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Project Engineer, Critical Lift & Transport (Starship)

SpaceX· Starship Critical Lift & Transport
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Starbase, TXFull-timePosted 2mo ago

About the role

Critical Lift & Transport Engineer to design, review, and execute lift and transport operations for Starship and Super Heavy, including ground support equipment; ensures safety, reliability, and regulatory compliance; collaborates across teams and interfaces with vendors.

Responsibilities

  • Plan, analyze, and execute critical lifts and heavy-haul transports for large-scale hardware (e.g., rocket stages, ground support equipment, or structural components), ensuring compliance with safety standards, regulations (e.g., OSHA, ASME B30), and engineering best practices.
  • Develop critical lift plans, rigging designs, and transport configurations using tools like AutoCAD, finite element analysis (FEA), and center-of-gravity calculations.
  • Coordinate with cross-functional teams (e.g., vehicle structures, manufacturing, launch ops, logistics) to assess hardware mass properties, rigging/lashing connection locations, structural capability, stability, and load paths during lifts and transports.
  • Select and specify equipment such as mobile/crawler cranes, self-propelled modular transporters (SPMTs), conventional hydraulic trailers, and rigging hardware; perform equipment inspections and capacity verifications.
  • Conduct risk assessments, hazard analyses, and fatigue/stress analyses for lifts exceeding standard capacities.
  • Oversee on-site operations, including pre-lift dry runs, real-time monitoring, and post-operation debriefs.
  • Interface with external vendors for specialized equipment rentals and oversee contracted operations involving cranes, rigging, hydraulic trailers, and marine transport.
  • Maintain documentation, including engineering calculations, drawings, and reports for regulatory audits and lessons learned.
  • Support off-hour operations as needed, including real-time troubleshooting and issue resolution during high-stakes/first-time lifts or transports.
  • Drive continuous improvement and development in lift/transport processes, such as adopting new technologies.
  • Represent SpaceX by presenting certification packages and engineering data to US government agencies, including NASA, US Space Force, and others.

Qualifications

  • Bachelor’s degree in an engineering discipline.
  • 2+ years of hands-on experience working with mechanical and structural hardware.

Skills

Required:Engineering fundamentals
Nice to have:Crane lifting, rigging, or transport operationsCAD softwareFinite element analysis

Benefits

  • Not specified in the provided description
Last updated Aug 5, 2026. Interested? Apply on the company site.

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