Associate Engineer - Post Grad Summer 2018 (Cape Canaveral)

spacex

Associate Engineer - Post Grad Summer 2018 (Cape Canaveral)

Cape Canaveral, FL
Internship
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. ASSOCIATE ENGINEER – POST GRAD SUMMER 2018 (CAPE CANAVERAL) As an Associate Engineer - Post Grad, you will be responsible for both autonomously and collaboratively working on actual space hardware development projects.  You will be challenged to think creatively, independently, and intellectually to design hardware, gaining invaluable hands-on technical experience. This is not an ordinary “internship” – you will be given as much responsibility as our full-time engineers and will be an integral part of the team. We will rely on you to come up with creative solutions to real aerospace challenges and depend upon your contributions to space hardware development projects. SITE OVERVIEW: The site’s location on the southeast coast of the US provides access to a wide range of low and medium inclination orbits frequently used by communications and Earth-observing satellites and by supply missions to the International Space Station. The site also allows access to geostationary orbits, as well as departures to the Moon and interplanetary destinations. Space Launch Complex 40 benefits from many support services in the region, including security and launch range control, weather monitoring, ground support infrastructure, payload processing facilities, and long-range tracking cameras capable of observing launches from liftoff through stage separation and second-stage ignition out over the Atlantic. In 2014, SpaceX signed a long-term lease with NASA for the use of historic Launch Complex 39A, home of the Apollo and Space Shuttle programs. SpaceX has made significant upgrades to modernize the pad’s structures and ground systems while also preserving its important heritage. Extensive modifications to LC-39A have been made to support launches of both the Falcon 9 and Falcon Heavy launch vehicles, and will enable the pad to serve as SpaceX’s primary launch complex for delivering the next generation of astronauts to and from the International Space Station for NASA’s Commercial Crew Program. GROUPS/DEPARTMENTS: DRAGON GROUND OPERATIONS: The Crew Dragon Operations team develops novel solutions in human spaceflight operations and reusability. Interns within this group will assist with pre-flight vehicle processing, recovery, and refurbishment of the Crew Dragon spacecraft. FLEET MANAGEMENT: Fleet Operations manages SpaceX’s growing launch vehicle and flight hardware inventory at the launch site. This department executes major transports of flight articles, supports and maintains ground support equipment, and enables critical storage and processing capabilities for launch integration, recovery, and refurbishment. As each day brings new and unique challenges – whether its engine maintenance on a transport vehicle, supporting a critical rocket lift, proof testing ground support equipment, developing work instructions while planning ahead for future operations – these engineers are multi-faceted and engaged in a critical role for launch site operations. LAUNCH PAD INSTRUMENTATION: The day to day focus of the Launch Pad Instrumentation team is the design, build, test and use of instrumentation and control systems in Cape Canaveral. Interns within this group will work directly on the ground support equipment systems used to launch and land rockets at LC-39A, LC-40 and LZ-1. LAUNCH REFURBISHMENT: The Launch Refurbishment team develops and executes procedures for the checkout and integration of flight hardware, customer spacecraft and group support equipment. These efforts include work required on flight proven and recovered Falcon 9 boosters. Engineers in this department closely collaborate with staff from other departments to identify solutions to a variety of technical systems. LAUNCH SITE SYSTEMS: The Launch Site Systems team is responsible for the design of all fluid systems at the launch sites.  Employing fluid mechanics and other mechanical skills, our engineers develop the systems that condition, load, and light the rocket on the launch pad.  Design and analysis in incompressible and compressible fluids is performed to build systems that ensure a rapid, reliable, and automated launch day. RECOVERY OPERATIONS: Recovery operations involve designing and executing missions to land Falcon 9 both by land and by sea, recover critical hardware such as fairings and cargo dragons, as well as soon recover astronauts offshore. Recovery is responsible for engineering unique solutions both onshore and offshore to recover and process reusable vehicles faster and more efficiently. The team regularly performs in the field operational and engineering work to merit mission success VEHICLE & PAYLOAD INTEGRATION: The Vehicle and Payload Integration departments perform final rocket assembly and run checkouts on flight hardware at the Cape Canaveral launch site. Integration engineers are the last set of hands and eyes on the rocket before launch operations begin. Interns in these departments will gain hands-on experience with system functional checkouts, integration and troubleshooting related to the Falcon 9 rocket, Dragon spacecraft and fairing. Redesign and process improvements are made in an effort to realize SpaceX’s vision of launching within 24 hours of hardware arrival. BASIC QUALIFICATIONS:

    • Completed a Bachelor’s degree from an accredited four-year university of college within the past 6 months by start of employment or currently enrolled in a graduate program

    PREFERRED SKILLS AND EXPERIENCE:

    • GPA of 3.5 or higher
    • Hands-on experience through lab research, project teams, prior internship or work experience
    • Strong interpersonal skills and ability to work effectively in a team environment, accomplishing tasks with limited resources at a rapid pace
    • Intermediate skill level using Windows Operations Systems
    • Intermediate skill level using Microsoft Office (Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Outlook)

    ADDITIONAL REQUIREMENTS:

    • Must be able to work full time for a minimum of 12 consecutive weeks beginning in May/June 2018
    • Must pass background check with satisfactory results to SpaceX
    • Must pass Air Force background check for Cape Canaveral
    • To access SpaceX’s Launch facility, must be able to provide own transportation
    • Certain positions also require the following:
    • General physical fitness; flight hardware is typically built in tight quarters and physical dexterity is required
    • Physical effort including sitting or standing for extended periods of time, lifting and carrying weight such as materials or equipment (up to 30 lbs.)
    • Work performed in an environment with exposure to fumes, odors and noise
    • Occasionally exposed to work in extreme outdoor environments (heat, cold, rain)

    ITAR REQUIREMENTS:

    • To conform to U.S. Government space technology export regulations, applicant 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 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.