Thermal Hardware Engineer (Starship)

Starship requires a robust Thermal Protection System (TPS) to withstand the extreme heat generated during atmospheric reentry at hypersonic speeds. The thermal hardware team is responsible for the design, analysis, integration, and continuous improvement of Starship's reentry heat shield and structures. As a thermal hardware engineer, you will drive the development of the next-generation heat shield from concept and detailed mechanical design to thermal-structural modeling, qualification testing, production, integration, flight rationale, and post-flight data-driven optimizations. At Starbase, you will have the opportunity to work in an exciting and dynamic environment, dividing your time between the office and the production floor to ensure the delivery of the best-engineered product and ultimately mission success.

• →Develop, test, and qualify new or refined thermal protection system solutions for our Starship architecture
• →Own the outcome and set up the end-to-end solutions to thermal challenges from idea to flying hardware
• →Work with production on resolving issues on the floor and on the vehicle with our flight hardware
• →Analyze and troubleshoot post-flight conditions on vehicle heatshields to drive vehicle changes and improvements
• →Coordinate with analysis, avionics, structures, supply chain, and reliability engineers to drive multidisciplinary projects
• →Work with outside vendors, suppliers, and testing resources to bring in new materials, capabilities, or processes

• Bachelor’s degree in material science, mechanical engineering, materials engineering, or aerospace engineering
• 1+ years of engineering experience designing, analyzing, or building mechanical or thermal systems (internship and school projects experience qualify)

• 3+ years of experience working on thermal protection systems
• Strong fundamentals in aerothermal heating on reentry vehicles
• Strong fundamentals in the materials and mechanisms by which thermal protection systems operate
• Hands-on experience with hardware that has had to perform in challenging thermal environments such as rockets, reentry vehicles or other extreme temperature applications
• Ability to drive open-ended design and development challenges
• Familiarity and experience with production, installation, qualification, and use of thermal protection system materials
• Experience using Siemens NX, or similar CAD software
• Ability to perform basic thermal or mechanical analysis

• Ability to work extended hours and weekends as necessary
• Ability to travel domestically
• Ability to pass Air Force background check for Cape Canaveral

• 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.