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Mechanical Engineer, Flight Termination System (Starship)

SpaceX· Components Test - Starship
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Hawthorne, CA$100k - $117.5kFull-timePosted 4mo ago

About the role

Mechanical Engineer responsible for design and development of Starship Flight Termination System hardware and explosives, overseeing end-to-end development, regulatory interfacing, and collaboration across engineering teams to achieve high-rate production and zero-in-flight anomalies.

Responsibilities

  • Develop state-of-the-art, manufacturable explosive devices and robust hardware integration designs (system controllers, electronic safe and arm devices, destruct charges, and integrated detonators) for the Starship and Super Heavy stage Flight Termination System
  • Question requirements, delete parts and processes, simplify/optimize, accelerate, and automate component deliveries
  • Validate reliability of hardware and designs with rigorous testing in shock, vibration, thermal cycling, climatic and live fire testing
  • Design experiments to ground analysis, develop fixturing, and create technical reports based on results
  • Partner with manufacturing, production, testing, and supply chain to achieve SpaceX’s highest-yet component build rate, striving for high factory yield and automotive volume/cost
  • Accelerate component delivery to >1 full stacked launch vehicle per month
  • Generate and maintain detailed drawings, component specifications, analysis and risk assessments
  • Spearhead root cause investigations, implement corrective actions to prevent repeat failures
  • Set the standard for highly reliable component design and qualification testing to strict regulatory standards
  • Achieve zero in-flight anomalies of flight termination system components
  • Reduce component-caused production and launch delays, and minimize containments
  • Act as the chief engineer, collaborating with stage, avionics, and flight safety teams to arrive at the simplest solution for the vehicle
  • Inform system-level architecture, with component capabilities and vulnerabilities in mind, to minimize cost of payload to orbit

Qualifications

  • Bachelor's degree in an engineering discipline
  • 1+ years of experience in mechanical design and/or hands-on manufacturing (internships and project teams qualify)

Skills

Required:Explosive device design and analysisMechanical designRegulatory and safety compliance

Benefits

  • Long-term incentives (stock, stock options, or long-term cash awards)
  • Discretionary bonuses
  • Employee stock purchase plan
  • Comprehensive medical, vision, and dental coverage
  • 401(k) plan
  • Short and long-term disability insurance
  • Life insurance
  • Paid parental leave
  • 3 weeks of paid vacation and 10+ paid holidays per year
  • Paid sick leave according to company policy
Last updated Jul 8, 2026. Interested? Apply on the company site.

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