Launch Operations Engineer (Starship)

SpaceX • Cape Canaveral, FL

1d • Onsite

About The Position

The Launch Operations Engineer (Starship) at SpaceX is responsible for the entire operational process of testing and launching Starship. This involves developing test requirements, creating launch plans, integrating flight hardware, operating the launch system from a console, conducting tests, analyzing data to ensure performance and inform design improvements, and serving as the primary flight controller for launch events. The team's goal is to rigorously vet hardware and ensure vehicle quality through exhaustive testing and a high launch cadence, pushing hardware to its limits under flight-like conditions before sending it to orbit.

Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree in mechanical engineering, chemical engineering, aerospace engineering, or other engineering discipline
• 1+ years of hands-on build or design experience (internship, club, and competition team experience qualifies)

Nice To Haves

• 3+ years of hands-on experience with complex and/or low-margin mechanical, structural, fluid, and electronic systems
• Ability to thrive in ambiguous requirements and aggressive timelines
• High levels of personal autonomy and self-driven motivation
• Strong interpersonal skills and ability to work effectively in a team environment, accomplishing tasks with limited resources at a rapid pace
• Demonstrated history of working efficiently with hazardous systems (high pressure, high voltage, cryogenic, toxic, flammable, hypergolic, pyrophoric)
• High level of familiarity with complex system control and instrumentation
• Experience with analytical data review tools and numerical methods to solve real-world problems (Python, R, MATLAB, NI LabVIEW)
• Demonstrated experience in effective root cause and failure analysis
• Experience writing and optimizing high-risk technical procedures and work instructions
• Ability to read, understand, and apply technical drawings, data reports, mechanical schematics, electrical schematics, and design specifications

Responsibilities

• Serve as on-console flight controllers during launch events
• Test integrated rocket hardware to determine suitability for flight
• Provide on-console engineering support for technicians during daily test/launch stand operations
• Write and review control logic/automation for test & launch systems
• Perform real-time and post-op data review to evaluate the performance of launch/test article and stand systems (software, fluid, structural, thermal, electrical). This includes documenting operational results and recommending areas for upgrades and improvement
• Find innovative ways to create, review, and optimize test & launch processes/procedures to increase launch system capability and rate
• Identify and characterize system pitfalls and potential hazards; then work to resolve these by collaborating with design, production, and ground system engineers on improvements for flight hardware and processes
• Serve as the final authority to ensure all operations are conducted in a safe manner
• Perform other related duties, as assigned, for the purpose of ensuring an efficient and effective work environment

What This Job Offers

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