SpaceX
Integration & Test Engineer (Falcon)
Hands-on Falcon 9 launch role at Vandenberg: the engineer assembles, integrates, and tests flight vehicles and ground support equipment, writes and executes test procedures, leads technicians, and drives root-cause investigations to ensure flight readiness. Centers on mechanical, electrical, and fluid systems integration and testing.
- Compensation
- $100K–$160K / yr
- Location
- Vandenberg, CA
- Work setup
- Not specified
- Seniority
- Intern
- Employment
- Internship
- Experience
- 1+ years
- Category
- Qa
- Posted
Skills
Must have
- Bachelor's degree in an engineering discipline
- 1+ years of hands-on experience with mechanical, electrical and/or fluid systems in design, manufacturing, or implementation phases (class projects and/or internships qualify)
- Ability to pass Air Force background check for Vandenberg Space Force Base
- ITAR: must be a U.S. citizen or national, U.S. lawful permanent resident, refugee, or asylee, or eligible to obtain required U.S. Department of State authorizations
- Physical effort including standing, lifting and carrying moderately heavy materials or equipment (15 to 35 lbs.)
- Mental fitness to work in a high-concentration, high-stress environment with possible extended work hours
- Ability to be flexible on shifts
- Occasional travel may be required
Nice to have
- Advanced degree in mechatronics, mechanical, aerospace, electrical, or computer engineering
- 3+ years of professional experience designing, building, integrating, and testing complex multi-disciplinary systems
- Experience writing test plans and test procedures
- Experience with projects integrating electrical, mechanical, and software systems
- Proficiency or hands-on experience with launch vehicle/spacecraft integration, composite structure design or testing, test operations with gases/fluids, or data acquisition setup and field measurement
- Professional experience testing and operating with or around hazardous systems (high pressure, high energy, hazardous gases/fluids)
- Professional experience working with large assembly moves (e.g. crane operations)
- Flight hardware avionics experience
- Ability to communicate clearly and accurately with a wide range of people
- Ability to work in a fast-paced, autonomously driven, demanding start-up atmosphere
- Ability to learn, lead others, and help others learn while maintaining productivity
Full description
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.
INTEGRATION & TEST ENGINEER (FALCON)RESPONSIBILITIES:
- Process Falcon 9 flight vehicles in the pursuit of rapid and reliable rocket re-use, integration and launch
- Develop and execute procedures for the checkout and integration of new and flight proven rockets and ground support equipment
- Assist with and lead hands-on assembly, integration, and testing of new and flight-proven vehicle assemblies
- Lead critical on-site operations while collaborating with engineering staff from other departments and SpaceX locations to resolve off-nominal test results and ensure flight readiness
- Partner with, and provide direction to highly skilled field technicians on a daily basis
- Design and develop tools and hardware to enable vehicle assembly and conduct vehicle system testing
- Identify high-risk processes and problems during flight hardware processing, and proactively implement improvements to ensure operational excellence
- Lead and facilitate root cause and corrective action investigations to ensure that issues related to product reliability and quality that cause downstream disruption are corrected
- Rapidly develop and refine manufacturing assembly procedures based on lessons learned
- Manage work orders and the driving of non-conformances into actionable items and system improvements
BASIC QUALIFICATIONS:
- Bachelor’s degree in an engineering discipline
- 1+ years of hands-on experience with mechanical, electrical and/or fluid systems in the design, manufacturing, or implementation phases (class projects and/or internship experience qualifies)
PREFERRED SKILLS AND EXPERIENCE:
- Advanced degree in one of the following engineering disciplines: mechatronics, mechanical engineering, aerospace engineering, electrical engineering, or computer engineering
- 3+ years of professional experience designing, building, integrating, and testing complex multi-disciplinary systems
- Experience writing test plans and test procedures
- Experience working on projects that involve the integration of electrical, mechanical, and software systems (launch vehicle and/or spacecraft experience is not required)
- Proficient in or hands-on experience with one or more of the following: launch vehicle or spacecraft integration; composite structure design or testing; test operations with gases/fluids; data acquisition setup and field measurements