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.

SR. THERMAL HARDWARE ENGINEER (DRAGON)

As a Sr. Thermal Hardware Engineer at SpaceX, you will have the opportunity to utilize your knowledge, experience, and creativity to develop novel solutions at the cutting edge of space technology. You will work on the aspects of spacecraft design that will enable humans to be ferried to and from the International Space Station and ultimately extend humanity’s reach beyond the Earth and moon. Our Thermal Control System team focuses on the Dragon spacecraft and develops the necessary hardware to allow Dragon to maintain thermal and environmental control and support life onboard the spacecraft. This role is challenging, as it involves design, analysis, testing, and manufacturing of fluids system elements that are part of the thermal control system. You will be working with the team to develop and integrate these components into the Dragon spacecraft, to help carry out its mission of bringing humans into space, to the International Space Station, or beyond.

RESPONSIBILITIES:

Be responsible for a portion of the thermal control systems aboard the SpaceX Dragon space capsule, including both in-house fabricated as well as vendor supplied components
Perform CAD modeling and structural analysis of elements of the thermal control system
Perform systems engineering tasks and fluid analyses
Work with interdisciplinary customers to ensure the component will meet the requirements of avionics, GNC, mission operations, etc.
Ensure designs are manufacturable and reliable; work with the production team to ensure a smooth transition to a reliable manufacturing process that has minimal sustaining engineering required
Exemplify technical excellence and be accountable for your own work

BASIC QUALIFICATIONS:

Bachelor’s degree in an engineering discipline
5+ years of experience with CAD and FEA software packages
5+ years of hands-on experience driving the design and development of mechanical components or systems

PREFERRED SKILLS AND EXPERIENCE:

Master’s degree in an engineering discipline
First principles understanding of heat transfer and thermodynamics; ability to perform simple hand calcs, etc.
Hands-on experience with fluid (liquid and/or gas) handling systems, especially those on a spacecraft or launch vehicle
Proactive problem-solving skills such as failure analysis, root cause investigation, and design of experiment creation
Solid understanding of test methods/setups and data acquisition systems
Ability to perform trade studies using first principles and engineering fundamentals to make clear recommendations even with partial information
Experience with NX
Solid understanding and application of geometric dimensioning and tolerancing (GD&T) and tolerance stack-up analysis
Experience with structural analysis methods (hand calcs, FEMAP, ANSYS, NASGRO, etc.) in order to optimize hardware to strength requirements as well as to evaluate for life and fracture
Knowledge of metallic and fluid system manufacturing techniques, processes, equipment, and other processes such as machining, welding, brazing, tube bending, etc.
Able to work well in an integrated collaborative team environment, including frequent interactions with technicians, other engineers, and managers
Highly self-motivated with strong organizational and written/oral communication skills – able to prioritize and execute tasks in a high-pressure environment with the ongoing drive for continuous improvement in all aspects of work

ADDITIONAL REQUIREMENTS:

Willing to work extended hours and weekends as needed
Ability to travel to remote sites as needed
Ability to pass Air Force background check for Cape Canaveral

COMPENSATION AND BENEFITS:

Pay range:

Senior: $125,000.00 - $175,000.00/per year

Your actual level and base salary will be determined on a case-by-case basis and may vary based on the following considerations: job-related knowledge and skills, education, and experience.

Base salary is just one part of your total rewards package at SpaceX. You may also be eligible for long-term incentives, in the form of company stock, stock options, or long-term cash awards, as well as potential discretionary bonuses and the ability to purchase additional stock at a discount through an Employee Stock Purchase Plan. You will also receive access to comprehensive medical, vision, and dental coverage, access to a 401(k) retirement plan, short and long-term disability insurance, life insurance, paid parental leave, and various other discounts and perks. You may also accrue 3 weeks of paid vacation and will be eligible for 10 or more paid holidays per year. Employees accrue paid sick leave pursuant to Company policy which satisfies or exceeds the accrual, carryover, and use requirements of the law.

ITAR REQUIREMENTS:

To conform to U.S. Government export regulations, applicant must be a (i) U.S. citizen or national, (ii) U.S. lawful, permanent resident (aka green card holder), (iii) Refugee under 8 U.S.C. § 1157, or (iv) Asylee under 8 U.S.C. § 1158, or be 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 reach out to EEOCompliance@spacex.com.

Sr. Thermal Hardware Engineer (Dragon)