TEST STAND DESIGN & BUILD ENGINEER (STRUCTURES/FLUID SYSTEMS)

SpaceX is looking for engineers to support the development and production testing of Starship/Raptor, Falcon, and Dragon engine and vehicle hardware in McGregor, TX. This is a fast-paced, hands-on, constantly evolving, real-as-it-gets engineering position available for the ambitious. We design, build, activate, modify, and maintain the fluid and mechanical systems that power, restrain, and measure the most powerful high-volume rocket engines in the world. In this dynamic environment, you can expect your engineering skills to be put to the test and the hardware you designed to be built and installed the very same day. From thousands of gallons per minute of cryogens to tens of pounds per second of high-pressure gas, we develop clever solutions to meet the needs of a demanding test program both today and in the future. We have open positions ranging from entry-level to very experienced engineers to add value to the SpaceX mission.

RESPONSIBILITIES:

• Analyze, design, and build systems that support testing of fully integrated flight vehicles, individual rocket engines, and various rocket components
• Drive cradle-to-grave ownership of engineering projects through design reviews, decision justifications, equipment procurement, and coordination/participation in the construction of your ideas
• Work directly with skilled technicians to build your designs and fix real-world problems on the fly
• Maintain a tight feedback loop with the test operations team to rapidly alter plans as necessary to meet tight testing deadlines critical to company success
• Operate and troubleshoot equipment to achieve testing objectives, and apply lessons learned to iterate system designs for improved performance and maintenance
• Evaluate complex engineering needs and arrive at solutions to seemingly impractical problems that support test programs and achieve company objectives
• Take a hands-on approach to tackling rapidly-emerging field projects that keep the company testing rocket engines and vehicles every single day

BASIC QUALIFICATIONS:

• Bachelor’s degree in mechanical engineering, aerospace engineering, chemical engineering, or other engineering discipline 
• 1+ years of hands-on design or build experience (professional work, internships, clubs, or other engineering activities qualify)

PREFERRED SKILLS AND EXPERIENCE:

• Strong fundamental understanding and intuition for fluid, structural, or mechanical systems
• Critical thinking and problem solving in stressful, dynamic situations
• Positive responses and outcomes to challenges posed by short deadlines
• Hands-on build—machining, welding, and other fabrication techniques are a plus
• Creativity to imagine and design for reliability, efficiency, and maintainability from scratch
• Driven approach to addressing challenges and opportunities—an enthusiastic, self-motivated, positive, can-do attitude
• Determining the best solution among several options, often balancing cost/schedule/complexity
• Acute attention to detail, and ability to see interactions with related systems to avoid problems
• Instrumentation and testing, data review and analysis, verification of models against reality
• High-pressure or cryogenic fluid systems and components
• Complex structural or mechanical systems and components
• Design verification with simplified hand calculations and complex modeling—FEA or CFD is a plus
• Production of fabrication drawings for parts to be machined or welded
• Intermediate skill level using CAD—Siemens NX is a plus
• ASME piping and pressure vessel design
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills
• 3+ years of engineering design experience in an industrial setting or equivalent

ADDITIONAL REQUIREMENTS:

• Ability to work both independently and as part of a team, take individual initiative, and communicate effectively to peers, leadership, and customers
• Ability to rapidly change roles/responsibilities while maintaining a high sense of urgency in a fast-paced, challenging work environment
• Willingness to perform other related duties for the purpose of ensuring an efficient and effective work environment
• Availability to respond to emergencies to support priority projects, missions, and launches
• Availability to work extended hours and weekends as needed—flexibility is required
• Ability to perform job duties that require standing, kneeling, crouching, twisting upper body, working in cramped positions in small openings, and climbing hand over hand
• Ability to lift heavy objects unassisted—up to 25 lbs.
• Ability to work at elevated heights with proper PPE—up to 300 ft.
• Ability to work in extreme outdoor environments when needed—heat, cold, wind, rain, etc.
• Ability to work in environments with exposure to fumes, odors, and noise
• Working conditions may be in tight quarters—physical dexterity is required

SOFTWARE ENGINEER

We are looking for a software engineer who will work at the Texas Rocket Development Facility in Central Texas, as part of the Test Software team. This team designs, develops, tests, and maintains software used for test stand data acquisition and control, data post-processing, and other engineering software needs. The team works closely with test engineers, electrical engineers, other flight and ground software teams, and information technologies to rapidly deploy high-performance software catering to unique test engineering requirements. This role is highly multi-disciplinary, will work in a variety of software languages, and will work closely with hardware. Your software will control rocket tests every day. Aerospace experience is not required to be successful here - rather, we look for smart, motivated, collaborative engineers who love solving problems and want to make an impact on a super-inspiring mission.

