Chemical Engineer
Job description
About the role
SpaceX is looking for an engineer to join the Launch Pad Engineering team at Vandenberg, one of the busiest launch sites on the planet. This role runs the design, construction, and operation of the ground support from Falcon 9 and Falcon Heavy missions. The pad is where the vehicle comes alive: the propellant systems that load cryogenic fluids, the pneumatics that pressurize, the instrumentation that tells operators what the vehicle needs, and the valves and lines that make the launch sequence possible. You will manage the fluid systems as a whole, handling cryogenic, compressible, and incompressible flows, and applying thermodynamics, heat transfer, fluid mechanics, and instrumentation knowledge to problems that only appear on a real pad. The position is both design and field work: you will lead technician crews during build campaigns, ensure correct installation and activation, automate fluid system functions, and present certification packages to the agencies that oversee the range. Safety and performance stand behind everything the team does, and the role rewards people who are comfortable on the pad, calm during an abort, and rigorous with a pressure chart. The pad is where the mission begins, and this engineer is one of the people who makes sure it begins cleanly.
Key facts
What you'll do
- Manage the site's fluid systems, including cryogenic, compressible, and incompressible types.
- Apply thermodynamics, heat transfer, fluid dynamics, and true instrumentation to solve operational issues real-time.
- Lead technician crews through build campaigns to deliver correct installation and activation.
- Automate fluid system functions following strict process, and upgrade both hardware and software.
- Present engineering data and certification packages to NASA, the US Space Force, and other agencies.
- Keep procedures and documentation up to date so the pad team knows exactly what a system does.
- Support flight campaign operations from load through ignition, staying sharp on the flow path.
Requirements
- Bachelor degree in physics, aerospace, mechanical, or chemical engineering.
- Minimum 1 year of professional experience with mechanical, fluid, or low voltage electrical systems.
- Ability to pass Air Force background checks for both Vandenberg and Cape Canaveral.
- Physical capacity to lift and carry 15 to 35 lbs.
- Flexibility with shifts and with high-stress conditions during launch windows.
- A systems mindset: fluid, pneumatic, electrical, and structural systems show up together on a pad, and the engineer who can tie them together keeps the flow coherent in an emergency.
- Must be ITAR eligible: U.S. citizen, lawful permanent resident, refugee, or asylee.
Nice to have
- Field background at a rocket test or launch facility.
- Troubleshooting remote control systems and instrumentation.
- CAD engineering proficiency: Siemens NX, SOLIDWORKS, or similar.
- Python experience for data analysis and automation.
- Hazardous systems experience with high-pressure gases and fluids.
- Working knowledge of ASME BPV Section VIII, B31.3, and AFSPCMAN 91-710.
- Communication that works for flight operators and for agency reviewers at the same table.
Skills & tools
- Instrumentation: transducers, thermocouples, RTDs, strain gauges, flow meters, load cells, relays, solenoids, valves
- Fluid systems and cryogenics
- Thermodynamics and heat transfer
- CAD and documentation
Practical notes
- Compensation includes potential long-term incentives, discretionary bonuses, and an Employee Stock Purchase Plan.
- Benefits include medical, dental, vision, 401(k), disability insurance, life insurance, and paid parental leave.
- Includes 3 weeks of paid vacation, 10+ paid holidays, accrued sick leave.
- Occasional travel to other launch facilities is part of the schedule.
- Launch operations run on their own clock; the team matches the vehicle, not the calendar.
About the company
Based in Starbase, Texas, a company pursues work in spaceflight, telecom, and artificial intelligence. A unit handles rocket launches, leading yearly orbital counts beyond other national and commercial teams. Another unit runs Starlink, a satellite communications firm. A third area, through SpaceXAI, advances Grok and AI integration with X, while managing data center operations. Roles often cross these paths. Candidates with engineering, software, or operations backgrounds may find chances to join projects that span launch, connectivity, and machine learning efforts in this Texas-based enterprise.