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. As an Associate Engineer - Post Grad, you will be responsible for both autonomously and collaboratively working on actual space hardware development projects.  You will be challenged to think creatively, independently, and intellectually to design hardware, gaining invaluable hands-on technical experience. This is not an ordinary “internship” – you will be given as much responsibility as our full-time engineers and will be an integral part of the team. We will rely on you to come up with creative solutions to real aerospace challenges and depend upon your contributions to space hardware development projects.

ASSOCIATE ENGINEER – POST GRAD PROGRAM SUMMER 2018 (IRVINE, CA)

DEPARTMENTS:

AVIONICS (RADIATION EFFECTS) – Our Avionics group works to help develop, design, test, and analyze electronics for mitigating effects of the natural space ionizing radiation environments on SpaceX vehicles. Engineering considerations of radiation effects include the assessment of: hardware, such as component and PCBAs with analog and digital circuits; software, including operating flight modes and fault detection isolation and recovery techniques; and guidance, navigation, control, and trajectory design influences. In addition, we perform analysis of empirically measured and modeled space-based ionizing radiation environments. We perform analysis using detailed CAD radiation transport models for shielding effectiveness of energetic particle flux and dose effects on electronics, materials, and crew members. Majors represented are mainly: Space Systems Engineering, Physics, Material Engineering, Environmental Engineering, Electrical Engineering, Computer Science, and Computer Engineering AVIONICS (ELECTRONICS) – The Avionics electrical team specifies, designs, analyzes, implements, tests, and integrates the electronics hardware for the flight computers, power converters, sensors, communication, and guidance/navigation/control subsystems for the satellite. In addition, the team is responsible for the user terminal, gateway and ground station electronics. Majors represented are mainly: Electrical/Power/Analog/Computer Engineering

AVIONICS (SOFTWARE) – The software team specifies, designs, implements and validates all the code that runs in the system during simulations, development, and in orbit. The team is responsible for the software for the vehicle, user terminals, fleet management, system security, network design and implementation, and the modem. The team develops low level firmware, platform/OS software and high level applications. Software engineers at SpaceX enjoy executing a mission critical role and are challenged by developing complex, high reliability code from cradle to grave. Majors represented are mainly: Computer Science, Computer Engineering, and Electrical Engineering

SATELLITE DEVELOPMENT (MECHANICS) – Our team delivers Spacecraft mechanical architecture, design and manufacturing for all Satellite Bus and Payload, including all design and analysis for mechanisms, thermal, reliability analysis, avionics, structural, solar array, and propulsion design. This team’s responsibilities also include manufacturing and test/qualification of all Prototypes and flight vehicles. Majors represented are mainly: Mechanical Engineering, Aerospace Engineering, Reliability, Physics, Computer Science, Manufacturing, and Robotics

SATELLITE DEVELOPMENT (ASIC / RF / ANTENNA) – Our ASIC/RF/Antenna team develops phased array space based and ground broadband communications solutions. They develop chips, boards, DSP firmware and antennas. The team is pushing the amount of bits that can be sent / received per m2 per $ per watt with highly efficient digital, Ku / Ka band RFIC, and RF systems solutions. Majors represented are mainly: Electrical Engineering, RF / RFIC Engineering – MS/PhD candidates preferred

BASIC QUALIFICATIONS:

• Completed a Bachelor’s degree from an accredited four-year university of college within the past 6 months by start of employment or currently enrolled in a graduate program

 

PREFERRED SKILLS AND EXPERIENCE:

• GPA of 3.5 or higher
• Hands-on experience through lab research, project teams, prior internship or work experience
• Strong interpersonal skills and ability to work effectively in a team environment, accomplishing tasks with limited resources at a rapid pace
• Intermediate skill level using Windows Operations Systems
• Intermediate skill level using Microsoft Office (Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Outlook)

 

ADDITIONAL REQUIREMENTS:

• Must be able to work full time for a minimum of 12 consecutive weeks beginning in May/June 2018.
• Physical effort including sitting or standing for extended periods of time, lifting and carrying weight such as materials or equipment (up to 30 lbs.)
• Must pass background check with satisfactory results to SpaceX

 

ITAR REQUIREMENTS:

• To conform to U.S. Government space technology export regulations, applicant must be a U.S. citizen, lawful permanent resident of the U.S., protected individual as defined by 8 U.S.C. 1324b(a)(3), or eligible to obtain the required authorizations from the U.S. Department of State. Learn more about 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 SpaceX’s Affirmative Action Plan for veterans and individuals with disabilities, or applicants requiring reasonable accommodation to the application/interview process should notify the Human Resources Department at (310) 363-6000.