and/or physical to confirm these capabilities, which may include a medical history review
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].
Skills Required
- Graduating with a bachelor's, master's, or PhD in 2026 or 2027
- Degree in an engineering discipline or physics
- 1+ years of mechanical or fluids design, analysis, or build experience via projects, research, internships, or professional experience
- Ability to work extended hours and weekends as necessary
- Ability and willingness to relocate to Starbase, TX (Brownsville, TX area)
- Physical abilities (stand up to 3 hrs/day, sit up to 6 hrs/day, push/pull up to 50 lbs, lift/carry up to 25 lbs, overhead reach, walk, climb ladders, work at heights up to 500 ft, confined spaces, use air-purifying respirator)
- May be required to complete a pre-employment questionnaire and/or physical including medical history review
- ITAR eligibility: U.S. citizen or national, U.S. lawful permanent resident, refugee, asylee, or eligible to obtain required authorizations from the U.S. Department of State
- Strong ability to use data and analysis to make fast data-driven decisions
- Ability to perform trade studies and make recommendations using first principles with partial information
- Strong understanding of engineering fundamentals
- Experience working at a nimble engineering organization or in a highly technical, scrappy role with tight constraints
- Demonstrated competitive academic or technical achievements (podium finishes, top-percentile scores)
- Experience building hardware or passion for real-world operating products
- Demonstrated ability to succeed in multiple endeavors simultaneously (e.g., work through college, student athlete)
- Demonstrated rapid growth with successive positions of increasing responsibility
- Demonstrated resilience and ability to overcome failure or extreme odds
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.
SpaceX Insights
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.
