Mechanical Engineer (Starshield)

SpaceX•Hawthorne, CA

4d•$100,000 - $160,000

About The Position

SpaceX is hiring a satellite mechanical and mechanisms engineer for Starshield, which adapts Starlink technology and launch capability for government use, initially focused on earth observation, communications, and hosted payloads. The engineer will own the design and development of complex mechanisms and mechanical systems, with work spanning electromechanical system architecture, simulation, and controls for advanced satellites. The role covers hardware and mechanisms from concept through volume production and on-orbit operations. The engineer will develop design criteria, collaborate on requirements, optimize systems, iterate designs and analyses to guide system trades and product direction, and establish production processes that balance cost, complexity, and quality. The position also includes environmental and performance testing, delivery timeline ownership, and accountability for product outcomes across development and production.

Requirements

Bachelor's degree in an engineering or STEM discipline.
Experience with CAD or FEA software packages; experience may come from professional, academic, entrepreneurial, or hobby settings.
At least 1 year of experience with mechanical and/or electromechanical design and analysis; internship and extracurricular experience are applicable.
Ability to work long hours and weekends as necessary to meet mission-critical deadlines.
Ability to travel to SpaceX, vendor, customer, and partner locations as necessary.
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 U.S. Department of State authorizations.

Nice To Haves

Master's degree in engineering or a related technical discipline.
Ability and willingness to obtain a Top Secret clearance.
Knowledge and application of GD&T.
Experience owning hardware or systems within an integrated engineering team outside a classroom setting, such as FSAE, Engineers without Borders, Student Directed Research, Design-Build-Fly, NASA student launch, or personal entrepreneurial ventures.
Understanding of structural analysis and failure modes of complex mechanical systems.

Responsibilities

Own hardware and mechanisms from conceptual design through volume production and on-orbit operations to support customer needs.
Develop design criteria, collaborate on requirements, and drive system-level optimization.
Rapidly iterate on designs and analysis to inform high-level systems trades and steer overall product direction.
Drive holistic design for manufacturing, reducing piece-part and process counts, error-proofing fabrication and integration, and establishing consistent performance and production metrics.
Establish an efficient product lifecycle from supply chain through final integration that balances cost, complexity, and quality; work with partner teams to design and realize an efficient in-house production line.
Perform environmental and performance testing on hardware to validate analysis and demonstrate compliance with design criteria.
Own product delivery timelines through conception, design, assembly, and launch.
Own product outcomes at every stage of development and production.

Benefits

Potential 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.
Up to 3 weeks of accrued paid vacation.
10 or more paid holidays per year.
Paid sick leave pursuant to Company policy.
For employees with an active clearance who are officially briefed into a classified program, a 10% differential, up to an additional $20,000 annually.