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 (GAS/STEAM TURBINES)
SpaceX is looking for a Mechanical Engineer who can support power plant development by owning the rotating equipment integration scope from technical specification through equipment selection, interface management, construction and into commissioning. You’ll work across gas turbines, steam turbines, and HRSGs. This is not a desk job. You will be constructing the power plant, owning commissioning in the control room during startup, and in the field troubleshooting.
RESPONSIBILITIES:
- Develop technical specifications for gas turbines, steam turbines, HRSGs, and associated auxiliaries (lube oil systems, gas fuel skids, SCR/CO catalyst systems)
- Lead technical evaluation of OEM proposals (GE, Siemens Energy, Mitsubishi Power, Doosan) and drive equipment selection recommendations
- Own mechanical interface management between major equipment packages — turbine, generator, HRSG, steam turbine, condenser, and balance of plant systems
- Review and approve OEM drawings, GA layouts, and P&IDs for technical compliance and constructibility
- Support foundation and structural design coordination with civil/structural engineering, including dynamic loading and vibration criteria
- Work with EPC and OEM to resolve technical interface issues (piping stress, thermal expansion, casing supports, lube oil routing) before they hit the field
- Participate in factory acceptance testing (FAT) at OEM facilities
- Support commissioning and startup activities on-site, including mechanical checkout, alignment verification, and vibration baseline testing
- Develop technical basis for spare parts strategy and critical rotating equipment spares
- Travel to OEM factories, fabrication shops, and the construction site as needed
BASIC QUALIFICATIONS:
- Bachelor’s degree in Mechanical Engineering or a related engineering discipline
- 5+ years of experience with utility-scale rotating equipment: gas turbines, steam turbines, HRSGs, or large industrial compressors/pumps
PREFERRED SKILLS AND EXPERIENCE:
- Working knowledge of rotating equipment fundamentals: rotor dynamics, bearing design, lube oil systems, thermal expansion, and alignment
- Experience with mechanical specification development and technical bid evaluation for major equipment packages
- Direct experience with F-class or H-class gas turbines (GE 7/9FA/HA, Siemens SGT6/8, Mitsubishi M501/701, Doosan H-class)
- Experience with HRSG design review — drum internals, superheater/reheater arrangement, SCR integration
- Familiarity with API 611/612/616/617 standards for rotating equipment
- Experience with vibration analysis, rotor dynamics software, or finite element analysis for rotating machinery
- Factory acceptance test (FAT) experience at an OEM turbine or generator facility
- Field commissioning experience: alignment, mechanical run tests, vibration baselining
- Comfort working directly with OEM engineering teams to resolve technical disputes under schedule pressure
- Experience using SOLIDWORKS, Siemens NX, or similar CAD software
- Knowledge of engineering standards and best practices such as ASME B31.3, ASME BPV Code Section VIII, and AFSPCMAN 91-710
ADDITIONAL REQUIREMENTS:
- Must be available to work extended hours and weekends when needed based on site operational needs; flexibility required
- Willingness to travel to job sites during construction, commissioning, and critical operational events
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
- Bachelor’s degree in Mechanical Engineering or a related engineering discipline
- 5+ years of experience with utility-scale rotating equipment, including gas turbines, steam turbines, HRSGs, large industrial compressors, or pumps
- U.S. citizenship or nationality, lawful permanent residency, refugee or asylee status, or eligibility to obtain required ITAR authorizations
- Working knowledge of rotor dynamics, bearing design, lube oil systems, thermal expansion, and alignment
- Experience developing mechanical specifications and evaluating technical bids for major equipment packages
- Direct experience with F-class or H-class gas turbines
- Experience reviewing HRSG designs, including drum internals, superheater/reheater arrangements, and SCR integration
- Familiarity with API 611, API 612, API 616, and API 617 standards
- Experience with vibration analysis, rotor dynamics software, or finite element analysis for rotating machinery
- Factory acceptance testing experience at an OEM turbine or generator facility
- Field commissioning experience involving alignment, mechanical run tests, and vibration baselining
- Experience using SOLIDWORKS, Siemens NX, or similar CAD software
- Knowledge of ASME B31.3, ASME BPV Code Section VIII, and AFSPCMAN 91-710
- Availability for extended hours and weekends when required by site operations
- Willingness to travel to job sites during construction, commissioning, and critical operational events
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.
