Droneship Recovery Engineer

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 ofenabling human life on Mars.

DRONESHIP RECOVERY ENGINEER

SpaceX operates the worlds first automated unmanned vessel certified to land orbital class vehicles. The SpaceX recovery team has the awesome mission of ensuring SpaceXs vehicles are successfully landed recovered and returned for subsequent flights. SpaceX recovery engineers are responsible for the operation of SpaceXs fleet of droneships astronaut recovery vessels and fairing recovery vessels. Recovering and reflying rockets is historic and has changed the rocket industry for the futureand you could be a part of that team.

RESPONSIBILITIES:

• Own and manage critical droneship/vessel hardware used for booster and fairing recovery offshore
• Perform troubleshooting upgrades and shore side system maintenance on vessel hardware including mechanical fluids hydraulic electrical or control systems
• Ensure systems are in place to guarantee hardware mission readiness including but not limited to preventative maintenance critical spares and hardware testing
• Design build and test new ground support equipment in support of improving recovery operations
• Develop work instructions to support ongoing operations maintenance repairs and upgrades
• Identify areas of operational improvement & work with stakeholders to develop and implement innovative new solutions
• Support operational engineering duties for West Coast SpaceX vessels offshore
• Interface between Launch Teams Vehicle Refurbishment Flight Hardware Logistics and Recovery to improve overall strategies with Falcon 9 Reuse
• Remain synchronized with all recovery operations on both coasts to ensure commonality in hardware and operations where applicable

BASIC QUALIFICATIONS:

• Bachelors degree in mechanical engineering electrical engineering mechatronics or other engineering discipline
• 1 years of hands-on experience designing building and/or maintaining mechanical/electrical hardware

PREFERRED SKILLS AND EXPERIENCE:

• Experience in aerospace robotics or marine industry
• Experience operating and troubleshooting remote-operated ground control systems high-speed data acquisition systems and instrumentation motor controllers VFDs and/or PLCs
• Ability to work well in an integrated collaborative team environment including daily communication/interactions with technicians engineers and managers
• Ability to prioritize and execute tasks in a high-pressure environment
• Experience setting test objectives writing test plans and executing hands-on testing
• Experience with critical operations where real-time decision-making affects success criteria
• Detail-oriented organized and with a high sense of urgency
• Demonstrated drive for continuous improvement in all aspects of work

ADDITIONAL REQUIREMENTS:

• Ability to work in a high-concentration high-stress environment; good response to problems posed by short deadlines; prolonged mental concentration (under possible extended work hours)
• Willing to support offshore operations including working recovery missions at sea averaging 4 or more days per quarter
• Ability to work long hours (10-12 hour days) and weekends when required
• Willing to work in extreme outdoor environments heat cold rain wind and open ocean
• Ability to climb ladders work in tight/confined spaces and lift/carry up to 25 lbs
• Willing to work with hazardous materials
• Ability to operate heavy machinery
• Ability to pass Air Force background checks for Cape Canaveral and Vandenberg
• Must have a valid Drivers License
• Position is subject to pre-employment drug and random drug and alcohol testing

ITAR REQUIREMENTS:

• 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. Learn more about the ITAR here.

SpaceX is an Equal Opportunity Employer; employment with SpaceX is governed on the basis of merit competence and qualifications and will not be influenced in any manner by race color religion gender national origin/ethnicity veteran status disability status age sexual orientation gender identity marital status mental or physical disability or any other legally protected status.

Applicants wishing to view a copy of SpaceXs Affirmative Action Plan for veterans and individuals with disabilities or applicants requiring reasonable accommodation to the application/interview process should reach out to.