Thermal Engineer (Falcon, Dragon, & Starfall)

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 ofenabling human life on Mars.

THERMAL ENGINEER (FALCON DRAGON & STARFALL)

The Aero/Thermal/Fluids (ATF) group owns the thermal design of SpaceXs launch vehicles spacecraft and hardware for Falcon Dragon and Starfall. As a thermal engineer in ATF you will take hardware from a blank page: setting the thermal architecture sizing the design driving it through CAD and build and validating it against ground test flight and on-orbit data. Youll make the engineering calls that keep components within limits across every phase of flight - ascent on-orbit reentry and improve system performance to help us fly more and more reliably. The groups charter also spans aerothermal and vehicle fluid systems so theres ample room to broaden into adjacent disciplines but this roles center of gravity is clean-sheet-to-built-hardware thermal design and analysis.

RESPONSIBILITIES:

• Own the thermal design of spacecraft launch-vehicle special-program and component hardware end-to-end: frominitial concept and high-level trades through detailed 3D and reduced-order modeling into CAD/build and out tovalidation against ground test flight and orbital data (e.g. on-orbit thermal analysis thermal protection system(TPS) sizing heater and coolant-loop design acceptance/qualification test-level derivation issue-ticketresolution)
• Translate thermal analysis into real design decisions materials coatings insulation interfaces heater and TCS architecture and carry them from concept to flight hardware
• Automate your workflow to cut engineering investment in the design cycle
• Pursue performance and robustness improvements in the hardware
• Pursue operational simplicity and reduce the burden your designs place on other groups at SpaceX
• Produce quality documentation of your work to reduce miss-rate and improve efficiency
• Review peer work

BASIC QUALIFICATIONS:

• Bachelors degree in an engineering discipline
• 1 years of experience using programming languages including but not limited to Python MATLAB and EES(internships and school projects apply)

PREFERRED SKILLS AND EXPERIENCE:

• Experience taking hardware from clean-sheet concept through detailed design build and test validation
• Experience with Thermal Desktop and ANSYS Workbench
• Experience with 3D and reduced-order thermal modeling
• Ability to identify analysis cases and quickly evaluate the impact of design decisions on the hardware
• Experience sizing TPS using reduced-order modeling
• Experience with the Fully Implicit Ablation and Thermal Analysis Program (FIAT)
• Experience with Sinda/Fluint
• Experience with propulsion and vehicle fluid-system design and analysis
• Excellent oral and written communication skills
• Ability to deliver against an aggressive schedule
• Fundamentals in aerodynamics and aerothermal analysis; exposure to CFD (FUN3D DPLR US3D LociChem) and mesh generation (Pointwise StarCCM)

ADDITIONAL REQUIREMENTS:

• Must be available to work extended hours and weekends as needed

COMPENSATION AND BENEFITS:

Pay range:
Level I: $100000.00 - $117500.00/per year
Level II: $115000.00 - $140000.00/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 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 SpaceXs Affirmative Action Plan for veterans and individuals with disabilities or applicants requiring reasonable accommodation to the application/interview process should reach out to.