Mechanical Engineer (Starship Structures)

About this role

SpaceX seeks a Mechanical Engineer to design and validate Starship structures, including primary structures, propellant tanks, and subassemblies. You'll own end-to-end processes from concept through flight, combining CAD modeling, finite element analysis, and hands-on factory collaboration to build hardware for humanity's Mars mission.

What you'll do

• Design vehicle structures from concept, sizing components based on flight loads and vehicle requirements
• Create detailed CAD models in NX and perform finite element analysis to validate structural designs
• Conduct structural testing on subassemblies and full airframe sections to prove design adequacy
• Collaborate across vehicle systems teams to balance mass, cost, and performance trade-offs
• Support assembly and integration in the factory while iterating designs with build engineers
• Apply hand calculations and empirical methods for rapid design iteration and assessment

What they're looking for

• Structural design and analysis (finite element modeling)
• CAD modeling (NX experience preferred)
• Flight loads and structural mechanics fundamentals
• Sheet metal and subassembly design for manufacturability
• Design for testing and validation
• Data-driven decision making and trade study analysis
• Hardware fabrication and build awareness
• Problem-solving under time and budget constraints