Manufacturing Development Engineer

S

spacex

Manufacturing Development Engineer

Hawthorne, CA
Paid
  • Responsibilities

    SpaceX was founded under the belief that a future where humanity is out exploring the stars is fundamentally more exciting than one where we are not. Today SpaceX is actively developing the technologies to make this possible, with the ultimate goal of enabling human life on Mars.

    MANUFACTURING DEVELOPMENT ENGINEER

    SpaceX is committed to developing innovative technologies in advanced joining methods for current and future launch vehicles and spacecraft. Working directly in the Vehicle Engineering group, the goal of the team is to investigate, test, and develop new hardware, software, and automation efforts capable of supporting metallic and composite joining for Falcon 9, Dragon and BFR.

    The team works directly with design and analysis engineers in delivering the development and selection of technologies, specifications and methods needed to manufacture critical structures. Focusing on friction stir welding, EB welding and composite tank lamination, the team is responsible for delivering results on critical projects with a highly demanding and fast-paced schedule.  

    RESPONSIBILITIES:

    • Drive the technology development for manufacturing cryogenic composite tanks through research, mechanical/destructive testing and sub-scale manufacturing
    • Work closely with vehicle analysts and manufacturing team to ensure solutions meet the requirements for vehicle design as well as the manufacturing processes
    • Coordinate and execute development, qualification, and acceptance testing of systems and tooling needed to meet hardware deadlines
    • Design and produce engineering drawings for tooling and test fixture hardware
    • Participate in design reviews internally and with suppliers and customers
    • Partner with engineering & production teams to generate ideas, designs, and improvements for current and next-generation vehicles

    BASIC QUALIFICATIONS:

    • Bachelor's degree in engineering (mechanical, aerospace, or material science)
    • Hands-on project experience with complex mechanical systems, preferably as a team or sub-team lead
    • CAD and drafting experience with NX or other CAD software packages

    PREFERRED SKILLS AND EXPERIENCE:

    • 2+ years professional experience in the field of aerospace/mechanical engineering
    • Excellent grasp of mechanical engineering fundamentals
    • Experience with fracture-critical component design/analysis 
    • Background in material science, with a focus on aerospace alloys, composite and/or pressurized structures 
    • Experience with finite element analysis software packages
    • Experience with welding processes such as fusion, electron beam and friction-stir
    • Strong background in composite structures with knowledge of automated fiber placement, autoclaves and composite design criteria
    • Exposure to advanced NDE Methods such as phased array ultrasonics, eddy current arrays and digital radiography
    • Strong interpersonal and organizational skills

    ADDITIONAL REQUIREMENTS:

    • Must be willing to travel for limited periods of time (on or about 1 week) to test or launch sites to support operations
    • Must be willing to work long hours and weekends as necessary to accommodate test campaigns

    ITAR REQUIREMENTS:

    • To conform to U.S. Government space technology export regulations, including the International Traffic in Arms Regulations (ITAR) you must be a U.S. citizen, lawful permanent resident of the U.S., protected individual as defined by 8 U.S.C. 1324b(a)(3), or eligible to obtain the required authorizations from the U.S. Department of State. Learn more about the ITAR here.

     

    SpaceX is an Equal Opportunity Employer; employment with SpaceX is governed on the basis of merit, competence and qualifications and will not be influenced in any manner by race, color, religion, gender, national origin/ethnicity, veteran status, disability status, age, sexual orientation, gender identity, marital status, mental or physical disability or any other legally protected status.

    Applicants wishing to view a copy of SpaceX’s Affirmative Action Plan for veterans and individuals with disabilities, or applicants requiring reasonable accommodation to the application/interview process should notify the Human Resources Department at (310) 363-6000.