Sr. Integration & Test Engineer (Falcon)

SR. INTEGRATION & TEST ENGINEER (FALCON)

As an Sr. Integration & Test Engineer at SpaceX, you will have the opportunity to utilize your knowledge, experience, and creativity to develop novel solutions at the cutting edge of space technology. Engineers in this role demonstrate a very high level of engineering intuition, critical thinking, system level expertise, and are comfortable working under tight deadlines with loosely defined requirements and minimal oversight. They are independently capable of removing and resolving blockers to arrive at optimal engineering decisions/solutions. You will work on hardware that will deliver satellites into orbit, ferry humans to and from the international space station and low earth orbit, and ultimately extend humanity’s reach beyond Earth and the moon. You will own the relationship between our production and design engineering teams. You will drive the design and development of new and existing hardware and be on the forefront of developing integration and test processes for our current and next generation vehicles.

RESPONSIBILITIES:

• Oversee the assembly and testing processes for Falcon and Falcon Heavy launch vehicle assemblies. These may include Stage 1, Stage 2, Merlin Engines, and pneumatic, hydraulic, structural, and engine subassemblies
• Assist design engineers in guiding new designs from concepts to qualified, production-capable spaceflight systems
• Work with design engineers to evaluate designs for manufacturability and test requirements, then implement improvements in a rapidly evolving production environment
• Independently develop, qualify, and refine manufacturing, assembly, and test processes to bring products from prototype to high-volume production
• Author, audit, and execute system level test procedures to ensure safe and reliable operation and ensure all systems operate correctly individually and in the context of the entire launch vehicle
• Define and create first-of-their-kind standards and practices within industry, driving SpaceX to the forefront of aerospace hardware manufacturability
• Interface with other engineers, subject matter experts, and technicians to solve large-scale production challenges
• Ideate and implement tooling and test solutions, enabling high quality build of SpaceX hardware
• Quickly resolve non-conformances and work with the Quality team to implement root cause corrective actions
• Identify, plan, and execute capital equipment, machine, and layout upgrades to the meet volume production demand
• Mentor other team members on high-level engineering tasks, promoting the team culture and technical excellence across SpaceX
• Capable of developing, training, and leading a team of several Integration & Test Engineers to accomplish complex technical projects and tasks efficiently
• Serve as a technical expert for specific product subsystems and provide technical expertise to other sites and work centers to troubleshoot and resolve related non-conformances

BASIC QUALIFICATIONS:

• Bachelor's degree in an engineering or STEM discipline
• 1+ year of experience designing and/or testing pneumatic, hydraulic, or electrical systems
• 5+ years of engineering experience in manufacturing, design, test, or development

PREFERRED SKILLS AND EXPERIENCE:

• Experience with building and testing fluid and/or electrical systems
• Experience operating, designing, and troubleshooting test equipment (e.g. pumps, valves, heaters, instrumentation, data acquisition, and automation)
• Experience with scientific and data processing programming languages (Python, MATLAB, SQL, etc.)
• Experience with fluid and electrical system simulation and automation testing
• Experience data reduction and post-processing tools
• Mechanical component and/or tooling design and analysis
• Knowledge of metallic manufacturing techniques, processes, and equipment related to machining, welding, drilling, and automation
• Experience working with GD&T (Geometric Dimensioning & Tolerancing) and familiarity with complex tolerance stack-ups
• Experience with process development from R&D to high-volume manufacturing
• Experience writing work instructions and procedures for critical aerospace parts
• Experience in a production environment within the aerospace industry
• Master’s degree in an engineering or STEM discipline

ADDITIONAL REQUIREMENTS:

• Willing to work extended hours and/or weekends as needed
• Able to climb ladders and work in tight spaces
• This is a hands-on position that may require standing for up to 4 hours a day and working directly with hardware on the floor
• Willing to travel up to 5%
• Able to pass background checks for Cape Canaveral and Vandenberg Space Force bases

COMPENSATION AND BENEFITS:

Pay range:

Integration & Test Engineer/Senior: $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.