RESPONSIBILITIES:

• Architect and develop software and systems for
• Data acquisition and control for test stands
• Data storage and analysis
• Automation of engineering and business functions
• Collaborate with electrical engineers, test engineers, and IT to develop computing and network solutions for test stand data and control needs
• Support active operations when software issues are encountered
• Own all aspects of software development, including design, testing, and test stand integration
• Provide strong technical leadership, focus on continuous improvement, and training

BASIC QUALIFICATIONS:

• Bachelor's degree in computer science, engineering, math, or other science discipline
• 1+ years of experience in software development (internship experience qualifies)

PREFERRED SKILLS AND EXPERIENCE:

• Experience with National Instruments hardware (cDAQ, cRIO, PXI) and software (LabVIEW)
• Proven skills and knowledge with C++, Python, or other text-based programming languages
• Proven experience in architecting, managing, and integrating large distributed systems
• Strong communication/mentorship skills and experience in technical leadership
• Examples of working directly with customers to gather requirements
• Experience with network communication
• Strong skills in debugging, performance optimization, and unit testing
• Creative approach to problem solving
• Ability to work effectively in a dynamic environment with changing needs and requirements
• Ability to work independently and in a team, take initiative, and communicate effectively

ADDITIONAL REQUIREMENTS:

• This is not a remote or hybrid position and will require all work to be completed in the office
• Must be available to work extended hours, weekends, and shifts, which vary depending on site operational needs; flexibility required

NEW GRADUATE ENGINEER, MECHANICAL

The elite engineering team at our test facility in Central Texas (Waco, TX area) focuses on test operations for Raptor, Starship, Falcon, Dragon, and more. We are looking for engineers who focus on testing operations (test set-up, on-console running tests, data analysis, troubleshooting, etc.) as well as ground support equipment operations (design & build test stands, propellant disbursement, etc.). This is a fast-paced, hands-on, constantly evolving, real-as-it-gets engineering environment for the ambitious. Some engineering groups design, build, activate, modify, and maintain the fluid and mechanical systems that power, restrain, and measure the most powerful high-volume rocket engines in the world, while others specialize in the design and execution of unique tests for engines, components, and spacecraft on an accelerated schedule. From thousands of gallons per minute of cryogens to tens of pounds per second of high-pressure gas, we develop clever solutions to meet the needs of a demanding test program both today and in the future.

RESPONSIBILITIES:

      TEST OPERATIONS:

• Develop and execute tests at the engine and component level to evaluate hardware performance and survivability during the mission
• Repeated ownership of test campaigns, including test plan creation, new system activation, test operations, data review, and test stand equipment design/fabrication
• Provide daily directions and instructions to technicians to fabricate and integrate test articles and stand equipment
• Develop and maintain test procedures, sequences, scripts, configuration files, and software
• Operate and troubleshoot data acquisition and control systems, wiring, and instrumentation (DAQ systems are primarily National Instruments-based)
• Operate and troubleshoot fluid and mechanical systems that include low to high-pressure gaseous working fluids and rocket propellants (including hypergols & cryogenics) as well as structural components and supporting infrastructure
• Operate mechanical systems; these include test stand support structures, heat exchangers, vacuum pumps, tooling, and fluid components such as valves, reliefs, burst disks, tubing, etc.
• Automate repetitive test operations to increase efficiency and safety
• Develop innovative processes to increase testing capability and rates, while maintaining high rigor of safety
• Identify and characterize system pitfalls and potential hazards, then work to resolve such anomalies by collaborating with design engineers on improvements for test stands and flight hardware

     GROUND SUPPORT EQUIPMENT:

• Analyze, design, and build systems that support testing of fully integrated flight vehicles, individual rocket engines, and various rocket components
• Drive cradle-to-grave ownership of engineering projects through design reviews, decision justifications, equipment procurement, and coordination/participation in the construction of your ideas
• Work directly with skilled technicians to build your designs and fix real-world problems on the fly
• Maintain a tight feedback loop with the test operations team to rapidly alter plans as necessary to meet tight testing deadlines critical to company success
• Operate and troubleshoot equipment to achieve testing objectives, and apply lessons learned to iterate system designs for improved performance and maintenance
• Evaluate complex engineering needs and arrive at solutions to seemingly impractical problems that support test programs and achieve company objectives
• Take a hands-on approach to tackling rapidly emerging field projects that keep the company testing rocket engines and vehicles every single day

 BASIC QUALIFICATIONS:

• Bachelor's degree in an engineering discipline or physics
• 1+ years of mechanical and/or fluids engineering experience via project team, research, internships, and/or professional experience
• Graduating with a bachelor’s degree, master’s degree or PhD in 2026 or 2027

PREFERRED SKILLS AND EXPERIENCE:

• Strong fundamental understanding and intuition for fluid, structural, or mechanical systems
• Critical thinking and problem solving in stressful, dynamic situations
• Positive responses and outcomes to challenges posed by short deadlines
• Hands-on build—machining, welding, and other fabrication techniques are a plus
• Creativity to imagine and design for reliability, efficiency, and maintainability from scratch
• Driven approach to addressing challenges and opportunities—an enthusiastic, self-motivated, positive, can-do attitude
• Determining the best solution among several options, often balancing cost/schedule/complexity
• Acute attention to detail and ability to see interactions with related systems to avoid problems
• Instrumentation and testing, data review and analysis, verification of models against reality
• High-pressure or cryogenic fluid systems and components
• Complex structural or mechanical systems and components
• Design verification with simplified hand calculations and complex modeling—FEA or CFD is a plus
• Production of fabrication drawings for parts to be machined or welded
• Intermediate skill level using CAD—Siemens NX is a plus
• ASME piping and pressure vessel design
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills
• 3+ years of engineering design experience in an industrial setting or equivalent

