Sr. Mechanical Engineer (Crew Starship)
Content + Source + Freshness • 12 Dec 2025 • 95% confidence
Offer value
Strong value due to the opportunity to lead innovative spacecraft design, competitive salary, and the chance to influence future human exploration.
- Lead design for future manned spaceflight missions
- Collaborate with elite engineers in aerospace
- Opportunity to drive innovation in spacecraft systems
- Requires significant prior experience and leadership ability
Pros
- High-impact role with ownership of spacecraft subsystems
- Collaboration with top experts in aerospace engineering
- Opportunities to influence next-generation human spaceflight
Cons
- High-pressure environment may lead to long hours
- Complex role requiring multidisciplinary expertise
- Frequent collaboration may require travel between sites
Who it's for
Senior/Lead • On-site, may involve travel
Good fit
- Senior mechanical engineers with passion for space
- Leaders willing to take charge of significant projects
- Collaborative problem solvers in engineering teams
Not recommended for
- Entry-level engineers without the necessary experience
- Those not interested in fast-paced work environments
- Candidates seeking non-technical management roles
Motivation fit
Key skills
About the job
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. MECHANICAL ENGINEER (CREW STARSHIP)
After 50 years, humankind will once again return to the surface of the moon using SpaceX’s new vehicle, Crew Starship (also known as HLS or the Human Landing System) – this time for good. Starship will usher in the next era of manned spaceflight and exploration, ultimately allowing us to establish permanent communities on the Moon, Mars, and beyond. As a Senior Mechanical Engineer on the Crew Starship team, you will design and build spacecraft systems that are critical to the success and safety of future astronauts. Disciplines within this team include primary and secondary structures, mechanisms, and crew-interfacing hardware. Your design solutions will be driven by all future Crew Starship missions (Lunar, Mars, etc.). This role requires full hardware ownership, from initial design requirements and concepts all the way through design, analysis, prototype, qualification, and integration.
RESPONSIBILITIES:
- Own the design and development of next generation structures, mechanisms, or interior systems for Crew Starship vehicles
- Perform hand calculations and FEA to develop, assess, and optimize designs
- Rapidly iterate on manufacturing processes and development testing in a fast-paced environment
- Collaborate with interdisciplinary teams to ensure hardware integrates with Starship systems and supports necessary mission operations
- Lead design reviews internally and externally with suppliers and customers (e.g., NASA)
- Negotiate complex trade studies to optimize for cost, schedule, safety, and performance, among other considerations
- Be responsible for project delivery timeline from early design through production, launch, and recovery
- Exemplify technical excellence and be accountable for your work
BASIC QUALIFICATIONS
- Bachelor's degree in an engineering discipline
- 5+ years of experience with mechanical design and analysis
PREFERRED SKILLS AND EXPERIENCE:
- Leadership experience on an engineering or project team
- Strong ability to use data and analysis to make fast data-driven decisions
- Experience with structures, mechanisms, or interior design in aerospace or aviation industries
- Ability to perform trade studies using first principles and engineering fundamentals to make clear recommendations even with partial information
- Experienced in NX
- Solid understanding and application of geometric dimensioning and tolerancing (GD&T)
- Demonstrated understanding of structural analysis and failure modes of complex mechanical systems
- Technical knowledge of human spacecraft systems and operations
- Excellent communication skills (both written and verbal) and ability to succinctly present recommendations to other engineers, stakeholders, management, and executive staff
- Experience at a nimble engineering organization or in a highly technical position that required a scrappy, entrepreneurial manner to accomplish tasks with tight time or budget constraints
ADDITIONAL REQUIREMENTS:
- Ability to work extended hours and weekends as necessary
- Ability to travel to remote sites in Texas and Florida
- Ability to pass Air Force background check for Cape Canaveral
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.
