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.
MECHANICAL ENGINEER, HARDWARE DEVELOPMENT
As a Hardware Development Engineer, you will be responsible for the mechanical design and packaging of advanced avionics and sensor systems that power the world’s most ambitious space missions. You will lead the development of flight-critical enclosures and assemblies that must survive the harshest environments — from the loads of launch to the vacuum, vibration, and temperature extremes of space. Your work will focus on creating elegant, reliable, and lightweight mechanical solutions that protect and integrate sensitive electronics, while meeting demanding thermal, structural, and environmental constraints.
In this role, you won’t just design hardware, you will own it. As the responsible engineer, you will be accountable for making sure your designs work and continue to work throughout their operational life. From the initial concept through launch and beyond, you’ll be deeply involved in every phase of development, including design reviews, testing, and post-flight analysis. You’ll collaborate closely with electrical systems and test teams to ensure seamless integration and long-term reliability. This is a high-impact, high-ownership position ideal for engineers who are passionate about precision design, thrive on technical challenges, and want to see their work fly.
RESPONSIBILITIES:
- Provide extreme ownership of avionics hardware for flight across all areas of product development
- Drive changes to mechanical parts and assembly drawings that improve reliability and manufacturability
- Perform root cause investigations, analysis, and simulations to characterize performance limits and mitigate risk
- Develop high reliability hardware to expand vehicle capabilities
- Derive engineering justification to resolve production issues through assembly, test, and vehicle integration
- Design test setups and execute hardware validation through benchtop and environmental testing
- Develop innovative sensors and avionics packages for physical sensors such as pressure, acceleration, flow, etc. and electrical components
- Create 3D models, production 2D drawings, and complete tolerance analysis
BASIC QUALIFICATIONS:
- Bachelor’s degree in an engineering discipline
- 1+ years of professional experience with mechanical design and analysis (significant academic projects, internships, and traditional professional experience will qualify)
PREFERRED SKILLS AND EXPERIENCE:
- Drafting and modeling with Siemens NX or similar for part design and managing assemblies
- Experience in the design of sensors or optical systems, packaging or integration of sensors, or the design of mechanical and electrical systems
- Simulation tools for performing stress, dynamic, or thermal analysis (e.g. ANSYS)
- Design for Excellence (DFX) principles related to GD&T, material selection, and manufacturing processes
- Exposure to electronics packaging and designing for extreme environments
- Working knowledge of fundamental sensing mechanisms
- Ability to work in a fast paced, autonomously driven, and demanding atmosphere
- Familiarity managing projects from start to finish
- Self-motivated with strong multi-tasking, organizational, communication, and documentation skills
- Creative problem solver capable of working within a multidisciplinary team
ADDITIONAL REQUIREMENTS:
- Extended hours and weekend work may be required to support critical project and mission milestones
COMPENSATION AND BENEFITS:
Pay range:
Hardware Development Engineer/Level 1: $95,000.00 - $115,000.00/per year
Hardware Development Engineer/Level 2: $110,000.00 - $130,000.00/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. Employees accrue paid sick leave pursuant to Company policy which satisfies or exceeds the accrual, carryover, and use requirements of the law.
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 EEOCompliancespacex.com.
