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Salary: USD 100,000 - 140,000 / annual
SpaceX is seeking a Mechanical Engineer to support the continued development and structural design of Dragon, the world's most advanced human-rated spacecraft. Dragon currently delivers crew and cargo to the International Space Station, with future iterations targeting lunar, Martian, and deep-space missions.
In this role, you will own the design and development of critical mechanical spacecraft systems, from concept through production, launch, and recovery. You'll perform detailed engineering analysis using hand calculations, finite element analysis (FEA), and CAD tools in a fast-paced, mission-critical environment. You'll lead design reviews with internal teams, suppliers, and government customers, ensuring technical excellence and accountability across flight-critical systems.
Key responsibilities include:
- Design and develop mechanical spacecraft systems and components
- Conduct structural and mechanical analysis using FEA, CAD, and analytical methods
- Lead design reviews internally and with external stakeholders
- Own project delivery timelines from early design through production and launch
- Drive problem-solving through failure analysis, root cause investigation, and design of experiments
Basic qualifications: Bachelor's degree in mechanical engineering, aerospace engineering, or physics; 1+ years hands-on experience with CAD and FEA software; 1+ years driving design and development of mechanical components or systems (internship and project team experience counts).
Preferred experience includes leadership on engineering teams, high-performance vehicle design, exceptional communication skills, data-driven decision-making, manufacturing environment familiarity, and a Master's degree in engineering.
You must be willing to work extended hours and weekends as needed, travel to remote sites in Texas, Florida, and Central California, and pass Air Force background checks for Cape Canaveral and Vandenberg. ITAR compliance required: U.S. citizen, green card holder, refugee, or asylee status.
Compensation: Level I $100,000–$117,500/year; Level II $110,000–$140,000/year, plus equity, bonuses, comprehensive benefits, 401(k), and 3 weeks paid vacation.
About SpaceX
Defense & Aerospace — designs, manufactures, and launches advanced rockets and spacecraft.
