Mechanical Engineer, User Products; Starshield

Mechanical Engineer, User Products (Starshield)

Location:

Hawthorne, CA

Space

X 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 Space

X is actively developing the technologies to make this possible, with the ultimate goal of enabling human life on Mars.

Starshield leverages Space

X’s Starlink technology and launch capability to support national security efforts. While Starlink is designed for consumer and commercial use, Starshield is designed for government use, with an initial focus on earth observation, communications, and hosted payloads.

As a mechanical engineer on the User Products team, you will own conceptualization, design, qualification, and integration of Starshield’s custom products that are used in the toughest environments around the world. This role demands strong technical, design, and analysis skills, the drive to get your work over the finish line, and close coordination with electrical teams to realize high‑reliability hardware.

• Own hardware from conceptual design through volume production and in‑flight operations to support various customer needs
• Develop design criteria, collaborate on requirements, and drive system‑level optimization
• Rapidly iterate on designs and analysis to inform high‑level systems trades and steer overall product direction
• Drive holistic DFM to create elegant designs with a focus on part and process count reductions, error‑proofing at every step of fabrication and integration, and consistent performance and production metrics
• Generate detailed production and integration drawings using GD&T and perform tolerance stack‑up analysis
• Establish an efficient product lifecycle starting in the supply chain through final integration that balances cost, complexity, and quality; work closely with partner teams to design and realize an efficient in‑house production line
• Perform environmental and performance testing on hardware to validate analysis and demonstrate compliance with design criteria
• Own product delivery timeline through conception, design, assembly, and launch
• Demonstrate extreme ownership of product outcomes at every stage of development and production

• Bachelor's degree in an engineering or STEM discipline
• Experience with CAD or FEA software packages (can be in a professional, academic, entrepreneurial, or hobby setting)
• 1+ years of experience with mechanical and/or electromechanical design and analysis (internship and extracurricular experience are applicable)

• Master’s degree in engineering or a related technical discipline
• Ability and willingness to obtain a Top Secret clearance
• Solid understanding and application of GD&T
• Demonstrated ability to own hardware or systems within an integrated engineering team outside a classroom setting (FSAE, Engineers without Borders, Student Directed Research, Design‑Build‑Fly, NASA student launch, personal entrepreneurial ventures, etc.)
• Demonstrated understanding of structural analysis and failure modes of complex mechanical systems
• Self‑motivated with strong organizational, written, and oral communication skills
• Proficient in 3D CAD (NX preferred)

• Able to work extended hours and weekends as needed to support critical path development and/or critical on‑orbit operations
• Ability to travel to Space
  
  X, vendors, customers, and partner locations as necessary
• An active clearance may provide the opportunity for you to work on sensitive Space
  
  X missions; if so, you will be subject to pre‑employment drug and random drug and alcohol testing

• 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.

Pay range:
Mechanical Engineer/Level 1: $95,000.00 - $ per year
Mechanical Engineer/Level 2: $ - $ per year

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