Ground Systems Engineer, Asset Engineering

SpaceX • Hawthorne, CA

1d

About The Position

SpaceX is developing technologies to enable human life on Mars. Building and testing vehicles such as Starship requires reliable fluid supply systems for production, acceptance, and qualification campaigns. The Ground Systems Engineer is responsible for designing, building, integrating, and sustaining system-level cryogenic and high-pressure infrastructure across programs. These systems require capacity analysis and robust operational design to support high-energy, high-volume test campaigns with little to no interruption.

Requirements

• Bachelor's degree in mechanical, chemical, or aerospace engineering.
• Experience with fluid dynamics, thermodynamics, and/or process engineering.
• General physical fitness and dexterity to work in tight quarters; ability to lift objects weighing more than 25 pounds.
• Schedule varies according to site operational needs; flexibility is required.

Nice To Haves

• Strong desire and ability to learn quickly, adapt, and innovate.
• Advanced degree in mechanical, aerospace, or chemical engineering.
• At least 5 years of hands-on professional or project-team experience with cryogenic fluid systems.
• Demonstrated expertise in designing and operating fluid systems.
• Experience using and troubleshooting control systems for remote operations and instrumentation feedback.
• Experience testing and operating with or around hazardous systems, including high-pressure, high-energy, or hazardous gas and fluid systems.
• PLC programming experience; Siemens preferred.
• Experience with CAD for 3D modeling, such as NX or SolidWorks.
• Ability to work collaboratively with technicians, engineers, and managers.
• Ability to prioritize and execute tasks in a high-pressure, fast-paced environment.
• Self-motivated and directed, with keen attention to detail.
• Passion for advancing the commercial space industry and human spaceflight.
• Demonstrated ability to lead a multidisciplinary team of technicians and engineers.

Responsibilities

• Serve as the responsible engineer for one or more ground fluid systems, including compressible, incompressible, and/or cryogenic systems.
• Apply knowledge of heat transfer, thermodynamics, fluid dynamics, controls, and instrumentation to analyze, design, and document new and existing production systems.
• Manage interdisciplinary teams through requirements definition, design, build, activation, maintenance, and eventual obsolescence of fluid engineering projects.
• Identify, design, and implement fluid-system upgrades involving components, systems, software, and processes, and drive continuous improvement.
• Collaborate with production and build teams to anticipate fluid-system needs and recommend process designs for manufacturability.
• Work alongside technicians to provide day-to-day ground systems support, including testing, troubleshooting, maintenance, repair, and upgrades.
• Provide expertise and recommendations on pressurized components and safe operation of pressure systems to teams across the company.

Benefits

• Potential eligibility for long-term incentives in the form of company stock or long-term cash awards.
• Potential discretionary bonuses.
• Employee Stock Purchase Plan with the ability to purchase additional stock at a discount.
• Medical, vision, and dental coverage.
• 401(k) retirement plan.
• Short- and long-term disability insurance.
• Life insurance.
• Paid parental leave.
• Various other discounts and perks.
• Accrual of 3 weeks of paid vacation.
• 10 or more paid holidays per year.
• Paid sick leave under company policy.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Entry Level