Launch Engineer, Ground Support Equipment (Falcon)

SpaceX • Vandenberg AFB, CA

84d • $95,000 - $130,000

About The Position

SpaceX is currently seeking talented individuals for a ground system engineering position on the Falcon Integration team in Vandenberg. You will have the opportunity to utilize your knowledge, experience, and creativity to rapidly design, build, and activate fluid and mechanical systems required to support all aspects of SpaceX Falcon 9 vehicle processing, spacecraft integration, and umbilical refurb.

Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree in an engineering discipline
• 1+ years of hands-on hardware experience performing fabrication, assembly and/or testing

Nice To Haves

• Experience with NX/Teamcenter designing parts and assemblies
• Experience with CAD and FEA software packages (can be in a professional, academic, entrepreneurial, or hobby setting)
• Experience with at least one commercial FEA or multiphysics simulation package (NASTRAN, ABAQUS, ANSYS, CFD codes, etc.)
• Demonstrated ability to own hardware or systems within an integrated engineering team outside a classroom setting (FSAE, Engineers without Borders, Design-Build-Fly, NASA student launch, personal entrepreneurial ventures, etc.)
• Analytical/scientific programming experience (Python, MATLAB, Excel, etc.)
• Hands-on experience working with, troubleshooting, and/or designing complex fluid systems that involve pressure vessels, filters, pressure relief valves, manual valves, regulators, and gauges.
• Demonstrated expertise in the design, build, and operation of systems per any of the following: Fluids -ASME B31.3, ASME B&PV Code Section VIII; Mechanical: AFSPCMAN 91-710, ASME B30, ASME BTH-1, NASA-STD-5005
• Excellent written and oral communication, especially translating technical concepts for non-technical audiences
• General hands-on mechanical experience: welding, automotive, robotics, rocketry, etc.
• Ability to work in a fast-paced, autonomously driven, and demanding atmosphere
• Unfazed by change in strategic direction

Responsibilities

• Design, build, and activate equipment to support all aspects of launch site vehicle processing and launch, including structural, tooling/fixtures, fluids, and transport equipment
• Support Stage 1, Stage 2, Fairing, launch site payload operations, from Dockside to Launch, with a focus on vehicle interface tooling for structural and fluid connections
• Support every flight inspection, refurbishment operations for all the umbilicals for pad operations
• Use hand calculations, finite element analyses (FEA), and computer-aided designs (CAD) to ensure all hardware meets or exceeds internal and customer requirements
• Lead design reviews and activation testing
• Serve as a technical interface to customers and suppliers
• Monitor and participate in ground system build and test, hands-on in the field, alongside skilled technician teams
• Collaborate with engineers and technicians when performing critical operations on non-flight hardware including mechanical, hydraulic, and pneumatic systems
• Perform continuing engineering and production support of ground support equipment to support a 99%+ uptime to support flight hardware integration activities

Benefits

• Pay range: Launch Engineer/Level I: $95,000.00 - $115,000.00/per year
• Pay range: Launch Engineer/Level II: $110,000.00 - $130,000.00/per year
• Long-term incentives, in the form of company stock, stock options, or long-term cash awards
• Potential discretionary bonuses
• Ability to purchase additional stock at a discount through an Employee Stock Purchase Plan
• Comprehensive medical, vision, and dental coverage
• Access to a 401(k) retirement plan
• Short & long-term disability insurance
• Life insurance
• Paid parental leave
• Various other discounts and perks
• 3 weeks of paid vacation
• Eligible for 10 or more paid holidays per year
• Accrue paid sick leave pursuant to Company policy

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Entry Level
• Education Level: Bachelor's degree
• Number of Employees: 5,001-10,000 employees