Principal Mechanical Engineer (Starship)

RESPONSIBILITIES:

• Design and development: Lead the conceptual and detailed design of mechanical systems and components for Starship, including structures, mechanisms, and vehicle hardware, ensuring they meet performance, reliability, and mass targets
• Continuous improvement: Identify opportunities for innovation and improvement in mechanical designs, manufacturing methods, and integration processes to enhance vehicle capability and production efficiency
• Product testing: Plan and conduct testing and validation of new mechanical designs, hardware, and modifications to verify compliance with safety, performance, and environmental requirements.
• Technical support: Provide technical expertise and guidance to cross-functional teams on mechanical system design, integration, and operation throughout the vehicle lifecycle
• Project management: Lead or contribute to mechanical engineering projects from concept through qualification and flight, ensuring adherence to budget, schedule, and technical objectives
• Compliance and standards: Stay informed about aerospace industry standards, codes, and regulations, and ensure that designs and hardware comply with relevant requirements
• Documentation: Prepare technical reports, specifications, drawings, and documentation related to design, analysis, testing, and manufacturing activities

BASIC QUALIFICATIONS:

• Bachelor's degree in engineering and 8+ years of professional experience
• 7+ years of experience leading teams to produce engineering products

PREFERRED SKILLS AND EXPERIENCE:

• Master's degree in aerospace engineering or relevant engineering discipline
• Professional experience working with launch vehicles, space vehicles, command and control systems, and/or ground/space sensor systems
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills with direct experience negotiating technical deliverables or scope
• Significant experience leading cross-functional teams and working with external customers and systems engineering and technical assistance (SETA) representatives
• Significant experience leading and performing quantitative system of systems architecture trades and development
• Experience working with government or commercial spacecraft entities
• Highly detail oriented, diligent, and hardworking
• Passion for advancing the commercial space industry
• Ability to work in a fast-paced, autonomously driven, and demanding start-up atmosphere

ADDITIONAL REQUIREMENTS:

• Must be available to work extended hours and/or weekends as needed to support critical milestones or operations shifts
• Must be willing to travel to other SpaceX offices and customer locations as needed, up to 25%