Sr. Mechanical Engineer, Flight Termination System (Starship)

SpaceX • Hawthorne, CA

1d

About The Position

As a member of SpaceX’s Flight Termination System (FTS) team, the Mechanical Engineer is responsible for designing Starship and Super Heavy flight termination hardware and explosive devices. The role owns the development process from concept through hardware delivery, including design, analysis, production facility layout, electromechanical and live ordnance assembly, environmental testing, and vehicle integration. It also involves working with regulatory partners to implement, tailor, and challenge space-industry regulatory requirements for this safety-critical system.

The engineer develops manufacturable explosive devices and robust hardware integration designs, validates reliability through rigorous testing, and works across manufacturing, production, testing, and supply chain to increase build rates and factory yield. The position calls for detailed technical documentation, risk assessment, root-cause investigation, and corrective action. As chief engineer, the role collaborates with stage, avionics, and flight-safety teams on system architecture and component design, with goals including zero in-flight FTS component anomalies and fewer production and launch delays.

The role may require extended hours and weekend work for critical project and mission milestones. Candidates must be willing to handle and test high explosives, obtain ATF explosives clearance, and travel less than 25%.

Requirements

• Bachelor's degree in an engineering discipline.
• At least 5 years of experience in mechanical design and/or hands-on manufacturing.
• Willingness to handle and test high-explosive devices.
• Willingness and ability to obtain ATF explosives clearance.
• Willingness to travel less than 25%.
• Extended hours and weekend work may be required for critical project and mission milestones.

Nice To Haves

• Strong interpersonal and collaborative skills, enthusiasm for problem solving, and a desire to optimize modern rocket production and launch processes.
• At least 5 years of experience designing and analyzing mechanical systems through professional work, project- or research-based student experience, or a combination of these.
• Experience with LS-DYNA/ANSYS, BlastX, CHEETA, and/or hydrocode.
• Master's degree or at least 5 years of professional experience in mechanical or aerospace engineering.
• Experience designing, building, testing, and troubleshooting mechanical systems.
• Strong project-management skills and ability to communicate technical concepts effectively across multidisciplinary teams.
• Hands-on experience with high voltage, electronics, or explosives.
• Leadership experience on a project or research team.
• Experience using test instrumentation and control components such as pressure transducers, thermocouples, resistance temperature detectors, relays, and solenoid valves.
• Knowledge of electromechanical devices, actuators, motors, or explosives.
• Understanding of fundamental principles of explosives, solid mechanics, and dynamics.

Responsibilities

• Develop manufacturable explosive devices and robust integration designs for Starship and Super Heavy Flight Termination Systems, including system controllers, electronic safe-and-arm devices, destruct charges, and integrated detonators.
• Question requirements, remove unnecessary parts and processes, simplify and optimize designs, and accelerate and automate component delivery.
• Validate hardware and design reliability through shock, vibration, thermal cycling, climatic, and live-fire testing.
• Design experiments, ground analysis, develop test fixturing, and prepare technical reports based on test results.
• Partner with manufacturing, production, testing, and supply-chain teams to increase component build rate, factory yield, and production volume while reducing cost.
• Accelerate component delivery to more than one full stacked launch vehicle per month.
• Generate and maintain detailed drawings, component specifications, analyses, and risk assessments.
• Lead root-cause investigations arising during development, production, testing, integration, and launch; implement corrective actions to prevent repeat failures.
• Establish standards for reliable component design and qualification testing that meet strict regulatory requirements.
• Achieve zero in-flight anomalies of flight termination system components, reduce component-caused production and launch delays, and minimize containments.
• Act as chief engineer and collaborate with stage, avionics, and flight-safety teams to develop simple vehicle solutions.
• Inform system-level architecture by considering component capabilities and vulnerabilities to minimize payload-to-orbit cost.

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 insurance.
• Dental insurance.
• 401(k) retirement plan.
• Short- and long-term disability insurance.
• Life insurance.
• Paid parental leave.
• Various discounts and perks.
• Accrual of 3 weeks of paid vacation.
• 10 or more paid holidays per year.
• Paid sick leave pursuant to company policy.

What This Job Offers

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