Build Engineer, Thermal Hardware (Starship)

As a Build Engineer in Thermal Hardware at SpaceX, you'll be responsible for tooling design, developing production procedures, coordinating testing, managing discrepancies, and working closely with various teams to ensure hardware meets rigorous deadlines and specifications. Your role will also involve hands-on work on the production floor to facilitate effective communication and execution.

A bachelor's degree in mechanical engineering or a related field is required for the Build Engineer, Thermal Hardware role at SpaceX, along with at least one year of manufacturing or design experience. Preferred experience includes a master's degree, familiarity with CNC and robotic systems, and hands-on project experience with complex mechanical systems.

In the Build Engineer, Thermal Hardware role at SpaceX, collaboration is key. You will engage with vehicle analysts, design teams, and production technicians, ensuring communication loops are tight and that all aspects of the thermal hardware are aligned with the overall vehicle design and production processes.

Preferred skills for the Build Engineer, Thermal Hardware position at SpaceX include hands-on fabrication experience, knowledge of drafting, experience in new process development, and familiarity with tools such as Siemens NX and Teamcenter, as well as a background in fluid dynamics and finite element analysis.

A Build Engineer, Thermal Hardware at SpaceX can expect to work in a dynamic and sometimes intense environment that includes both office and production settings. The role involves exposure to diverse outdoor conditions and requires adaptability to various physical tasks, all while maintaining focus on innovative manufacturing solutions.

When answering this question, provide specific examples of tooling projects you've worked on, the challenges faced, and how you ensured that the final designs met production and quality standards. Highlight any relevant software tools you used and your contribution to the team.

Explain your approach to task prioritization, emphasizing time management skills and tools or methodologies you've employed. Share an example of a time when you effectively managed competing deadlines and how you communicated with team members to ensure workflow efficiency.

Demonstrating knowledge of SpaceX's mission is vital. Discuss their goals, particularly regarding Starship and crewed missions to Mars. Articulate how thermal hardware plays a critical role in ensuring vehicle safety and performance in harsh space environments.

Illustrate a specific situation, detailing the discrepancy, your analysis process, and the resolution steps you took. Focus on your problem-solving skills and teamwork, highlighting how you involved other departments or team members.

Mention the specific software tools you've used, such as CAD software, PLM tools, or modeling utilities like Siemens NX or Teamcenter. Describe how your familiarity with these tools has optimized your designs or improved communication with teams.

Discuss your philosophy on design for manufacturability. Provide instances where you made design modifications that resulted in increased production efficiency or reduced costs, and explain your thought process during those decisions.

Share specific examples of projects you've undertaken that involved complex mechanical systems. Highlight your role in the design, integration, or testing phases, emphasizing any leading roles you held in those projects.

Illustrate your understanding of lean principles and how you've successfully implemented them in past roles to enhance efficiency. Use concrete examples to show the impact of lean practices on project outcomes.

Discuss strategies you've used to cope with tight deadlines, like prioritization, clear communication, and agile methodologies. Share a specific scenario where you successfully met a challenging timeline to illustrate your capability.

Detail the methods you've implemented in past roles, such as regular briefings, visual aids, or feedback systems to enhance communication. Provide examples of how these techniques led to better collaboration and production outcomes.