Sr. Critical Lift & Transport Engineer (Starship)

Responsibilities

• Lead the planning, analysis, and execution of complex critical lifts and heavy-haul transports for hardware >100 tons (e.g. rocket stages, ground support equipment, or test articles), ensuring zero-incident compliance with safety standards, regulations (e.g., OSHA, ASME B30), and mission-critical timelines.
• Develop advanced lift plans, rigging designs, and multi-modal transport strategies using tools like FEA, CAD, simulations, wind/load interaction analysis, and risk assessments.
• Serve as a primary technical authority, coordinating with leadership across structures, manufacturing, launch operations, and supply chain teams to integrate lift/transport operations into program-level plans and schedules.
• Coverage of hardware mass properties, rigging/lashing connection locations, structural capability, stability, and load paths during lifts and transports.
• Specify, procure, qualify, and oversee deployment of specialized equipment fleets (e.g., crawler cranes, SPMTs, hydraulic jacks and gantries), including custom integrations; lead equipment failure mode analyses and vendor qualification processes.
• Supervise on-site execution teams, conduct pre-lift dry runs, anomaly resolution under pressure, and post-operation root-cause debrief and analysis to inform fleet-wide improvements.
• Conduct risk assessments, hazard analyses, and fatigue/stress analyses for lifts exceeding standard capacities.
• Negotiate and manage contracts with external partners for global heavy-lift and transport services and emergency response capabilities.
• Author and maintain engineering standards, lift/transport work orders, and digital libraries for company-wide knowledge transfer.
• Maintain documentation, including engineering calculations, drawings, and reports for regulatory audits and lessons learned.
• Strong communication skills for presenting complex plans to leadership, mentoring junior staff, and leading cross-discipline training programs.
• Support off-hour operations as needed, including real-time troubleshooting and issue resolution during high-visibility/first-time lift or transport operations.
• Drive continuous improvement and development in lift/transport processes, such as adopting new technologies.
• Represent SpaceX by presenting certification packages and engineering data to US government agencies, including NASA, US Space Force and others.

BASIC QUALIFICATIONS

• Bachelor’s degree in an engineering discipline.
• 5+ years of hands-on experience working with mechanical and structural hardware.
• 2+ years of experience with crane lifting, crane rigging or crane transport operations.

PREFERRED SKILLS AND EXPERIENCE

• 7+ years of experience in critical heavy lifts, rigging engineering, and heavy transport in aerospace, energy, defense, or construction sectors.
• Experience prioritizing and executing tasks in high-pressure, fast paced industrial environments while operating with or around hazardous systems (high pressure, high energy, hazardous gases & fluids, etc.).
• Experience using SOLIDWORKS, Siemens NX, or similar CAD software.
• Advanced proficiency in engineering analysis software (e.g. ANSYS, FEMAP or similar finite element analysis software) for static/dynamic load modeling.
• Strong understanding of mechanics, including statics, dynamics, materials science, and failure modes.
• Expertise in specialized equipment like crawler cranes, all-terrain cranes, SPMTs, jacks, and gantries.
• Professional certifications such as crane operator + rigger (NCCCO + NCCER) or Professional Engineer (PE) license.
• Knowledge of SpaceX-specific or similar hardware (e.g., Falcon/Starship transport logistics).
• Master's degree in a relevant engineering discipline or related advanced training.