Critical Lift & Transport Engineer (Starship)
Core
Design, review, and execute critical lift and heavy-haul transport operations for large-scale hardware including rocket stages and ground support equipment at launch sites.
Role type
Senior IC mechanical/structural engineer (lift & transport)
Builds
Safe and efficient launch pad operations and hardware deployment for Starship and Super Heavy vehicles
Domain
Aerospace manufacturing and launch operations
Deliverable
production ML models | product features | dashboards & analysis | research | client delivery | infrastructure | physical/clinical work
Required skills
mechanical and structural hardware design, finite element analysis (FEA), center-of-gravity calculations, risk assessment, hazard analysis, fatigue/stress analysis, equipment selection and specification, regulatory compliance (OSHA, ASME B30), cross-functional coordination, vendor management, engineering documentation
Preferred skills
crane lifting and rigging operations, CAD software (SOLIDWORKS, Siemens NX), engineering analysis software (ANSYS, FEMAP), statics and dynamics, materials science, failure mode analysis, specialized equipment expertise (crawler cranes, SPMTs, gantries), root cause analysis
Technologies
AutoCAD, SOLIDWORKS, Siemens NX, ANSYS, FEMAP
Responsibilities
Plan and execute critical lifts and heavy-haul transports for large-scale hardware; develop lift plans, rigging designs, and transport configurations; coordinate with cross-functional teams to assess hardware mass properties and structural capability; select and specify lifting equipment and perform capacity verifications; conduct risk assessments and fatigue/stress analyses for complex lifts; oversee on-site operations including pre-lift dry runs and real-time monitoring; interface with external vendors for specialized equipment; maintain engineering documentation for regulatory audits; support off-hour operations and troubleshooting; drive continuous improvement in lift/transport processes; represent SpaceX in certification packages for US government agencies
Seniority
Senior, hands-on IC