Lead Components Engineer (Starship)

LEAD COMPONENTS ENGINEER (STARSHIP)

The Starship Components Manufacturing team assembles, tests, troubleshoots, and delivers valves and fluid components that drive critical capabilities on Starship/Super Heavy – from cryo capable solenoid valves to hot gox capable compensators. The Starship Valves Lead Components Engineer will coach a team of Build Engineers to introduce new fluid components to the factory, implement flight-like testing, evolve the shop layout and processes, run The Algorithm to accelerate deliveries, and solve nuanced yield/root cause investigations to improve reliability and first pass yield. This leader will help enable the factory of the future and generate creative solutions to overcome bandwidth/hardware issues.

RESPONSIBILITIES:

• Support production of state-of-the-art, high-reliability valves and fluids components for Starship and Super Heavy.
• Assign hardware/process ownership for new product introduction, troubleshooting, development, and production, while eliminating blockers to assembly and testing.
• Set the standard for a rigorous and efficient factory by questioning assembly/test requirements, deleting parts and manufacturing processes, simplifying/optimizing production flow, accelerating production, and performing cut-in targeted automation.
• Drive high process precision to maximize performance on vehicle.
• Inform design for manufacturability, with piece part/assembly/test in mind, to maximize rate and minimize cost of payload to orbit.
• Act as the chief engineer responsible for closing communication gaps between design, supply, test engineering, and production teams to enable on-time delivery of simple and high-reliability hardware to the vehicle.
• Recruit, train, and coach engineers to meet the needs of Starship.
• Set team goals/priorities, and drive career development, while prioritizing personnel safety above all else.
• Develop robust/simple work instructions, and track defects/part movement in a lightweight and scalable manner.
• Increase factory scrutiny as the products mature in pursuit of commercial and crewed orbital missions.

BASIC QUALIFICATIONS:

• Bachelor’s degree in an engineering discipline or physics.
• 2+ years of professional experience in design, manufacturing, or testing of fluid, mechanical, or pressurized systems.

PREFERRED SKILLS AND EXPERIENCE:

• Leadership or mentorship experience in a hardware production environment.
• Experience in build/test development and on-time delivery of new components to the vehicle.
• Proficient in interpretation of electrical/fluid schematics, engineering drawings, circuit layouts, and parts lists.
• Experience working with fluid and electromechanical components such as motors, gear trains, sensors, valves, actuators, and regulators.
• Ability to effectively communicate with all levels in the organization including technicians, engineers, and executive team.
• Experience in troubleshooting and resolving component issues through review of launch vehicle/ground schematics and root cause testing.
• Familiarity with Starship component factory products and/or experience quickly building product knowledge.

ADDITIONAL REQUIREMENTS:

• Must be willing to travel to other SpaceX sites and vendors as needed.
• Must be able to work extended hours and weekends as needed.

COMPENSATION AND BENEFITS:

Pay range:

Lead Components Engineer: $125,000.00 - $175,000.00/per year

Your actual level and base salary will be determined on a case-by-case basis and may vary based on the following considerations: job-related knowledge and skills, education, and experience.

Base salary is just one part of your total rewards package at SpaceX. You may also be eligible for long-term incentives, in the form of company stock, stock options, or long-term cash awards, as well as potential discretionary bonuses and the ability to purchase additional stock at a discount through an Employee Stock Purchase Plan. You will also receive access to comprehensive medical, vision, and dental coverage, access to a 401(k) retirement plan, short and long-term disability insurance, life insurance, paid parental leave, and various other discounts and perks. You may also accrue 3 weeks of paid vacation and will be eligible for 10 or more paid holidays per year. Exempt employees are eligible for 5 days of sick leave per year.