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.
TEST ENGINEER (DRAGON)
SpaceX is currently seeking talented individuals for a position on the Dragon Spacecraft Integration Mechanisms, Avionics/Automation, Interior, and Trunk sub-team. You will have the opportunity to utilize your knowledge, experience, and creativity to develop novel solutions in spacecraft reusability. You will work on post-flight vehicles, testing and refurbishing next generation Dragon spacecraft, designed to take crew and cargo to low Earth orbit. You will have ownership of your work in all phases. The test team is the last line of defense testing and screening all hardware and systems on our spacecraft. The role will also require significant interface with the design engineers, providing the opportunity to continuously improve the capsule design and ground processing as the team works to establish aircraft-like operations on Dragon.
RESPONSIBILITIES:
- Develop and execute procedures for integrated testing of both Crew and Cargo Dragon flight hardware and subsystems during post-flight processing, teardown, maintenance, and pre-flight processing
- Develop test solutions for in-house developed hardware products which will fly to space
- Act as a Dragon vehicle controller and test conductor during Dragon integrated system tests
- Evaluate flight vehicle requirements and work scope definition for capsule refurbishment campaigns, including evaluation of change, risk, and previous as-built conditions
- Develop and implement integration processes for assigned ownership areas
- Manage multiple ground support equipment and facility improvement projects, knowing how to prioritize highest return on investment projects and how to effectively communicate those returns
- Design and develop tools (hardware and/or software) to enable and optimize test operations and vehicle processing
- Work with unique SpaceX application software to develop automated solutions to test processing, requirements management, test campaign management, and data reviews
- Collaborate with test and responsible engineers to resolve technical problems, integrate new processes and hardware, and continuously improve upon testing tools and processes
- Independently troubleshoot vehicle or GSE failures to root cause and write the disposition and follow-on plan
- Effectively communicate test priorities, including personnel safety, vehicle safety, and schedule when coordinating with other teams
BASIC QUALIFICATIONS:
- Bachelor’s degree in physics, electrical engineering, software engineering, mechanical engineering, or other engineering discipline
- 1+ years of experience with hardware development, vehicle integration or refurbishment, manufacturing, pressurized systems, or operations (internship and project experience applies)
PREFERRED SKILLS AND EXPERIENCE:
- Experience with test equipment and measurement techniques to verify and validate product requirements
- Understanding of schematics (fluids/electrical) to analyze and improve test coverage
- Understanding of mechanical mechanisms and how they move, load, and fail
- Understanding of metrology, sources of measurement error, and uncertainty analysis
- Experience working with high pressure, fluid, and electrical systems
- Experience in writing test plans and test procedures
- Experience interacting with CAD software and large CAD models
- Understanding of, or hands-on experience with test operations with gases/fluids, mechanical systems, and/or avionics components and sensors
- Experience with data acquisition setup and field measurements on installed flight hardware (dimensional, electrical, or fluids)
- Experience developing in object-oriented software languages such as Python and C++
- Experience automating tests or data review in Python
- Experience in debugging, performance optimizations, unit testing, and code reviewing
- Experience working on spacecraft or launch vehicles
ADDITIONAL REQUIREMENTS:
- Ability to pass Space Force background check for Cape Canaveral
- Physical effort including standing, lifting and carrying moderately heavy materials or equipment (15 to 45 lbs.)
- Comfortable being trained to work around hypergolic propellants (MMH and NTO) and willing to work with hazardous materials
- Ability to work extended hours in a high-tempo, high-stress environment
- Occasional travel may be required
- Willingness to work outdoors
- 55-hour work weeks are typical, schedule varies depending on site operational needs, flexibility required
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 physics, electrical engineering, software engineering, mechanical engineering, or other engineering discipline
- 1+ years of experience with hardware development, vehicle integration or refurbishment, manufacturing, pressurized systems, or operations (internship and project experience applies)
- Ability to pass Space Force background check for Cape Canaveral
- Physical ability including standing, lifting and carrying moderately heavy materials or equipment (15 to 45 lbs.)
- Comfortable being trained to work around hypergolic propellants (MMH and NTO) and willing to work with hazardous materials
- Ability to work extended hours in a high-tempo, high-stress environment
- Occasional travel may be required
- Willingness to work outdoors
- Flexibility for 55-hour work weeks and variable schedules
- Experience with test equipment and measurement techniques to verify and validate product requirements
- Understanding of schematics (fluids/electrical) to analyze and improve test coverage
- Understanding of mechanical mechanisms and how they move, load, and fail
- Understanding of metrology, sources of measurement error, and uncertainty analysis
- Experience working with high pressure, fluid, and electrical systems
- Experience in writing test plans and test procedures
- Experience interacting with CAD software and large CAD models
- Hands-on experience with test operations involving gases/fluids, mechanical systems, and/or avionics components and sensors
- Experience with data acquisition setup and field measurements on installed flight hardware
- Experience developing in object-oriented languages such as Python and C++
- Experience automating tests or data review in Python
- Experience in debugging, performance optimizations, unit testing, and code reviewing
- Experience working on spacecraft or launch vehicles
- ITAR-related eligibility: must be U.S. citizen/national, lawful permanent resident, Refugee, Asylee, or eligible to obtain required U.S. Department of State authorizations
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.