ADDITIONAL REQUIREMENTS:

• Ability to work both independently and as part of a team, take individual initiative, and communicate effectively with peers, leadership, and customers
• Ability to rapidly change roles/responsibilities while maintaining a high sense of urgency in a fast-paced, challenging work environment
• Willingness to perform other related duties for the purpose of ensuring an efficient and effective work environment
• Availability to respond to emergencies to support priority projects, missions, and launches
• Availability to work extended hours and weekends as needed; flexibility is required
• Ability to perform job duties that require standing, kneeling, crouching, twisting the upper body, working in cramped positions in small openings, and climbing hand over hand
• Ability to lift heavy objects unassisted—up to 25 lbs.
• Ability to work at elevated heights with proper PPE—up to 300 ft.
• Ability to work in extreme outdoor environments when needed—heat, cold, wind, rain, etc.
• Ability to work in environments with exposure to fumes, odors, and noise
• Working conditions may be in tight quarters; physical dexterity is required

ELECTRICAL ENGINEER (INSTRUMENTATION AND CONTROLS)

This engineer is a systems-focused, automation-driven, multi-faceted individual. The engineer uses electrical and mechanical systems knowledge to inform the design of test stands, support facilities, avionics, and control systems. SpaceX control engineers develop and integrate physical hardware, including wire harnesses, PCBs, custom enclosures, PLCs, data acquisition systems, avionics systems, engine controllers, and various sensors. The engineer is responsible for transferring real-time data from these physical sensors and actuators to the stand operator, the responsible engineer, or the customer. Test articles include in-space systems, vehicles, avionics systems, and ground systems. Excellent operational support and accurate interpretation of data collected from these test systems are paramount. These critical automation & control systems support operations that enable safe, economical, and reliable access to space.

RESPONSIBILITIES:

• Maintain the operational capability of all control voltage level (<60V) electrical systems
• Develop and upgrade data acquisition and control systems 
• Create new automation systems pertaining to avionics and engine testing
• Provide technical support and guidance for controls technicians and other non-controls engineering groups
• Develop new hardware and processes to improve capabilities, reduce cost, and setup time of electrical systems
• Analyze data to assess the function and health of electrical systems
• Assist in the design and analysis of experiments to evaluate test articles 

BASIC QUALIFICATIONS:

• Bachelor’s degree in physics, electrical engineering, computer engineering or other engineering discipline
• 1+ years of experience working with data acquisition systems (professional work, internships, clubs, or other engineering activities qualify)

PREFERRED SKILLS AND EXPERIENCE:

• Excellent communication skills, both written and verbal
• 2+ years of experience leading a team or project
• Passion for advancing the commercial space industry and human spaceflight
• Strong work ethic, positive attitude, and drive to succeed as part of a high functioning team
• Ability to rapidly change roles/responsibilities while working in a high-paced, challenging work environment
• Ability to thrive in ambiguity, independently drive project progress, and manage multiple priorities
• Knowledge of high-reliability processes and related documentation practices
• Demonstrated ability to design, implement and troubleshoot data acquisition and control hardware
• Fundamental understanding of engineering principles behind electronic equipment, instrumentation, and commonly used industrial equipment
• Experience designing and installing instrumentation and control systems in hazardous areas (NFPA 70 Section 500 installations); class 1, division 1 and division 2 environments or IEC equivalence
• Familiarity with mixed signal electronics, power supply design, analog filtering; testing and troubleshooting techniques, signal integrity, layout and grounding principles
• General schematic capture and printed circuit board (PCB) design and/or verification and validation experience
• Experience with electrical power distribution, working knowledge of NFPA 70 and NFPA 70E
• First-hand experience with programming and software development
• Experience with industrial bus protocols such as Modbus, Profinet and EtherNet/IP
• Hands-on experience activating, building, and troubleshooting analog & digital electronic systems, including avionics

ADDITIONAL REQUIREMENTS:

• Ability to perform job duties that require standing, kneeling, crouching, twisting upper body, working in cramped positions in small openings
• Ability to work at elevated heights (200+ feet)
• Ability to perform physical tasks such as climbing up and down stairs and/or ladders regularly throughout the day
• Ability to lift light weight supplies or materials (up to 25lbs unassisted)
• Available to work extended hours and weekends when needed based on site operational needs; flexibility required
• Work performed in an environment requiring exposure to fumes, odors, flashing lights, heat, cold, rain, and noise
• Ability to travel to other SpaceX or 3rd party facilities (up to 25%)