Sr. Build Engineer (Starship)

The role

The Build Engineer takes design-for-manufacturability concepts through to integration and testing of the full vehicle. This role involves designing tooling, developing processes for welding and structure integration, and providing technical supervision to production teams for Starship and Super Heavy.

What you will do

• Work with vehicle analysts and design team to ensure hardware meets design and manufacturing constraints
• Develop production procedures and manage transition from development to high-rate production
• Coordinate and execute testing of tooling and systems
• Identify and implement design-for-manufacturability improvements
• Create original CAD models and drawings for flight hardware and tooling
• Serve as primary on-site design engineering point of contact
• Create and maintain build schedules
• Analyze and resolve manufacturing discrepancies with the Quality team
• Participate in design reviews with internal teams, suppliers, and customers
• Provide technical direction and support to vendors

Required qualifications

• Bachelor’s or advanced degree in Aerospace Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, Manufacturing Engineering, Materials Engineering, or Engineering Physics
• Hands-on project experience with complex mechanical systems
• 5+ years of professional engineering experience
• Physical dexterity required for building flight hardware in tight quarters
• Ability to perform job duties requiring standing, kneeling, crouching, twisting upper body, working in cramped positions, and climbing hand over hand
• Exposure to extreme outdoor environments including heat, cold, and rain
• Exposure to fumes, odors, and noise
• Ability to stand up to 6 hours per day
• Ability to sit up to 6 hours per day
• Ability to push/pull up to 50lbs unassisted for 30 minutes to 1 hour per day
• Ability to perform overhead reach for up to 1 hour per day
• Ability to walk for up to 1 hour per day

Nice to have

• Experience working on SpaceX vehicles or builds
• Strong experience with GD&T
• Experience with large steel structure fabrication and assembly (civil, naval, aerospace, or heavy mechanical)
• Experience leading the mechanical design of operationally critical hardware, including structures and basic structural analysis
• Proficiency with Finite Element Analysis (FEA)
• Experience developing, maintaining, and improving welding processes
• Experience with process development, facility/line layouts, and error-proofing (poka-yoke)
• Experience with Siemens NX and Teamcenter (CAD and PLM systems)
• Strong interpersonal, organizational, and communication skills

Before you apply

• Must be a U.S. citizen or national, U.S. lawful permanent resident, Refugee, or Asylee, or be eligible to obtain required authorizations from the U.S. Department of State
• May be required to complete a pre-employment questionnaire and/or physical to confirm capabilities, which may include a medical history review

About the company

SpaceX is actively developing technologies to enable human life on Mars.