Mission Integration Engineer, Special Programs

SpaceX • Hawthorne, CA

7d • Onsite

About The Position

As a member of our Mission Management team, you will own the integration of customer payloads onto the SpaceX payload platform from requirements definition through integrated test, flight, and on-orbit operations. You will work closely with technical disciplines across SpaceX, such as vehicle engineering, structures, avionics, thermal, software, flight reliability, and launch and space operations to close the payload-to-platform interface and to verify the mission can be flown safely. You will be the owner of the payload-to-platform interface: mechanical, electrical, data, and thermal, plus the static, dynamic, thermal, and electromagnetic environments for launch, on-orbit, and re-entry. You will write and maintain interface control documentation, allocate and verify requirements, run interface trades, and drive non-compliances to a technical disposition (redesign, waiver, or operational constraint). You will plan and execute integration and test, including mate/demate, interface checkout, and end-to-end mission timeline verification. The work is mission and interface engineering applied to an externally built space vehicle on a SpaceX host. The ideal candidate is a self-starter who is hungry to do work that matters, and is a quick-learner.

Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree in an engineering or STEM discipline
• Ability to obtain a Top Secret SCI clearance
• Experience applying systems engineering methods (requirements, interfaces, verification, or integration and test)
• Excellent verbal and written technical communication skills

Nice To Haves

• Active Top Secret, Top Secret SCI, or DOE Level Q clearance
• 1+ years of spacecraft, launch vehicle, or payload integration / systems engineering experience
• Master’s degree in an engineering discipline
• Hands-on experience with ICD development, requirements verification, or integrated test
• Familiarity with launch and on-orbit environments (coupled loads, shock, vibe, thermal vacuum, EMI/EMC)
• Familiarity with USG processes and systems
• Ability to close technical trades across multiple engineering organizations under schedule pressure
• Ability to quickly adapt and change course in a fast-paced environment

Responsibilities

• Own the payload-to-platform ICD: define, baseline, and configuration-control mechanical, electrical, data, and thermal interfaces
• Allocate customer and vehicle requirements to the interface; maintain traceability through analysis, test, and inspection
• Evaluate payload design against platform constraints and environments (static, dynamic, thermal, electromagnetic) for launch, on-orbit, and re-entry
• Lead interface trades (mass, volume, keep-out, loads, power, thermal, EMI/EMC, timeline) and document the technical basis
• Disposition interface non-compliances with engineering: waiver, redesign, or operational constraint, including work-around plans where required
• Define and support integrated test: interface checkout, EGSE, mate/demate, environmental test correlation, and end-to-end mission timeline
• Build and maintain the integrated mission CONOPs (on-orbit operations) with payload, vehicle, and operations teams
• Identify technical risk at the payload–platform boundary, including Do No Harm to the vehicle and to co-manifested payloads; drive mitigations to closure
• Support design reviews, test readiness, and flight readiness with evidence of interface compliance—not as a customer-facing facilitator, as the responsible engineer for the interface
• Communicate interface status, open items, and technical decisions to payload providers and internal engineering teams

Benefits

• Comprehensive medical, vision, and dental coverage
• Access to a 401(k) retirement plan
• Short and long-term disability insurance
• Life insurance
• Paid parental leave
• Various other discounts and perks
• 3 weeks of paid vacation
• 10 or more paid holidays per year
• Paid sick leave
• Company stock or long-term cash awards
• Potential discretionary bonuses
• Ability to purchase additional stock at a discount through an Employee Stock Purchase Plan

What This Job Offers

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