Lead Starship Engineer (Ship Vehicle Assembly)

About the Role

As the Lead Starship Engineer, you will be responsible for the production of the Starship airframe weldment, including assembling the Integrated Payload Volume, the PEZ, Raceway, Tank Cleaning, and Megabay 2 Stacking. This position involves close collaboration with integration, propulsion, and quality partners in the Starfactory, culminating in the handoff to airframe integration. The role encompasses a broad scope of pressurized components, propulsion systems, structures, avionics, tooling design, and process development. You will ensure the efficiency, cost, and quality of these systems while developing a team of engineers who own discrete assemblies and project scope. The lead engineer is accountable for scoping the team, growing the depth chart to support new vehicles, and ultimately staffing the Gigabay.

Responsibilities

• Lead and develop a team of build engineers designing the production system
• Mentor and foster the continual technical and professional development of team members
• Develop lean manufacturing processes, factory infrastructure, tools, and documentation to enable efficient and high-rate production
• Work with the design engineering team to drive simplicity into the vehicle systems at a complex level
• Build long-term direction for vehicle architecture and factory infrastructures to meet the evolving needs of the program and company
• Coordinate and execute development, qualification, and acceptance testing of systems and tooling needed to meet hardware deadlines
• Create original CAD models and prints for flight and/or tooling components
• Execute design for manufacturability changes to enhance production efficiency
• Create and maintain build schedules and detailed work instructions
• Develop process parameters, requirements, and drive next generation architectures

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in mechanical, manufacturing, or aerospace engineering
• 2+ years of process development and build experience on integrated assemblies (internship and academic experience not applicable)

Skills

• Master's degree in engineering discipline
• Experience recruiting, training, and managing a high-performing team with wide scope
• Experience with process development, facility and line layouts, and error-proofing
• Experience owning the outcome of large integrated build and test scope, inclusive of both new product introduction and mature build execution
• Experience with fluid dynamics and pressurized components (valves, regulators, tubes, pipes, etc.)
• Experience leading operation-critical part mechanical design, including basic structures, fluids, electrical calculations, and design considerations
• Experience with CAD and FEA software packages
• Experience with Unigraphics NX and Teamcenter CAD and PLM systems
• Strong interpersonal and organizational skills

Additional Requirements

• Flight hardware typically is built in tight quarters; physical dexterity is required
• Ability to perform job duties that require standing, kneeling, crouching, twisting upper body, working in cramped positions in small openings, and climbing hand over hand
• Occasionally exposed to work in extreme outdoor environments – heat, cold, rain
• Work performed in an environment requiring exposure to fumes, odors, and noise
• Must be able to work extended hours and weekends depending on site operational needs
• Flexibility to travel to remote build sites – up to 15%
• Stand: Up to 3 hours per day
• Sit: Up to 6 hours per day
• Push/Pull: Up to 50lbs. (unassisted) Up to 15 minutes per day
• Overhead reach: Up to 3 hours per day
• Walk: Up to 3 hours per day
• Lift/Carry: Up to 25lbs. (unassisted) Up to 15 minutes per day
• Climb (ladder/stairs): Up to 1 hour per day
• Ability to work in temperatures over 80 degrees: up to 30 minutes per day
• Capable of safely working at heights (up to 500ft), in confined spaces, using an air purifying respirator, and performing the physical requirements of the job listed in the job description
• Candidate may be required to complete a pre-employment questionnaire and/or physical to confirm these capabilities, which may include a medical history review

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.