Mechanical Design Engineer (Raptor Engine Systems)

SpaceX•Hawthorne, CA

About The Position

The Engine Systems Design team is responsible for the top-level design definition of Raptor and the mechanical and fluid interfaces connecting the engine to Starship. The team works across engine design, vehicle integration, manufacturing, test, and configuration management to maintain a coherent engine design definition as Raptor changes and production scales. The Mechanical Design Engineer may work on the top-level engine assembly, engine-to-vehicle interfaces, design change management, and analysis and testing to validate new designs. The role maintains high-quality CAD models, engineering drawings, bills of materials, and assemblies, and helps ensure engineering work is released completely, accurately, and on schedule. It may also include supporting interfaces between Raptor and Starship, system-level conceptual design, packaging, routing, and layouts for future engine configurations and changes. The position requires broad awareness of engineering changes, investigations, and design activity across the department. The engineer helps drive engineering change and design reviews and design documentation, while maintaining technical quality. The role may also develop tools and automation to improve configuration management, change tracking, and design documentation processes.

Requirements

Bachelor’s degree in an engineering discipline.
At least 2 years of professional experience in mechanical design, mechanical integration, or a closely related role, including regular use of 3D CAD.
Ability to work extended hours and weekends as needed.
Ability to work directly with hardware on the production floor for extended periods of time.
To meet ITAR requirements, applicants 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.

Nice To Haves

Experience managing or owning configuration of large mechanical assemblies.
Experience with Siemens NX and Teamcenter.
Experience with fluid systems, heat transfer, or structural design.
Experience with engineering change processes and design-review documentation.
Experience creating production drawings using GD&T.
Hands-on experience in a factory, machine shop, or test environment.
Professional experience with rocket propulsion, vehicle interfaces, or high-pressure fluid systems.
Working knowledge of Python, SQL, MATLAB, or FEA tools such as ANSYS.
Experience with scripting and automation.
Experience leading large interdisciplinary groups to achieve a tangible technical outcome or impact.
Experience developing plans and schedules for technical teams.
Strong written and verbal communication skills, with experience coordinating technical work across multiple teams.

Responsibilities

Support management of the top-level Raptor engine assembly across CAD, drawings, bills of materials, and configuration, helping ensure complete hardware is released on schedule.
Maintain the engine fluid schematic as an accurate representation of the latest released engine design.
Support and maintain Raptor-to-Starship interfaces, including structural capability, seals, packaging, dressout, and shipping and installation kits.
Maintain awareness of open engineering changes, investigations, and design work across the department that could affect the engine assembly.
Lead or support engineering change reviews and maintain current Bill of Design and design-review documentation, including DCR, PDR, and CDR.
Promote high standards for engineering changes, design documentation, technical quality, and schedule across contributing engineering teams.
Develop automation for configuration management, change tracking, and design documentation where processes are still performed manually.
Develop interface, routing, packaging, and system-level layouts when engine and vehicle designs must change together.
Collaborate with manufacturing, test, analysis, and vehicle teams to resolve integration issues and move hardware from design through release and build.
Contribute to conceptual and system-level design work for future engine configurations and ongoing Raptor design changes as program needs require.

Benefits

Potential eligibility for long-term incentives in the form of company stock or long-term cash awards.
Potential discretionary bonuses.
Ability to purchase additional stock at a discount through an Employee Stock Purchase Plan.
Comprehensive medical coverage.
Vision coverage.
Dental coverage.
401(k) retirement plan.
Short- and long-term disability insurance.
Life insurance.
Paid parental leave.
Various other discounts and perks.
May accrue 3 weeks of paid vacation.
Eligible for 10 or more paid holidays per year.
Paid sick leave pursuant to Company policy.