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Critical Lift & Transport Engineer (Starship)

SpaceX· Launch Critical Lift & Transport
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Cape Canaveral, FLfull-timePosted 1w ago

About the role

Engineer responsible for planning, designing, reviewing, and executing critical lift and heavy-haul transport operations for SpaceX Starship and Super Heavy booster vehicles, including ground support equipment, with emphasis on safety, reliability, and regulatory compliance.

Responsibilities

  • Plan, analyze, and execute critical lifts and heavy-haul transports for large-scale hardware, ensuring safety standards and regulations (OSHA, ASME B30) are followed.
  • Develop critical lift plans, rigging designs, and transport configurations using AutoCAD, FEA, and center-of-gravity calculations.
  • Coordinate with cross-functional teams to assess mass properties, rigging locations, structural capability, stability, and load paths during lifts and transports.
  • Select and specify equipment (mobile/crawler cranes, SPMTs, conventional trailers, rigging hardware); perform 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 equipment rentals and oversee contracted operations involving cranes, rigging, trailers, and marine transport.
  • Maintain documentation including engineering calculations, drawings, and reports for audits and lessons learned.
  • Support off-hour operations, including real-time troubleshooting during high-stakes/first-time lifts or transports.
  • Drive continuous improvement in lift/transport processes and adopt new technologies.
  • Present certification packages and engineering data to US government agencies (NASA, US Space Force, others).

Qualifications

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

Skills

Required:Crane lifting and rigging operationsCAD softwareFinite element analysisMechanical and structural designRegulatory knowledge
Nice to have:Specialized equipment expertiseRoot cause analysisProject communication
Last updated Oct 14, 2026. Interested? Apply on the company site.

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