Sr. Launch Reliability Engineer (Launch Pads & Recovery)

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. LAUNCH RELIABILITY ENGINEER (LAUNCH PADS & RECOVERY)

The Launch Reliability organization at SpaceX is an inclusive, inter-disciplinary team committed to the reliability of flight and ground systems. As a Launch Reliability Engineer with a strong mechanical and structural focus, you will work hands-on with the complex mechanisms and structures that enable rapid, reliable launch and recovery operations. You will collaborate closely with core mechanical groups at SpaceX, guiding Starship and Falcon launch pads and recovery hardware reliability initiatives from design to production, operation, and maintenance. You will use data and first-principles engineering to drive quality objectives in manufacturing, test and flight. You will promote efficient and reliable operational processes, solve difficult technical problems at both the component and system level, and ensure mission success as SpaceX advances crewed spaceflight and Mars colonization. You have the ability to thoroughly investigate details to identify, understand, and solve challenging technical problems, combined with a systems-level approach that enables you to prioritizes issues across the launch pads and recovery systems as an integrated whole. You thrive in a hands-on environment and will spend significant time on the launch pads and recovery decks working directly with mechanical and structural hardware.

• Reliably launch astronauts and other payloads by ensuring the systems, processes, and infrastructure critical to launch operations and rocket recovery are efficiently designed, maintained, and executed
• Partner with the mechanical teams responsible for the development, build, and refurbishment of Starship and Falcon launch pad systems to ensure optimized process health and hardware performance.
• Identify high-risk mechanical and structural processes and problems during launch pad and recovery system build, activation, and refurbishment, and proactively implement improvements to these processes to ensure operational excellence
• Find smart solutions to the biggest problems by leading root cause and corrective action investigations
• Maintain a feedback loop to drive hardware inputs that enable a reliable and rapid launch cadence; using data to make the quality landscape transparent and drive prioritization of resolving high impact issues
• Participate in preliminary design review (PDR)/critical design review (CDR) and work with design reliability to ensure design for quality (DFQ), design for manufacturability (DFM), risk quantification/mitigation, and that appropriate test validation methods and inspection techniques, including nondestructive evaluation methods have been considered
• Be dedicated to adopting a Lean approach to quality without compromising safety or reliability

BASIC QUALIFICATIONS:

• Bachelor’s degree in an engineering discipline
• 5+ years of experience in a mechanical, manufacturing, or design engineering role

PREFERRED SKILLS AND EXPERIENCE:

• Bachelor's/Master's Degree in mechanical or aerospace engineering
• Direct experience with large-scale mechanical systems, mechanisms (e.g., arms, actuators, latches), structural assemblies, or ground support equipment (ideally in aerospace, launch systems, or heavy industrial environments).
• Experience supporting production, assembly, or refurbishment of complex mechanical or structural systems, including during production ramp-up or high-tempo operations.
• Strong knowledge of quality and reliability tools (Lean, Six Sigma, root cause analysis, PFMEA, APQP, control plans, metrology, NDE) applied to mechanisms and/or structural hardware
• Experience owning and leading engineering projects end-to-end

ADDITIONAL REQUIREMENTS:

• Ability to pass Air Force background check for Cape Canaveral and Vandenberg
• Available to work extended hours, nights, and weekends when required by mission milestones
• Position may require standing, bending and working directly with hardware on the floor for extended periods of time

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.