Structures Design Engineer (Starship)

SpaceX· Starbase, TX· Vehicle Design

Posted 2026-10-30

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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.

STRUCTURES DESIGN ENGINEER (STARSHIP)

The structures design engineer is responsible for designing and building flight hardware such as propellant tanks, integration interfaces, primary structures, and structural subassemblies. You will be empowered to make real-time decisions, solve complex problems on the fly, and own end-to-end processes. The role will require the readiness to develop subject matter expertise in design for manufacturability, specifically those related to sheet metal and subassembly design and fabrication. If you are ready to be a hardware owner, eager to get out from behind a desk, and be hands-on working alongside a world-class production team, this may be the right role for you.

RESPONSIBILITIES:

Design metallic structures and propulsion fluid systems under accelerated timelines
Review specifications and other engineering data to develop mechanical systems
Update designs and drawings through engineering change orders to support SpaceX's rapid pace of design iteration
Create detailed component and assembly drawings incorporating an understanding of GD&T and tolerance stack-ups

BASIC QUALIFICATIONS:

Bachelor's degree in an engineering discipline
1+ years of mechanical design and drafting experience (including internships or personal projects)
Experience with 3D CAD software (NX, Solidworks, etc)

PREFERRED SKILLS AND EXPERIENCE:

Solid understanding and application of GD&T and tolerance stack-ups
Hands-on experience working in school club or project teams designing hardware in a highly constrained system under defined timelines
Familiarity with sheet metal design, welded structures, and fluid systems
Ability to manage large assembly models and drawings
Ability to work and communicate well in an integrated team including daily interactions with technicians, engineers, and leadership
Creative problem solver that can bring multiple disciplines together to achieve buy-in for a unified design direction
Self-motivated with strong multi-tasking, organizational, communication and documentation skills

ADDITIONAL REQUIREMENTS:

Must be available to work long hours and weekends as needed
Willing to travel to various SpaceX sites (up to 25%)

ITAR REQUIREMENTS:

To conform to U.S. Government export regulations, applicant must be a (i) U.S. citizen or national, (ii) U.S. lawful, permanent resident (aka green card holder), (iii) Refugee under 8 U.S.C. § 1157, or (iv) Asylee under 8 U.S.C. § 1158, or be eligible to obtain the required authorizations from the U.S. Department of State. Learn more about the ITAR here.

SpaceX is an Equal Opportunity Employer; employment with SpaceX is governed on the basis of merit, competence and qualifications and will not be influenced in any manner by race, color, religion, gender, national origin/ethnicity, veteran status, disability status, age, sexual orientation, gender identity, marital status, mental or physical disability or any other legally protected status.

Applicants wishing to view a copy of SpaceX’s Affirmative Action Plan for veterans and individuals with disabilities, or applicants requiring reasonable accommodation to the application/interview process should reach out to [email protected].

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