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. DRAGON RECOVERY OPERATIONS ENGINEER 

RESPONSIBILITIES:

• Responsible for the overall success of the Dragon Recovery program at the Cape
• Develop schedule and budget constraints for recovery missions, upgrades, and maintenance
• Seek and obtain approval for schedule and budget plans from SpaceX management
• Execute recovery missions, upgrades and maintenance within approved schedule and budget constraints
• Provide technical and strategic guidance to other engineers and technicians on the team
• Ensure systems are in place to guarantee hardware readiness – including, but not limited to, preventative maintenance, critical spares, and hardware testing
• Improve upon current Dragon recovery methods – find ways to make it cheaper, faster, safer, more efficient, and more reliable
• Manufacture, build, install and activate Dragon recovery systems – mechanical, fluid and electrical systems
• Lead a team during recovery missions at sea to recover the Dragon capsule
• Write work orders and procedures to develop a reliable and consistent approach to Dragon recovery operations
• Interface with NASA, the Coast Guard and other agencies to certify systems for use in the field
• Train and certify personnel in use of recovery systems
• Devise and implement capability to allow for recovery and processing of Cargo Dragon 2

BASIC QUALIFICATIONS:

• Bachelor’s degree in an engineering discipline
• 5+ years of hands-on experience building, maintaining, and modifying equipment

PREFERRED SKILLS AND EXPERIENCE:

• Experience managing multi-disciplinary projects
• Experience designing mechanical, fluid or electrical systems
• Experience using a high-end CAD software design package (e.g. NX, CATIA, ProE)
• Testing experience, including setting test objectives, writing test plans, and hands-on testing
• Experience operating and troubleshooting remote-operated ground control systems
• Experience with critical operations where real-time decision making affected success criteria
• Experience working with technicians, welders or machinists
• Marine experience

ADDITIONAL REQUIREMENTS:

• Must be willing to travel and spend time at sea on a ship
• Must be willing to work long hours and weekends as needed
• Ability to pass Air Force background check for Cape Canaveral

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.