Dynamics Engineer (Starship)

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 of enabling human life on Mars.

The Starship Dynamics team is responsible for induced vehicle environments, system dynamics and vehicle dynamics on the Starship and HLS vehicles. The dynamics group is focused on defining forcing functions acting on the vehicle, predicting vehicle and system response, and ensuring hardware is qualified for ground testing and flight. The group has a wide range of responsibilities that include structural dynamics, fluid system dynamics, engine dynamics and multibody dynamics. Dynamics engineers are expected to have a strong intuition of physics first principles, the frequency domain and a broad range of engineering disciplines, in addition to having solid software and analytical skills.

Responsibilities:

• Resolve dynamics problems through analysis, test and the use of flight data
• Build finite element and lumped element models of launch vehicle systems
• Execute dynamic testing from start-to-finish (pre-test analysis, sensor selection & installation, testing, data analysis, signal processing and model correlation)
• Own system level analysis and drive hardware modifications or vehicle operations across vehicle engineering teams
• Perform analyses using commercial and in-house codes as well as write new code

Basic Qualifications:

• Bachelor's degree in an engineering discipline
• 1+ years of experience with structural or fluid dynamics via full-time employment, outside the classroom projects, or lab work

Preferred Skills and Experience:

• Hands-on experience either analyzing data or building hardware
• Experience with fluid system modeling and structural-fluid coupling pogo problems
• Experience with NASTRAN (knowledge of DMAP programming a plus)
• Experience with turbomachinery and combustion dynamics
• Experience with vibration and shock testing
• Experience with finite element modeling
• Experience with solving ordinary differential equations
• Working knowledge of structural analysis and test, including a fundamental understanding of strength, stability and fatigue failure mechanisms
• Experience with data processing and analysis in Python and MATLAB

Additional Requirements:

• Position may require extended work hours and weekend work

SpaceX offers a comprehensive benefits package, including medical, vision, and dental coverage, 401(k) retirement plan, stock options, Employee Stock Purchase Plan, paid vacation, paid holidays, and sick leave. The company is an Equal Opportunity Employer and follows ITAR requirements for employment eligibility.