Structures Design Engineer (Falcon & Dragon)

Location: Hawthorne, CA

Department: Falcon and Dragon Engineering

STRUCTURES DESIGN ENGINEER (FALCON & DRAGON)

As a Structures Design Engineer, your design work and assembly configuration management will contribute to new development and support of our existing vehicle fleets. You will have the opportunity to work with your team and across partner teams on the Falcon and Dragon programs toward the successful flights of Falcon and Dragon. Additionally, you will have the opportunity to work with teams across SpaceX to advance our goal of making life multi-planetary.

RESPONSIBILITIES:  

• Design and develop groundbreaking hardware for Falcon and Dragon vehicle upgrades and new mission profiles using NX, including metallic and composite structures, soft goods, fluid/propulsion systems, and avionics hardware under accelerated timelines
• Generate detailed component and assembly drawings using GD&T and perform tolerance stack-up analysis
• Responsible for overall CAD integration and hardware packaging for vehicle systems. Manage cross-discipline interfaces to ensure proper clearances and fit-up (Interface Control Drawings, etc.)
• Apply first principles methodology and design for manufacturing concepts to create innovative solutions for challenging problems in spacecraft and launch vehicle development

BASIC QUALIFICATIONS:

• Bachelor’s degree in an engineering discipline
• 1+ years of mechanical design and drafting experience (including internships or personal projects)
• 1+ years of experience with 3D CAD software (NX, Solidworks, etc.)

PREFERRED SKILLS AND EXPERIENCE: 

• Solid understanding and application of GD&T and tolerance stack-ups
• Hands-on experience working in project teams designing hardware in a highly constrained system under defined timelines
• Familiarity with welded/bolted structures, composites and fluid systems
• Ability to manage large assembly models and drawings
• Ability to work and communicate well in an integrated team including daily interactions with technicians, engineers, and leadership
• Creative problem solver that can bring multiple disciplines together to achieve buy-in for a unified design direction
• Self-motivated with strong multi-tasking, organizational, communication, documentation and rigorous attention to detail skills
• Experience with FMEA and FEA
• 2+ years experience with a 3D modeling software (NX preferred)

ADDITIONAL REQUIREMENTS: 

• Must be able to work long hours and weekends as necessary
• Must be able to travel to various SpaceX sites (up to 25%)

COMPENSATION AND BENEFITS:         

Pay range:
Structures Design Engineer/Level I: $95,000.00 - $115,000.00/per year
Structures Design Engineer/Level II: $110,000.00 - $130,000.00/per year 

Your actual level and base salary will be determined on a case-by-case basis and may vary based on the following considerations: job-related knowledge and skills, education, and experience. 

Base salary is just one part of your total rewards package at SpaceX. You may also be eligible for long-term incentives, in the form of company stock, stock options, or long-term cash awards, as well as potential discretionary bonuses and the ability to purchase additional stock at a discount through an Employee Stock Purchase Plan. You will also receive access to comprehensive medical, vision, and dental coverage, access to a 401(k) retirement plan, short and long-term disability insurance, life insurance, paid parental leave, and various other discounts and perks. You may also accrue 3 weeks of paid vacation and will be eligible for 10 or more paid holidays per year. Employees accrue paid sick leave pursuant to Company policy which satisfies or exceeds the accrual, carryover, and use requirements of the law.