Tooling Engineer, Starship Components (Materials Engineering)

SpaceX continues to revolutionize the launch industry by combining advanced technological developments with pragmatic and lean manufacturing. Materials used on SpaceX vehicles are designed to withstand the extreme environments of launch, on-orbit operations, and reentry. This role will lead a team responsible for the support of advanced welding and joining processes on follow control devices and mechanisms that drive critical capabilities on Starship/Super Heavy - from regulators and butterfly valves to flap/fin actuators. We design, manufacture, and test valves, regulators, and actuators for maximum reliability in extreme environments, compatibility with various fluids, temperatures ranging from 80 to 800K, and pressures beyond 800 bar.

This position will own manufacturing and development of Tooling and Equipment for SpaceX’s Starship components welding. The person in this position will help develop,  build, and certify designs to optimize tooling related to welding and inspection processes The Tooling Engineer in this role will interface daily with design, automation, welding, NDE, and test engineers to make the machine that builds the machine and enforce standardized practices and procedures on multiple welded assemblies.

• →Design and manufacture of welding fixtures for processes including, but no limited to, electron beam welding, laser beam welding, gas tungsten arc welding, and orbital tube welding.
• →Collaborate with design engineering to ensure tooling can work with assemblies without damaging critical features.
• →Create detailed models and engineering prints in NX.
• →Perform hand calculations and analysis to size structures and mechanisms.
• →Create manufacturing planning for scope performed by internal welding and toolmaking teams.
• →Scope equipment procurement for welding processes.
• →Create and evaluate asset maintenance schedules.
• →Support machine activation with welding engineering team and perform development testing.

• Bachelor’s degree in mechanical, manufacturing, or another engineering discipline.
• 1+ years of experience in one or more of the following: designing and building mechanical structures, GD&T, fabrication of mechanical assemblies, weldments, or CAD software design package (e.g. Solidworks, NX, CATIA, or ProE).

• Demonstrated ability to prioritize and execute tasks in a fast-paced, dynamic environment.
• CNC and/or Robot programming experience for automated welding solutions.
• Tooling design experience for welded assemblies to reduce part distortion and improve part consistency.
• Self-motivated engineer with keen attention to detail.
• Hands-on experience in a high-production manufacturing environment.
• Mechanical component and/or tooling design and analysis experience using 3D CAD software.
• Experience with design for manufacture and assembly (DFMA).
• Experience writing work instructions and procedures for critical components.
• Expertise and engineering knowledge in tooling, automation, welding engineering, components design, and/or components manufacturing.
• Experience in software development in SQL, Python or C#.

• Must be able to work extended hours and weekends as needed.
• Must be able to travel for business needs – up to 25%.

• 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 EEOCompliance@spacex.com.