SpaceX Test Engineer develops and executes tests for engines and components to evaluate hardware performance and survivability. The role includes test plan creation, test operations, and troubleshooting data acquisition and control systems.
Responsibilities
Develop and execute tests at the engine and component level to evaluate hardware performance and survivability during the mission.
Repeated ownership of test campaigns, including test plan creation, new system activation, test operations, data review, and test stand equipment design/fabrication.
Provide daily direction and instruction to technicians to fabricate and integrate test articles and stand equipment.
Develop and maintain test procedures, sequences, scripts, configuration files, and software.
Operate and troubleshoot data acquisition and control systems, wiring, and instrumentation. DAQ systems are primarily National Instruments-based.
Operate and troubleshoot fluid and mechanical systems that include low to high-pressure gaseous working fluids and rocket propellants (including hypergols & cryogenics) as well as structural components and supporting infrastructure.
Operate mechanical systems; these include test stand support structures, heat exchangers, vacuum pumps, tooling, and fluid components such as valves, reliefs, burst disks, tubing, etc.
Automate repetitive test operations to increase efficiency and safety. Develop innovative processes to increase testing capability and rates, while maintaining high rigor of safety.
Identify and characterize system pitfalls and potential hazards then work to resolve such anomalies by collaborating with design engineers on improvements for test stands and flight hardware.
Qualification
Required
Bachelor’s degree in mechanical engineering, aerospace engineering, electrical engineering or other engineering field
1+ years of hands-on testing experience (experience from internships, clubs or other hands-on extra-curricular activities qualifies)
Preferred
2 years of hands-on experience with mechanical systems, structural systems, propulsion systems, fluid systems, flight hardware or test operations
Knowledge of hazardous systems (cryogenic, flammable, hypergolic, pyrophoric)
Knowledge of high-pressure system design and handling
Familiarity with instrumentation and control components (pressure transducers, thermocouples, resistance temperature detectors (RTDs), strain gauges, accelerometers, flow meters, load cells, relays, solenoid, pneumatic valves)
Experience using 3D modeling software (Siemens NX, Inventor, CATIA, etc.)
Experience with at least one coding language (Python, Matlab, C, C++, Java, Visual Basic)
Experience reviewing data from anomalies and identifying root cause
Experience writing and maintaining test procedures and hardware work instructions
